Trick or treating etiquette

[fromdespairto]

We have never been in an area where this has been done, but we are now living in a child heavy town. I am expecting a lot of kids but honestly don't know what the norm is here.

How much candy do you give each child? One piece? A handful?

Do I need to make small talk or can I literally just give them something and close the door?

Are monkey nuts a no?

How much stuff should I buy in? Granted this is less of an issue as I will happily eat leftovers!

get some bumper bags of trick or treat sweets from the supermarket, dump them into a large bowl and let the kids pick one candy each. just comment on the kids costumes (complement them) and then say happy Halloween before shutting the door.

Definitely no nuts of any kind.

Apparently you're supposed to display a pumpkin or other visible sign that you welcome trick or treaters these days.

We used to get loads of trick or treaters and then they stopped quite suddenly and it was a few years before I realised that it was because we didn't have a pumpkin.

I used to buy a few multipacks of kit kats or similar, and they were always well received and, like you, we were perfectly happy to eat the leftovers.

Ah that's a good point about a pumpkin, hadn't thought to display one.

I'd assumed no to monkey nuts, they're my favourite bit of Halloween though so will just buy a bag for me 

Around here no one goes to a house with no pumpkin or displays. A friend of mine bought sweets and didn't understand why no one came to her door.

Last year someone gave out a Christian pamphlet with a sweet. That was a bit weird. Kids remember (not in a good way) when they're given apples or satsumas.

I tend to hand out a sweet to the child as some try and grab whole handfuls. Or only put a few in the bowl at a time. Otherwise you run out very quickly!
I comment on their outfits, and say 'have a good night'

Love trick or treaters!

Lit pumpkin is a sign that you're participating. Big bowl full of celebrations / mini-haribo packets, etc; let them take a couple or handful for the littler ones.

I'm one of those wondering why no one came to my door.I didn't realise you had to put some sort of sign out. It must be quite a new thing round here because in the past we used to get innundated with children. I live on an estate with lots of children and they'd be queueing up the road.
Why did no one tell me!

I was just about to make bags up with an apple or Orange, popcorn and a couple of sweets. Is that bad form?

When did the 'display a lit pumpkin' thing come in and how do people know that's the rule?

As I said above, we have never had a pumpkin and our once many trick or treaters stopped a few years ago (same house, estate, lots of families out trick or treating).

I only knew about the pumpkin rule because I was once out for a run on Halloween and I heard a woman say to her DC 'we can't go to that house, they don't have a pumpkin'. I've also read it on here and heard people talking about it at work.

I think the pumpkin thing came about because otherwise kids will knock on old people's doors. Or people who aren't interested.

Yes it seems to be that kids don't want fruit at all (DS2 was a nightmare for commenting when someone gave him fruit) so no point wasting your money or the fruit. Just buy bags of haribo/big bags of mini bars and had out maybe two things to each kid. Round here they just stand with their treat bags poised open to receive so it's handy enough that they don't expect to take their own as I've noticed it seems to be a bit of a competition as to who is getting the most.

Also, doesn't matter round here if there's a pumpkin out or not, they will still knock.

I think the pumpkin rule came in when pumpkins became available in the UK and Halloween decorations became a thing.

Few people could be bothered to carve a turnip, where pumpkins are almost designed to be carved!

Pumpkin message tended to cascade thru facebook and playground chatter - it's designed to provide relief to those who are not participating.
Small popcorn snack packs are good - especially as only haribos generally for those who don't want chocolate. However, opened big bags may be less welcomed. Mostly because the popcorn either has to be eaten upon collection or will stick to whatever container is being used (bad news if fabric based). There's also always one person who will assume any food opened more than 8 seconds is poison (or that you've poisoned it). Never bothered me, but I've known people to avoid cupcakes and similar for the same reasons.
Oranges in hallowe'en bags are about as welcomed by children as socks for xmas.