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AIBU?

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To go trick or treating to strangers' houses?

183 replies

TickOrTeat · 29/10/2024 23:21

Just read on another thread that a lot of posters only knock on houses of people they know presumably for safety reasons. Do most people do this? Apart from our neighbours (only a couple of whom are participating) we pretty much only go to stranger's houses. Not on purpose but just because I don't know anyone in walking distance who has young kids or is happy to participate in tnt. We usually get a few trick or treaters too. Always unknown.

I'm slightly worried now. Is it rude to go to people you don't know? Is it unsafe? I think it's very low risk considering we don't enter any houses and most sweets are wrapped (and most people are nice and peaceful) but am I missing something?

Normally we go with friends in their area in a fairly large group but this year it will probably be just me and my two young kids.

OP posts:
Baconandddddeggs · 29/10/2024 23:35

Personally we’re not into Halloween at all and we’ve never done trick or treating.

but if I did I - I wouldn’t be knocking on strangers doors even if they were decorated - not really because of safety concerns but just would feel so weird and wrong to me to knock on a strangers door and expect them to give my kids sweets …

know that appears to be the whole point of trick and treating!!! - but just seems strange and bizarre to me (hence why we’ve never done it)

If we did do it - it would definitely only be to neighbours we know.

there is no ‘rule’ only what sits comfortably with you.

GiveMeAbitOfSugar · 29/10/2024 23:30

Ofcourse you knock on strangers doors

The answers you get here and say for example on your local facebook would be very different

Its fine to knock of strangers doors
(with a pumpkin / decorated only obvs)

Tangerinenets · 29/10/2024 23:28

My kids are older now but we used to go to any house that had decorations or just a pumpkin.

CrikeyMajikey · 29/10/2024 23:26

We went to houses with decorations and pumpkins, so many were parents and grandparents whose kids had outgrown it but still wanted to see kids. Lovely for little ones.

Humphreyshead · 29/10/2024 23:24

We go to houses that have decorations and pumpkins outside. I thought that was the unspoken rule?… You can normally tell which houses are taking part (pumpkins etc) and which aren’t (lights off, darker)

MildGreenDairyLiquid · 29/10/2024 23:24

We generally go to grandparents round the corner, the friendly old couple next door (who make it clear every year they want the kids to call), the neighbours on the other side who have a couple of kids themselves and who we are friendly-ish with, and then drive to uncle/aunt/cousins house. That’s it.

I can’t remember the last time kids who I didn’t know knocked on the door to trick or treat.

TickOrTeat · 29/10/2024 23:24

We just go to decorated houses as well, which is why I thought it should be ok.

OP posts:
Strawberries86 · 29/10/2024 23:22

We go to decorated houses only.

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