New York, NY (October 25, 2005) -- To ensure this year’s Halloween has minimal scares and maximum fun, Scholastic.com, the most trusted online destination for children, parents and teachers, has launched special Halloween features to help parents make the holiday safe and to bring spook-tacular excitement for kids. The Site offers parents in depth safety recommendations on costume choices, trick-or-treating and candy selection.  For kids, Scholastic.com has created cool, interactive contests and games based on kids favorite spooky books, including the Goosebumps Ghoul Hunt.  Visit www.scholastic.com for a happy and safe Halloween. 
 
“Halloween is a holiday that is all about kids, but parents have a role to play too,” said Sylvia Barsotti, editor-in-chief of Scholastic.com.  “We hope parents will take time to learn about Halloween safety and talk to their kids before the trick or treating begins.”
 
For Parents:
Parenting and education experts at Scholastic.com have compiled information and advice for families to help make Halloween safe and fun.  From choosing the right costume, to planning a safe trick-or-treat night and sifting through the candy,  Scholastic.com complied the best Halloween Safety Tips.  For the complete list of tips log-on to www.scholastic.com/familymatters this Halloween. 
 
Here are some highlights:
 
Costume Dress-Up Smarts
·Choose fire-retardant costumes. Look for a label that indicates flame-resistance on any costumes, wigs, and headpieces. If making the costume, examine the fabric content and ask a salesperson to help select the least flammable material.
·Use make-up instead of masks. Hypoallergenic, non-toxic face paint is a better choice than a mask, which may obscure a child's vision and hinder breathing. If opting for a mask, cut oversized holes for eyes and mouth, and encourage them to take the mask off each time they cross the street.
·Be sure they take a flashlight to help see where they are going, a watch so they know when to head home and cell phone or coins to call if they’re in trouble. Make sure they know their curfew and how to contact you.

Stay Safe on the Trick-or-Treat Beat
·Make sure children under 12 are supervised by an adult or teen chaperone.
·Teens should have a curfew.
·Round up a group. There is safety in numbers.
·Plan a route with your child. Keep route to familiar streets and houses, working up the street then back down. Set a time limit when he should come home.
·Remind them of police and fire safety. Practice the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll," just in case clothes catch on fire. Encourage children to talk to a policeman or call home if anything makes them uncomfortable.
·Review pedestrian rules. It's easy to overestimate your child's ability to remember to cross at corners and stay on the sidewalks. With the evening's excitement, reviewing traffic-safety is a good idea.
 
Keeping the Treats Safe
·Check candy wrappers. Pinholes, tears, or unusually loose packages can indicate possible tampering.
·Remove choking hazards for young children, including hard candies, small toys, peanuts or gum.
·Don't let your child eat anything that isn't sealed. Unless you know the source, throw away homemade or fresh food items.
·Regulate candy intake. Set a daily quota on your child's consumption and set a deadline for when leftover candy gets thrown out.
 
For Kids:
For fun that’s frightful, Scholastic.com created new games and activities that kids will love.  Kids can access the safe, trusted online playground of Scholastic.com at www.scholastic.com/kids. 

·Goosebumps Ghoul Hunt ’05 – Beware! The ghouls have escaped the Goosebumps website!  Here kids can enter the Goosebumps Ghoul Hunt and chase ghouls by following clever clues.  Once kids capture all 12 ghouls and unlock secret codes they can uncover the secret riddle. At the end of the month they can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win exciting prizes including a Nintendo DS, Goosebumps CD ROMs, DVD’s and more.  Visit www.scholastic.com/ghoulhunt. 
·Charlie Bone Quiz – Fans will love this mysterious world of Charlie Bone, a site dedicated to the great series of books about a boy with magical powers.  Charlie Bone fans can test their knowledge of the best-selling series with a spooky scarecrow that haunts birds! Visit www.scholastic.com/titles/charliebone/game.htm. 
·Halloween Polls – Kids will love casting their vote for the scariest Halloween creature – so far the Mummy is in the lead! 
Visit www.scholastic.com/kids. 
 
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology.  Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children’s books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys.  The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company’s Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

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