Storybook parade at Tampa school teaches valuable lessons

TAMPA - As Halloween approaches, many of you are buying kid's costumes and attending fall festivals around the Bay Area. While these events are always big fun, they're also a great chance to teach our young ones some important lessons.

Linda Hurtado went to the storybook parade at her daughter’s school, Trinity School for Children. But first, she had to help her daughter, Jillian, get ready.

Thursday morning at Linda’s house started with a debate.

• Linda: "Do you want to try the blonde wig?"
• Jillian: "No!"
• Linda: “How are you going to be Hannah Montana without the wig?”

Then an impromptu song and dance then made them late.

This costume chaos comes once every year, but this Halloween parade is nothing to fear. From the littlest king, to the FBI, a hot air balloon, tornado that's not shy.

It’s all about music and madness under the sun but Trinity teacher Ryan Strzelecki says it’s about more than just fun. “Trinity does the storybook parade every year to celebrate reading, to celebrate authors and illustrators. These days there is almost any character you can think about in a book, so really, the idea is to celebrate the reading behind their characters. To celebrate their stories.

While parents snap pictures, grin, even dance, these educators aren’t missing a chance to make our young children see their focus should also be on safety.

Jillian Figueredo says “Don’t go to strangers houses you don’t know very much or they might take you or they will steal something.”

Jackie says, “Check the candy before you eat it and make sure you go with parents when you trick or treat. To all those really little kids, watch out for bad guys."

Grace Blanco says, “Never go to a house that looks dark and spooky."

And Annalisa Rosello says, “Don’t go trick or treating alone.”