As the father of two young children, I want to make sure my kids and yours have fun during Halloween, but I also want to make sure they're safe. Below you'll find some safety tips for our trick-or-treaters, as well as information on how to enter my Halloween photo contest.

Assemblyman Santabarbara's tips for keeping safe

Parents

• Trick-or-treaters should go out during daylight hours unless accompanied by an adult.

• Know the route your child will travel and set a curfew.

• Be sure children can see through their masks and that costumes are easy to see - either made from light colors or marked with reflective tape for walking at night.

• Make sure that children have a snack so they're less likely to eat candy before you're able to check it.

• Inspect all candy thoroughly and dispose of any that's unwrapped or appears altered.

• Make sure your children have access to a phone so they can call home if needed.

Trick-or-Treaters

• Don't eat anything from your trick-or-treat bag before your parents have looked at it.

• Always stay with people you know and stay in your neighborhood.

• Make sure to tell your parents where you're trick-or-treating and stay away from dark streets and buildings.

• Never get into cars or go into houses of people you don't know.

• Be sure to look both ways before crossing a street and always obey traffic signals.

• Don't approach or pet animals that you don't know.

To enter Assemblyman Santabarbara's Halloween Photo Contest, submit your favorite photo to SantabarbaraA@assembly.state.ny.us with the subject "My Halloween!"

Assemblyman Santabarbara will be greeting trick-or-treaters and handing out Halloween candy at his Schenectady District Office at 433 State St., Center City from 4 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 31! You can also catch him during stops at Rotterdam Square Mall and the Delanson Fire House later in the evening.