Las Vegas families face a busy weekend on Oct. 31 as Halloween festivities line up with the end of daylight‑saving time. The shift means dusk will arrive earlier, and many parents worry about keeping their children safe while they roam the neighborhood for candy.
Use Your Phone as a Safety Hub
Cory Cullers, director of sales for AT&T, offered practical advice for parents who already own a smartphone. He recommends setting up a family‑sharing group so each child’s device can be located in real time via the built‑in GPS feature. This lets parents see where their kids are on a map, even if the phones are on silent mode.
Cullers also suggests creating a group chat for the night. A single message can remind everyone of the agreed‑upon curfew, share the route each child plans to take, and provide a quick way to check in if plans change. “A quick text can prevent a lot of worry,” he said.
Set Timers and Alerts
Because daylight‑saving time ends at 2 a.m., darkness will fall earlier on Halloween. Parents can set an alarm on their phones to signal when it’s time to head home. The alarm can be paired with a notification that reminds kids to stay on well‑lit streets and avoid shortcuts through alleys.
Another useful feature is the “Find My” app, which works across iOS and Android devices. By enabling location sharing before the night begins, parents can receive an instant alert if a child’s phone leaves a predefined safe zone, such as the family’s driveway or a trusted neighbor’s home.
Keep Phones Charged
Battery life is crucial. Cullers advises charging all devices fully the night before and packing a portable power bank for any child who may need extra juice while out trick‑or‑treating. A dead phone can quickly turn a fun evening into a stressful search.
He also recommends disabling non‑essential notifications for the evening to preserve battery and reduce distractions. Turning on “Do Not Disturb” while still allowing calls and messages from parents ensures kids stay reachable without being bombarded by social media alerts.
Teach Digital Etiquette
Beyond the technical steps, Cullers emphasizes the importance of a brief family discussion about responsible phone use. Kids should know to keep their phones on a secure lock screen, avoid sharing personal information with strangers, and respect any neighborhood rules about noise or traffic.
By combining these simple smartphone tools with clear family expectations, parents can enjoy a safer, more organized Halloween while still letting kids experience the joy of trick‑or‑treating.
Original reporting: News 3 KSNV Las Vegas (local) — read the source article.
