Stay scary and safe this year

Parents can do a lot to ensure more treats than tricks on Halloween by following a few simple rules. Here are some guidelines for a night of good, safe fun.

* COSTUMES: Outfits should fit well and not drag on the ground. They also should be made from flame-retardant fabric. Wear reflective markings and carry a flashlight. Consider nontoxic face paint instead of masks, which can obstruct vision. And make sure props like pitchforks and swords are flexible and have smooth edges.

* CANDY: Feed the kids dinner before they go out so they're less likely to overload on treats. And make sure your child knows not to eat any candy until you've checked to ensure it hasn't been tampered with.

* SUPERVISION: At least one adult should accompany smaller kids. Make sure older kids walk in groups, in a familiar place, and tell them to return home at a set time.

* BASIC SAFETY: Children should be reminded to visit only homes that are well-lit, not to go inside a home, look both ways before crossing streets, stay away from open flames and be wary of strangers. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. And remind them to stay away from animals they don't know.

* JACK-O'-LANTERNS: Small children should never do the carving. Let them draw a face with markers, and then a parent can do the cutting. Under parental supervision, children ages 5 to 10 can carve with pumpkin cutters that have safety bars. Consider lighting pumpkins with flashlights or battery-operated candles.

* HOME SAFETY: Keep pathways clear and well-lit. Make sure all decorative candles are blown out before leaving the house or at bedtime. Keep decorations away from open flames. Make sure fire alarms are in good working order.

Sources: The Center for Young Children, College Park, Maryland; NAPCO Security; Harvard Health

How to take great pics on Halloween

Halloween . . . when eating candy till you're sick is encouraged, and parents have an excuse to dress their child up as a jelly bean, circus clown or Muppet of their choosing. And everyone seems to want to capture these moments for the ages - or at least for the grandparents. Photo Web sites like Ofoto, Snapfish and Shutterfly are crushed with business in the early days of November, which means Halloween is the most popular time to showcase pictures, beating out Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year, more than 3.1 million photos were uploaded to Shutterfly on Nov. 1 alone, making it the busiest time for the site. ''Grandparents just really want to see pictures of kids in costumes,'' said Jeff Housenbold, CEO of the Redwood City, Calif-based company.

Five tips for great Halloween photos from Shutterfly:

* Lose the ''say cheese'': It's hard to get a natural look when your children are grinning like a Cheshire cat. Instead, talk to them to get them to emote. Plus, the excitement and anticipation of gobs of candy will shine through.

* Stoop to their level: Get down on one knee when you're photographing little children, and get close. That way you can see their cute faces without zooming in, and the photos don't look down on your pint-size kids.

* Stay close to the action: The closer you stand to people mobbing a neighbor for candy, the less shaky your camera work is, and that translates to a better-quality photo.

* Keep the cameras rolling: Don't stop shooting after the costumes come off. Grandparents love anything having to do with the grandkids, even photos of them chowing on candy.

* The Golden Rule: Nothing is more precious than a row of babies in their Halloween best. Prop up the pumpkins, teddy bears and little ones on a couch and get clicking.

- The Associated Press