No - and its fine if you do disagree, not all parents agre on how to parent your children. After an experence of knowing a guy (friend of my brothers) growing up and just a coupld of years ago he was arrested for child pornography and molesting children, I learned quickly it can be anyone even if you would NEVER think so. I never thought Id be this protective but when they are little and look at you with so much wonder and love in their eyes you cant help but change how you feel.

The majority of children who are molested are assaulted by those they already know and are familiar with. Alot of times by close family friends or even relatives.

Contrary to popular belief Chester the Molester is not hiding around the corner waiting to pounce on little Annie or Joey the first time you look away.
I am sorry if you feel I was in any way trying to attack you or your desire to keep your kids safe. I have two little ones of my own so I can undestand your sentiment. I just don't think that we have to go so overboard in trying to accomplish that goal. The original posts I had commented on just seemed a little pretentious to me.

Someone said something about fallowing them. I see sooo many people do this each year.
I just want it to stay a could happen and not become an actually happened, thats all.

I've never just followed my kids in a car. I walk with them and up to the door. Even if the person at the door was a child molester, nothing is going to happen while I'm standing there. Again, it's your choice to keep your kids safe how you feel the need to. There are ways to minimize the things that 'could happen'.

Its fine for anyone to think Im a bad parent for protecting my kids. Thank you to those who agreed. I, yes, would check the candy and will fallow in a car as they get older. how ever if Im on the street and they knock on the door of a child molester, am I supposed to let they just be kids?

Im all for letting them be kids, Im all for letting them have fun. im not all for having them be physically or mentally hurt.

belisamasana: LOL! Have a great time on Saturday.

Dress up yourself and go with your kids! I have a lot of fun going with mine. Sometimes I even get candy ;) lol

I'm not going to berate any parent who does what they feel necessary to keep their kids safe. I personally feel as long as I go with my kids and we check the candy before they eat it~~only candy that is sealed, etc. Then we're okay. Let's face it, if someone is sick enough to do something like that~~they're going to find a way to do it~~not just at halloween time. But, again, if a parent feels so strongly about it that they choose to trick or treat only at houses they know, at an event etc then that's up to them!

Good grief! Let the kids be kids and enjoy the holiday. The dangers are no different than they were 40 years ago. (And they were nil then.) In fact, with every kid having a cell phone and Mom following in a car, trick-or-treaters are likely more safe than ever before. Have a great time, kids, and save me a Snickers bar.

facebooker09;i have to agree with you,im so glad my kids are grown,but now i have to worry about my grandkids.its a shame that these kids cant go out and enjoy halloween,this used to be my favorite time of the year.we use to have a blast,now all we do is sit around wondering if someone is going to try an hurt one of our grandkids or the neighborhood kids.well halloween is upon us,everyone please try and enjoy it.HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE

Ahhhh Halloween memories....anyone remember those plastic masks that filled with condensation from warm breath while scurrying around on a nippy October night? ;p

One of the best costumes was a friend's "cave man" outfit. He made it himself out of a three piece brown bathroom rug set. Hilarious!

YES How dare I want to protect my kids!! Yes they go trick or treating. To places that are safe and to peoples house's of whom we know. Im not an over protective parent but when it comes to taking and eating food from someone i have never met then yes I am.

No boas in the ball pits~~but the germs are another story!! ROFL!!!

Geez louise, all the "safe indoor alternatives" give me a break, what a bunch of Halloween Nazis most of you sound like.
Thank you ,getabike, for pointing out the fact that the hype surrounding the "razor blades in the candy" myth is just that, a bunch of hype. I think people like to pretend they are "protecting" their children by not letting them go trick or treating so they can pat themselves on the back for being a better parent then the rest of us foolish parents.
I suppose next you are all gonna start trying to spread the word about the dangers of "ball pits" at such places as Chucky Cheese and McDonalds playland. I mean didn't you all here, they found a 10 ft boa constrictor in one of those things once. Lighten up, you'll live longer.

From the sounds of it, it was not a cheep thing it was a safety thing and a shoplifting thing. ?? Them being cheep plays in to alot so I'm sure it did a little but from what I heard there was a TON of shoplifters during the Trick or Treating and a could minor injuries. There are alot of stores that are mad about them not doing it though so watch for it next year.

The Mall is not doing it this year.. How cheap of them.

No there have been storys about people injecting drugs in to candy, putting razors or nails in candy. Do I think its forsure going to happen around here? No I dont. Do I want to find out it did becuase my kids in a ER room? NO!

There is a reason they say better safe than sorry.

For those concerned about their kids being poisoned by candy - you might be surprised to find out that the fear is somewhat based on a myth....http://mommymythbuster.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/myth-28-children-get-poisoned-on-halloween/

Halloween is also the last 2009 day of the season for the Janesville Farmer's Market. Come down to N. Main St. to celebrate the holiday and this year's great vendors while helping local farmers, crafters, and entertainers!

Lots of churches do it and its not even affilaited with the church. a church in footville does it because 2 people tha tgo there plan the whole thing and invite people to come. Its ALOT safer than hoping and wishing yoru candy dosent have anything "extra" added to it.

Churches handing little kids candy....should be illegal. Next its trying to get them in the basement.

007 no they are not doing it at the mall at all this year.

wtp the trick or treating at the enchanted forest says kids under 10 and its $1.00 per child. The children will visit various fairytale stories with characters handing out candy.

JVL leisure service is holding their enchanted forest Saturday from 3 to 6 at Palmer park. The program is for kids 1 to 8 that will walk the path to various story land scenes. The high school drama club kids act out these scenes and will be handing out candy at each station. There is a small fee for kids and adults free. A nice safe way to take the young ones out for trick or treat. The kids can wear their customs to show them off.

Also the janesville athletic club is having a free event I think put on by some local churches. They have games, prizes, and tons of candy. It is a nice indoor alternative. We have enjoyed it in the past. It is halloween evening.

I don't know about the mall but the church on the corner of Benton Ave. and Milton Ave. is having "Trunk or Treat" sounds like a safe alternative.

Is the Janesville Mall having their annual trick or treating??