I volunteered to take a friend's children trick-or-treating with me and suddenly have found myself taking SEVEN children all under the age of 4. I am going to Wal-mart today to buy glow necklaces and was thinking I might get a jump roap and make them all hold onto it so they don't get seperated.. Good Idea??? Any other suggestions??
2006-10-30 04:13:32 · 14 answers · asked by Jennifer F 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Go to apartments. Apartments are a tight packed and there are no roads to walk beside plus there is lighting everywhere. My mom did that when she had me, my two sisters, and lots of my cousins.
2006-10-30 04:24:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How did you get yourself into this?
You can not safely take 7 children under the age of 4 out trick-or-treating. You must have help-atleast one other person! The rope is a good idea, only it depends on all the children listening well enough to keep ahold of the rope, the first time one lets go of the rope the rest will too. If you are going to attempt this alone, you have to have another idea, tethering them together is a good and a bad idea(good because you wont lose any of them, bad because that restricts their movement and they could fall and get hurt) With having 7 children to take out, there has to be atleast 4 or 5 parents that will be available to help you-tell them it is not safe with this many children without help and if you can't get any then you are sorry but you wont be able to take them. If they wont help then don't even try it, let them take their own children out, that is what they should be doing anyway. If the friend that you originally volunteered to help out is working or something like that, then take her children only, not all the rest that you ended up with, without any help.
I wonder about the parents that aren't worried about one person trying to keep up with so many young children, on such a wild night, with costumes making it harder to keep up with the kids, and in the dark to top it off.
It really sounds like you are being taken advantage of, I wouldn't stand for it.
2006-10-30 12:32:57 · answer #2 · answered by whatelks67 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. I would make sure you have at least someone else with you to chaperone; a third would be good; a fourth should be plenty (one hand per kid).
2. Wth that young I would definitely finish before nightfall, but take the glow-sticks just in case. Reflective strips that you can tape to pants/shirts would be good as well.
3. All the chaperones should have flashlights, preferrably with a wide beam; take backpacks so you can hold flashlights and stow any bags of candy if a child gets hurt or tired of carrying it; a mini-first aid kit would be a good idea, too.
4. I like the rope idea for them to hold onto, but they will be digging into their candy bag, dropping candy, so be prepared for one or more to let go at any given moment.
5. Don't cross yards, walk on sidewalks and driveways to minimize stepping in holes, tripping on branches, etc.
6. Take a cell phone and a list of all of the phone numbers of the childrens 'parents.
2006-10-30 12:28:05 · answer #3 · answered by volleyjacket 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats too many kids get someone to help seriously its going to be dark, they will be dressed up so you wont recognize them as quickly, they will be excited and moving fast, they become distracted and wonder, what if one wont go up to a house how will you deal with having to seperate the group you cant force a child to go up to the house will you let them stay on the sidewalk? Tieing them together is also dangerous.
You know before you start you need to lay some ground rules get down on the kids level firmly state the rules
no running
stay with me
no eating candy until we are home
we will visit ____ (number)of homes then we are going home.
2006-10-30 12:26:06 · answer #4 · answered by cameron b 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That actually is the bes thing to do. Maybe even try to find local shops and stores or a church to do the trick or treating. 7 kids to 1 adult is a bit much for walking on streets and such. Maybe even see if a relative or friend could help you out.
2006-10-30 12:24:39 · answer #5 · answered by Sandra C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to get another person to go with you... the rope and glow necklaces are GREAT ideas, but you are only one person and if they're all under 4, you may get some wanderers. Its in your best interest to ask one of their parents to join along.
When did parents get so caught up in pawning their kids off on other parents on holidays like this???
2006-10-30 12:18:53 · answer #6 · answered by camoprincess32 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly? You may want to re-think that. Call your friend and tell her that you agreed to take her kids, not seven. Explain that if she wants you to take more then there has to be at least 2 other adults going with you. Put your foot down. Sounds very dangerous.
2006-10-30 14:30:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get someone to help you, even if it is an older child. Walk behind them. And the jump rope is a great idea!
2006-10-30 12:17:04 · answer #8 · answered by Christabelle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I, myself, have been in a similar situation when I was trapped with five small children in NYC. I resorted to tying them all TOGETHER, and even though I got some strange looks, I didn't have to explain to any parents how I lost their child.
2006-10-30 12:16:14 · answer #9 · answered by dingobluefoot 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dog leashes would be a good idea. Man, I can't imagine ever agreeing to that.
2006-10-30 12:15:34 · answer #10 · answered by Stormbringer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋