Did you love Halloween as a kid?

Probably yes. Was a parent with you when you trick or treated?

Probably no.

But today, according to a University of Michigan/C.S. Mott Children's Hospital poll,  only 15% of parents  let their kids age 9-11 trick or treat without adult supervision.

Just 15%! That's scary. 

If parents are worried their kids may be poisoned, this has been debunked for more than a generation. If they're worried their kids may be molested, a Johns Hopkins study found that child sex crimes don't go up on Halloween. If  they're worried about cars, this is a legitimate concern that can be ameliorated by flashlights, glow sticks, reflective tape on costumes and some pre-Halloween lessons on how to cross the street safely.

Halloween is the one day of the year we used to let kids practice being adults: They get dressed up for the job  and cold-call strangers. They work late. They meet the neighbors and even get paid, albeit in 3 Musketeers (a candy that disappears like ectoplasm the other 364 days).  They also get to be resourceful, adventurous, mischievous, and brave. 

So this year, let's SAVE HALLOWEEN FOR THE KIDS by letting them go out in groups, yes, at a reasonable age, WITHOUT us right there.

Please sign the pledge and share it to RENORMALIZE TRICK OR TREATING as a childhood activity that can be enjoyed WITHOUT A SECURITY DETAIL!

SAVE HALLOWEEN!