You probably wouldn’t allow your young children to walk around in the dark and ring the doorbells of strangers’ homes any day of the year except Oct. 31.

Halloween is celebrated across the country and lots of young children will be dressed up in costumes ringing doorbells. Because much of the festivities are at night and involve strangers, you might want to consider some trick or treating safety tips for your family on Halloween.

Many communities set trick or treat hours, and some communities will also change the date if Halloween falls on a weekday. This allows homeowners to know when to anticipate children ringing their doorbells, and also gives parents a chance to schedule the activity when everyone else is out and about. If your community has a set trick or treating time, be sure to follow it.

Costumes could cause many safety issues while trick or treating. Here are several Halloween safety suggestions on costume ideas from www.halloween-website.com:

* Wear flame-retardant costumes and don’t carry candles.

* Keep the face clear of any costume obstructions so children can see, hear and talk easily.

* Hem the costume so your child can’t trip – and double knot his shoelaces as well.

* Don’t allow your child to carry any fake weapons that look too real. Make sure they can’t cause anyone harm.

And once the trick or treating hour has arrived, keep these tips in mind so everyone in your family can have a safe Halloween:

* Accompany your children, and carry a flashlight to help prevent anyone from tripping.

* Don’t allow your children to go inside any home – have them stay in the front doorway where you can see them.

* Stay on the sidewalks, don’t cross through front or backyards, look both ways before crossing a street, and only cross the street at marked intersections.

* Bring the Halloween treats home and inspect them before allowing your children to consume anything

Have a safe Halloween while trick or treating this year with your goblin, princess or action figure hero.