Most of the time, they're the ones following the rules, not making them.

But when it comes to Halloween, third- and fourth-graders are somewhat the experts.

They've been trick-or-treating around the block a few times before, and they know the etiquette.

At Park Elementary School on Friday, the students in Jennifer Christensen and Kala Williamson's class had some advice for all the clueless adults out there:

Who to go with, how to dress

When deciding which parent chaperone to take trick-or-treating, there are advantages and disadvantages to both moms and dads.

Take Dad, you get more freedom. He'll find people he knows on the block and talk to them while you stash up on loot. Moms are more protective and will stick close to you.

Take Mom, and sometimes she'll drive to get to the good houses far away. Dads always make you walk.

It's OK for parents to dress up in costumes, but it's not OK for adults to trick or treat.

"Because parents don't eat candy," one student explained.

Unless, of course, they hand all the chocolate over to their kids at the end of the night. Then it would be OK.

What to give out

This one is important, the experts said, and a lot of adults get it wrong.

* Good: Whole cans of soda and king-size chocolate bars (or bigger).

* Bad: Pencils, most things with nuts, toothpaste and, worst of all, pennies. If you're giving out money, whole dollar bills would be much appreciated. Don't give out apples.

"It's time for Halloween," said Christian Moore, 8. "You shouldn't get fruits."

And, in general, experts say senior citizens give out "old people candy." You know, the "gross" stuff they probably ate as kids.

How to decorate

If your house is decked out, it's expected that you'll have awesome candy and let kids take lots of pieces.

If there are no pumpkins and cobwebs outside, the candy is probably not that good.

Adults be warned: If you turn out your lights and pretend not to be home, trick-or-treaters will still come. And the longer it takes you to get to the door, the more they'll ring and knock.

Candy etiquette

If you leave a bowl on your porch labeled "Take One," most third- and fourth-graders will follow the rules. They said they don't want to be greedy.

It's the teenagers you need to watch out for. They'll likely take all the candy -- and the bowl.

In case you didn't know, here's a general rule: If the sign says "Take One," it means you can take one piece, walk around the block, then hit up the same house again.

No, it's not bending the rules. So don't ask.

Be glad you're in charge

If it were up to them, third- and fourth-graders would change a few things about Halloween.

They'd pull a few more pranks. Among their favorite, most devious ideas:

* Ringing the bell and running away.

* Telling a younger sister there's a stash of candy down the block, then stealing all of hers while she's away.

* Gluing a younger brother's pants to the chair so he can't go trick-or-treating.

* Gluing someone's underwear to the wall.

If it's a school night, the experts agreed 9 p.m. was a fair curfew. But on weekends, such as this year, trick-or-treating should go on much longer.

"Until I fall asleep on the sidewalk," said Michael Stanley, 10.

Reach features reporter Margaret Matray at 307-266-0535 or margaret.matray@trib.com

Halloween safety

* Outfits should be flame resistant and short enough at the bottom so children don't trip. Hats and masks should not obstruct vision, and shoes need to be comfortable and size appropriate. Accessories should be soft and flexible.

* Wear reflective tape and carry flashlights at night.

* Young children should be accompanied by adults. Remind all kids to be aware of traffic and to look both ways before crossing streets.

* Eat dinner or a healthy snack before hitting the streets so candy doesn't become the main course.

* Inspect all candy before letting kids eat it. Remove anything with tears or small holes. Homemade snacks should generally be avoided, unless you know and trust the person your child got them from. Be aware of food allergies. Remove small candies and gum for children under 3.

* To avoid over-consumption and major sugar rush, consider separating your kids' loot into smaller bags and rationing it out. Self control is tough when you've got a big bag of candy staring you down.

Sources: Consumer Product Safety Commission and Karla Case, nutrition and food safety educator for the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service