When I was a kid, trick-or-treating meant running through the neighborhood in the dark, totally untethered from my parents—and totally terrified by Halloween. I’d beg my parents to let me go to the haunted houses with friends. Once there, I would immediately regret it (I was only in it for the candy corn).
A new feature called Safe Walk in the Verizon app can be that Halloween helpline for kids: It puts more control in the child’s hands to get a little help if they’re feeling anxious about being on their own but not so scared that they don’t want to try it out.
This article is sponsored by Verizon.
For many families, Halloween night could be a fun way to try out Safe Walk and give parents an extra layer of awareness when kids are out trick-or-treating. Families can even practice the new features together when setting up Safe Walk.
“These features go beyond typical GPS monitoring,” says Stephen Sneeden, Senior Manager, Verizon Consumer Products. “They give kids more control and ensure parents can still intervene if needed.”
Ready to go trick-or-treating? Here’s how the new features in Safe Walk can bring more fun to spooky season.
Try Safe Walk now, in the free Verizon Family app.
Safe Walk: Kids can ask parents to keep an eye on them
With the Verizon Family companion app installed on their phone, your child can tap the Safe Walk feature so you can follow them virtually in real time when they might be moving from house to house.
“The child can start a Safe Walk session if they’re a little concerned or nervous,” Sneeden says. “The parent is notified immediately. Parents can track their kid’s location in real-time without making the child feel like they’re being overly monitored.”
Kids can also see when a parent is virtually walking with them—the parent’s profile icon appears with them on the app’s map.
SOS: Quick help from loved ones when needed
Halloween can sometimes bring unexpected situations—whether it’s getting lost, peer pressure, or running into someone unfamiliar. These situations are when the SOS function can be especially helpful. With this function, kids can quickly and discreetly notify their parents or other designated emergency contacts if they feel unsafe, need immediate help, or want to get out of their current situation. This alert will send a quick message to the people listed as emergency contacts and does so silently to not draw attention to the child sending the SOS. In the event of a critical emergency, the child should call 911.
"It’s like a safety net,” Sneeden says. “Kids can tap the SOS button if they think something’s off, and parents can then step in without the child needing to make a call or draw attention to themselves or to the situation.”
Boundary Alerts: Safe boundaries for trick-or-treating
Another key feature of Verizon Family is location monitoring, which includes the ability to set up a geofence around a specific address. Parents receive alerts if their child enters or leaves this virtual boundary, making the monitor a great way to ensure the kids don’t get too far from the designated trick-or-treating path.
“You might have a defined area for trick-or-treating, and if your child crosses that boundary, you’ll get an alert,” Sneeden says. “It’s a great way to give your child some freedom while still keeping them safe.”
This real-time monitoring can also help parents feel confident about their kids’ whereabouts without feeling that they need to constantly check-in.
Try Safe Walk with the free Verizon Family app this Halloween
Safe Walk can offer an easy way to help keep kids safe while trick-or-treating. As Sneeden puts it, “It’s not just a tool for peace of mind—it’s a way to make sure Halloween stays fun and safe for everyone.” As you’re preparing for Halloween this year, download the free Verizon Family app and try Safe Walk.
Meanwhile, I’ll sit out the haunted house (again) this year. But I do miss that pillowcase full of candy.
Scare away the worry, not the fun.
Try Safe Walk, in the free Verizon Family app.
Molly McGinn is an award-winning tech and child development writer. The author has been compensated by Verizon for this article.
