Trick-or-Treating for kids can be magical. It’s dress-up day all day long. They get candy whether or not they remember to say please. And the neighborhood for once seems to revolve around them.

But trick-or-treating can also raise stress levels — for kids and adults alike. What if you don’t want to ring a stranger’s doorbell, or open the door to strangers? What if you don’t have the time or skills to make a costume? At what age can a kid trick or treat without a parent? Or stop trick-or-treating altogether?

We turn to some Halloween veterans who have some tricks of their own for keeping the day safe and fun.

Produced by Lauren Markoe