Unbalancing Halloween
When I was a kid, Halloween "tricks" meant shaving cream, toilet paper, and a few sketchy rumors about razors in apples and spiked candies. But like everything about childhood in the United States, Halloween has changed dramatically, in ways that kids (and parents) 30 years ago wouldn't have believed possible.
Exhibit A: Sprint Nextel offers products that "Make Halloween a Treat" including the Spring Family Locator, a GPS feature that allows parents to slip a phone or PC into a child's costume and then track their location without interrupting the child's activities. The Locator gives the address and surrounding landmarks within a specified radius so you can "follow" your child during trick-or-treating, even if they're too old for you to tag along. All for just $9.99 a month.
Sprint also has FamilyWatchdog Mobile, which allows parents to use their phones to view maps of where registered sex offenders live and work. You can sign up for free text alerts when registered offenders move into or out of your neighborhood. USA Today reported that 2,000 sex offenders in Maryland will be required to post "No Candy" signs on their doors to warn children and parents. Other state-by-state protection programs have been enacted as well.
Maybe it's just me, but this negativity completely "unbalances" the fun of Halloween. Kids are supposed to get a little spooked, true. That's what the witches and black cats and howling ghouls are for. But pedophilia and child kidnappings are all too real (although also extremely rare) dangers that exist every day, not just on October 31. Are parents being manipulated into buying these new products? Or do we need to be more vigilant today?
What do you think? What practical safety tips do you put in place on Halloween? Would you get a GPS locator for your child to give you peace of mind on Halloween? Do you think sex offenders in your neighborhood should be banned from offering kids candy? Do we really need to be so very afraid for our children on Halloween -- or any other day of the year?
For those of you unable to post comments earlier today, the technological problems have been resolved. We apologize for the difficulties.
By Leslie Morgan Steiner |
October 17, 2007; 7:00 AM ET
| Category:
Hyperparenting
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