By Keisha McDuffie/reporter

For as long as I can recall holidays, Halloween has been my favorite: the costumes, the face paint, the scary decorations and, of course, the candy!

One reason Halloween may appeal to so many children is because it is the one time a year when it is okay to do what is normally forbidden.

Children are actually encouraged to break safety rules and to knock on as many doors as possible, to receive a gift of candy.

It is only natural for a child to test the limits. So parents should be certain before the children in their lives are trick-or-treating that limits are well defined and understood by everyone.

Try not to send a kiddo out on an empty stomach. If a child has eaten, it is less likely he will sneak into his candy to snack before it has been well examined.

If possible, set out before dark with your child. It is always a good idea to pick up a few cheap adhesive reflectors for each costume.

A flashlight is another “must have” item. Explain the importance of avoiding houses with no porch light on.

Not only are there witches and goblins to fear, there are even more frightening monsters who have no standard costumes.

Just keep your eyes open and your senses keen.

The chances of a child knocking on a known pedophile’s door is not nearly as likely as it once was.

Tarrant County now has a law that prohibits sex offenders from living within a certain distance from schools, parks or churches, but now they’re prohibited from turning on porch lights, answering the door or decorating on Halloween.

However, not all offenders register, and many have yet to be caught.

According to city-data.com, 106 sex offenders live in my zip code alone, and seven live on my street.

Police officers cannot be solely responsible for every child’s safety.

Get involved; you can obtain this information simply by logging on-line. TCC offers free Internet access.

Find additional Halloween tips at keepkidshealthy.com.

A list (including photos) of all registered sex offenders in Texas is available at www.city-data.com.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!