Get These Apps for a Safer Halloween

Halloween isn't like it was when I was a kid. Cripes, we were all over the neighborhood knocking on complete strangers' doors begging for candy... and that was in Chicago! But it was a much safer time. Nowadays, it's not so safe anymore. But some app builders have got some creative ways to keep track of your kids during trick-or-treating. The first one is called Family Locator. Like pretty much every other app, this one uses the GPS on your kid's phone and it shows you exactly where they are in real time. Log into the app from your phone and a map comes up. There's also an "SOS" button in case they're in trouble. You'll know their exact location.

Red Panic Button is easier to use than the one above. It's exactly what it says it is. It's a panic button that your child will hit and it will immediately send you a text with a link to a map that shows you their location.

LIFE360 shows you where your kid is at all times and they can message you if there's a problem. What's cool about this one is you can set boundary limits. So you get an alert if they happen to go outside those boundaries or cross a street they're not supposed to.

Not that you would let your young child go trick-or-treating by themselves, but if you have a young teenager, these might come in handy.