It's only 3pm and the doors already knocking

I'm disabled and one of my main symptoms is severe chronic pain, so I've made treat bags (stickers, a ruler, a pencil, an ink stamp, an eraser and a large rainbow lolly in each bag) and at about 3pm, I hung them outside on my fence and on the curls of our wrought iron gate - this way, the kids get their fun but I don't have to keep getting up and aggravating my illness and the pain.
Had a couple of children before 4pm - but most will come around now until 8ish.

They hammer the door

I love that they have jokes they would definitely get extra sweets for that🤣🤣

Good god!

It’s once a year. No one “hammers the door” around here, where an earth do you live? Once the pumpkins are in no one even knocks (especially if there is a sign saying no sweets).

You just sound utterly joyless TBH.

Halloween does not always fall in the half term break.

I am fully aware grinches refer to Christmas.

And just don't open the door then if you're still working.

Not had time to do any pumpkins. Grabbed a load of sweets on the way home. They're in the porch in bowls. Now I'm worried no one is going to come and we're left with a load of sweets that none of us will eat. We've got a skeleton and other halloween decorations somewhere but not a clue where!

People are getting their knickers in a twist, @Positivenancy because you referred to "best of both worlds" in a way that's win-win for you only. Then you refer to "entitled" to trick or treat. Do you see how one-sided, in your favour, that is?

Growing up, we lived in a stretched our suburb where trick or treating just wasn't practical, and none of our mums could be bothered with it. So it just didn't happen for us. That's life!

As an adult, I've lived in urban neighbourhoods, each with its own etiquette. Some people welcome all and sundry and go all out. Some people want to keep it to just their neighbours. Some places it's not a big deal at all (eg in places mostly non-Halloween-celebrating). One year I had ketchup squirted on me after I opened the door to a bunch of teens yelling "TRICK OR TREAT" in my face. I don't welcome all and sundry any more. I do welcome kids from my neighborhood as I know them or know someone who does. I wouldn't take kindly to strange kids knocking on my door essentially asking for sweets.

Nowadays, DH stays at home to dole out treats, and I take the youngest out (eldest too cool for it now).

What you view as a fun activity that you want your children to experience, isn't that for many other people. It's give and take. Some people love it, some hate it, some do it, some don't, some want to, some can't. There's no "entitlement" to it. It's not a human right.

Gosh that is pushing it! They started at around 5pm here - I've had about six lots since then and it will probably peak between 6-7pm. I'm taking pumpkins in at 8.

That's our situation. No one minds with the Christmas lights as we raise money for charity.

We are heading out soon. DD2 (2) is dressed as a cat-witch and is absurdly cute. She's been practicising her joke too. DD1(5) has a homemade joke this year so we will see how that lands

Totally agree. I'm happy to give sweets to any kid that knocks.

But not until the normal working day is finished. Halloween celebrations are meant to take place after dark. (And happily my neighbours agree)

I feel the same, we like in a destination village, everyone goes all out. Have absolutely no issue with the DC who live rurally coming to the village to Trick or Treat. This is their community too. The issue I have is people coming from the 2 nearest towns to Trick or Treat. It’s teens as well. Our village often gets mentioned on the two town’s facebook pages as the best place to go.

I agree 3pm is too early. I must admit we expected some earlier because our schools are on half term this week but so far we’ve had none at all.

That’s what I meant in my post. Piss off to where you live. When did this shit become a thing?? I didn’t knock on strangers doors begging when I was a kid

All the screaming and screeching has started here. Some bloke has even imported his kids to pester us who live here. They cause enough disturbance all year round. Tonight is carte blanche to annoy people.

But it was the (out of area) teenagers that stopped me doing it. They were so cheeky. You offer sweets and they took 2 bags. Now I just don’t put the pumpkin in the window( local sign). The little kids were great.

In Honour of this thread we weren’t going out this year but I’ve been up in the loft and dug out the box of costumes so we shall be knocking doors 👻.

May or may not give out sweets who knows 🍬

That's what everyone does where I live 🤷‍♀️. Shops all decorated who participate. More cheeky knocking on strangers doors in that case.

I don't see people's issues with teenagers trick or treating if they wanna dress up go out in the cold and knock on my door they can have a bag of harbo just like everyone else

I wouldn’t have minded anyone knocking at 3pm. Some people don’t want to be out in the dark.

Mine were out in a group (I went with them) with a non verbal autistic teen as well who is 17 and some people did say "you boys are too big" until he started making noises jumping around 🤣.. so they did get some sweets after all. Only shops though because I think people would get scared of big boys showing up dressed like monsters.

What do you want them to do sing you a song do you a dance. If their getting up to get the door so you can relax I'd be happy with that

Just had the first one very polite very sweet. I love Halloween I'm taking mine out after tea be around 6pm ish

The shops?? That’s a bit cheeky.

@dreamer24 thank you. Calling into one friend on the way, her dc are gluten free so I’ll drop some goodies in for them!

It’s pissing me off this year! I’ve just had a big operation, come out of hospital yesterday and my husband and son are more preoccupied with that than caring for me.
sorry for the rant . But priorities and all that.

I mean 😢