To greet trick or treaters in a scary costume...

[Millymills]

We've recently moved in to a new area - a large cul de sac with lots of family homes, lots of children play in the area etc. We noticed yesterday most homes have Halloween related decorations outside and we thought it might be nice to join in with the fun, though we don't have any children ourselves. DP and I got a little carried away in our local supermarket and have purchased allsorts to go outside the house. In addition, DP has bought a brilliant full faced zombie mask and outfit, along with fake blood and some other props. He tried out the costume last night and admittedly he looks rather terrifying!

Chatting to some friends today who have pointed out that the outfit is very scary and could well traumatise the children coming to our door and that this wouldn't really be appropriate. Perhaps I'm being totally unreasonable here but I always thought scary outfits was all part of the fun and to be expected if you go around trick or treating?! The majority of the children I've seen around are aged 8 + I'd say but that's not to say we wouldn't get younger children knocking..... Opinions please?!

[doodle01]

Its fine they asked for it. Get him to hide in bin bag by front door and get them from behind works a treat

[KalaLaka]

I think my children would be scared and they're 10 They'd love the decorations, though! Sorry OP!

[RainyDayBear]

DP had a creepy mask one year and shouted boo as he opened the door to the trick or treaters - most of the accompanying parents thought it was funny!

[5foot5]

I would say totally OK. If children are allowed to dress up in scary costumes to go to strangers doors then it seems reasonable to me that they should be braced for a few scary encounters.

[SilverySurfer]

Umm isn't that the whole point of Halloween? Go for it OP.

[BoBoBatty]

I can't believe people's responses - wearing a properly scary costume to terrify little children? What on earth is wrong with you? I would be absolutely furious if anyone did this to my kids. If your DH wants to dress up as something like a zombie, tell him to go to an adult Halloween event. I really despair of people's common sense.

[TeenTimesTwo]

I think YABU. A costume is OK, a full on zombie with fake blood is not.
We get 3yos calling on us in cute cat outfits ...

[TheGoodEnoughWife]

One of best houses we ever went to, as we went up the path and knocked at the door, a dressed up person came from the side of the house and screamed appropriately. It was fab!
Surely the possibility of getting scared is how It works?

[Iris65]

I love the Modern Family Halloween episode when Claire gets really competitive. So yes, go for it. They are out to enjoy Halloween so why not. If you were a receptionist in a hotel I would have answered differently!

[Santawontbelong]

Def dress up.
Note to dps of wimpy dc - stay home.

[Iris65]

Wait! I hadn't read the full on zombie thing.....no, no, no!

[jazzandh]

Go for it...but you could put a sign up saying "beware of the zombie...enter at your peril...." or something to that effect?

[WhirlwindHugs]

I think it's fine. Have him hang back so you can gauge who to scare and who not to though. Making three year old cry is not so fun (but making teens/pre-teens jump is excellent)

[taratill]

Santwontbelong my asd children are not wimps but they would (and have in the past) been petrified of adults who have taken halloween too far.

My daughter who is 8 and about the bravest child I know was scared out of her wits by a man up the rode who answered the door dressed as Munch's scream whist screaming I'm going to kill you all.

No need for scary costumes on adults at all. Witches etc absolutely fine.

[Buglife]

You could wear something Halloween related but not that scary. Halloween costumes do separate into children and adult ones and in my experience here all the Trick or Treaters are quite young with parents and I think someone really trying to terrify them would not go down well.

[buttwingsham]

Last year I took 3 of the dc out trick or treating while dh stayed home with the baby.
As I was nearly back home I called him to say right we are on a way, so he switched all the hall lights off put on a really scary mask with lots of blood on. The idea was I was going to "forget my keys" we would knock he would jump out and scare the life out of the kids.
However we cocked up the timing and a lovely couple with a one and three year old knocked on the door just before we got there.
Poor little things I ended up almost filling their buckets with sweets as an apology and dh was mortified as they were screaming and sobbing on our drive.

[BucksFrizz]

Perfectly fine OP. If children are going to be scared by people in costume, they're too young for trick or treating.

[MissEliza]

Hard to say without seeing the costumes but it amazes me how kids are into zombies these days so maybe you’ll be fine. I used to have a neighbour who insisted on tagging along trick or treating with us but her ds was scared of masks! She complained constantly about the scary costumes people had as we walked around. I was so glad when she moved.

[taratill]

Bucksfrizz not necessarily, some children have sensory sensitivities , should they be excluded from trick or treating because an adult wants to have fun and try to frighten them?

[afrikat]

If kids are going to get scared at costumes they shouldn't be out trick or treating. Go for it!

[Katedotness1963]

Definitely wear it later in the evening, but not early when it's likely to be 3/4/5 year olds.

[taratill]

I'm honestly quite shocked at some of the responses. Who is this about the adults or the children?

There is a massive difference between someone dressing up as a 'friendly witch' and an adult wearing a costume deliberately designed to scare.

Saying kids who can't cope shouldn't go is ridiculous imo, the adults need to get a grip and go to an adult fancy dress party!

[BucksFrizz]

taratill The whole point of Halloween is it's meant to be scary!

[Lethaldrizzle]

Sounds brilliant! Go for it

[taratill]

Bucksfizz says who? Old Hallows Eve has never been about frightening the lights out of young children who are trick or treating?

It was about honouring the dead. Not sure what an adult dressing as a zombie or trying to petrify a child has to do with that.

Nor trick or treating for that matter but to suggest that it is about frightening children is ridiculous. If an adult feels the need to wear a terrifying costume that's fine. Just wear it adult company (not to frighten poor kids).