When I was a kid, Halloween was a big deal. Every youth in the area would be pounding on doors for hours trying to procure pounds of candy, while their parents dreadfully waited for the unavoidable sugar high. These days however, it seems that trick-or-treating has become passe. Where five monstrous bags of tiny confections used to barely serve the cause, it's a rare holiday if you can even go through one anymore.

I'm not sure how any generation of child could lose their zeal for free sweets and cosplay, but I have a feeling it might have something to do with today's version of the over protective parent. If you fall into any of the following categories, perhaps you should lighten up a bit and let your kids in on the fun:

The Vividly Paranoid

Contrary to popular belief, Halloween is one of the safer nights for your kids to wander around alone on the streets. The abundance of candy available everywhere takes away Uncle Touchy's usual advantage when trying to lure kids into his van of sweets.

Food Fear Mongers

No one has put a razor blade in candy since the 70's and drugs are expensive. In a downed economy, no one is going to waste their hard earned drugs on your kids. If you're still worried about it, rifle through their candy after the night is over and toss any open or suspicious looking artifacts.

The Michael Pollan Patrol

Sure, Snickers might not be part of a balanced breakfast, but there's a time and place for gut-wrenching sugar fits, one of which is most certainly Halloween. You can resume feeding your children flax and certified organics after the 31st.

Covenant of the Infinite Safe

Letting your kids out of the house at night is (probably) not going to kill them, at least the smart ones. Give them some of those awesome safety reflectors and blinking bike lights and they're ready to dash across most any street.