With two weeks until Halloween, it’s time to make some final plans.

If you are hosting a Halloween party, the invites must go out by this weekend. Next week, you’ll need to make decisions about menu and decorations. You’ll also need to decide on your costume.

There are other plans to be made as well.  You need to pick a day to buy your Halloween candy.  You don’t want to get it too early because you may find yourself eating it before the 31st! I recommend the weekend before.

If you have children, their costumes should be decided this week. You should also decide who’s taking the kids trick-or-treating and who’s staying home to hand out candy. All kids should have chaperones for trick-or-treating. For kids under five, the rule is one kid per hand. From six to ten, one adult can accompany four or five kids. From ten to thirteen, think one adult for every six to eight. And no, a fifteen year old does not count as an adult. The chaperone’s responsibility is to keep the kids in sight and to watch out for safety issues. You need someone who will pay attention and not be distracted. Each chaperone should have a large flashlight and carry a cell phone. Double check the batteries in your flashlight and buy new ones if necessary. NEVER carry candles when trick-or-treating.

I got a great idea from a police department in Pennsylvania. In addition to my Halloween candy, I hand out glowstick bracelets. Kids love them and they make the kids a bit more noticeable on the dark streets.  They’ll only last a few hours, but that’s all you need.