Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which is good news for late nights and bad news for anyone who hasn't decided who's handing out candy, who's walking with the kids, and when dinner happens. A few small decisions made in advance take most of the stress out of the evening, and leave room for the fun part.

The quick answer

• Eat first: an easy, filling dinner before anyone goes out
• Agree the plan: who's going with which kids, the route, the start time and the return time
• Cover the door: someone stays to hand out candy, or you decide to leave the light off
• Keep everyone safe and visible, with a simple plan for the candy afterward

Dinner first, and keep it easy

Eating before trick-or-treating can make it easier to wait until you're home before opening the candy. Choose something that can be ready early and eaten fast, like a pot of soup, pasta, or make-ahead tacos, and plan an early dinner before everyone heads out, so the evening isn't rushed. Check what time it gets dark where you live, since sunset is earlier now than a few weeks ago.

Decide who's going where

This is the part that quietly causes the most confusion. Before the evening, settle a few things:

• Who's with which kids: especially if you have children of different ages, or older ones going out with friends
• Where you're going: a rough route, a neighborhood or a friend's street, and where you'll meet if you get separated
• When you're back: a clear return time for each group, and what happens if someone runs late
• Who's at home: someone to hand out candy, or a plan to turn the porch light off

Put it on the family calendar so everyone can see it. In Petal Home, each plan has a start and end time, a location, and a note, and can say who it's for, so you can add one for each group with the route and the return time in the note. You can also set more than one reminder before it, like an hour before and at the time. Everyone in the household sees the same evening, and plans are free.

Keep it safe and visible

• Be seen: add reflective tape or glow sticks to costumes and bags, and carry a flashlight
• Costumes that fit: check that costumes and shoes are comfortable to walk in, that nothing trails on the ground, and that masks or hats don't block vision
• Walk rather than run, stay on sidewalks where there are any, and cross at corners or crosswalks rather than between parked cars
• Small kids stay with an adult. Older kids going without an adult should stay with a group, agree the route and a return time, and have a way to contact home
• Keep a phone charged: for older kids out with friends, so you can reach them and they can reach you

Have a plan for the candy

The candy question is easier when it's decided before the bag comes home. Some families choose a few pieces for that night and spread the rest out over the following days, and others use their own family rule. Whatever you choose, agree it beforehand so everyone knows what to expect. Check the candy at home before anyone eats it, and throw away anything unwrapped, opened or with damaged packaging. Set aside anything that could be a choking risk for younger children. If your child has a food allergy, check every label and don't use a treat if you're unsure what's in it.