What to do about being out for trick or treaters

[HalloweenScrooge]

So it’s Halloween again - kids love it, we live in an active neighbourhood. Have the pumpkins, the decs, all ready to go.

We will likely be out for a fair bit of the early evening as the kids are going to a Halloween party and then trick or treating on the way home (about half a mile). Party is 4-6 so expect to be home about 7ish. Prime trick or treating time is 5.30-7.30 around here.

I think DH will be home for some of it (unless he comes with to the party, which he might) but for the trick or treating I might want two adults with us - it will be very busy in our neighbourhood.

So - what are the thoughts on leaving an honesty bowl with some treats in? Last time I did this some teens stole the whole thing early on (have cctv so know who it was). How PA is it to leave a sign saying please take one? I think it’s probably too far to say that you’re on cctv but what about something fun/creepy along the lines of ‘you’re being watched’.

Also slightly nervous about making it very obvious we are out.

I’m way overthinking this and am bemused about the potential pile on I might be about to get, but any MNers have some good ideas?

I think you're overthinking it. You're out, end of story. No need to leave anything.

I'm in the same boat too ! We will be out trick or treating for a bit and our house is very obviously decorated.

Doesn’t feel very ‘community’ though @ImInStealthMode - we will be out participating in the neighbourhood generosity, so would like to leave something for the other kids. We have a great frontage for decorating with a (soon to be) creepy porch. We have tons of goodies, just don’t want anyone to run off with the whole bowl like last time (bowl and all!)

I send DH out with the kids and I stay in and answer the door. I think sweets would be fine left out here at least for the young ones who come round early but I won't risk it as I wouldn't want to send my kids to other houses expecting sweets and not have any to give out to others.

I am overthinking it though - you’re right. Trying to do too many things at once

Don’t leave anything. I did and the buggers took all the sweets, and smashed my lovely carved pumpkins down the street as they went. I could see it on CCTV.

When we have been in a similar situation, I’ve taken the sweets with me and handed them out to others kids I’ve seen trick or treating. That way I don’t feel like I’m taking advantage, but don’t have to worry about the whole lot of sweets being taken!

But others must be in the situation if they're trick or treating? Not everybody can be both out trick or treating and at home awaiting trick or treaters at the same time. If you leave a bowl out you run the risk of it being swiped again.

Trick or Treat this year and then next year stay in and dress up and await Trick or Treaters?

@GoodnightGrandma I’m sorry it’s not just us! That sort of thing would be devastating to the kids. I think one of us will have to stay home.

[quote HalloweenScrooge]@GoodnightGrandma I’m sorry it’s not just us! That sort of thing would be devastating to the kids. I think one of us will have to stay home.[/quote]
Me and the kids had spent the afternoon carving them. It was very disappointing.

The other option would be to not decorate the house and leave the lights off, that way it’s obvious you’re not in.

We put a box out with mini haribo, lots of neighbours do it as we are all out.

I pegged bags of sweets to the line last year. Less east to just take the lot.

everyone is respectful

We leave an honesty bowl. We don't put them all in at once.....obviously you might need to. Its quite common around here so most kids are really good and well behaved.

(Leave a sign saying they are on camera!!! Lol)

I've left a bowl of sweets on the step with a lit pumpkin before and never had a problem.

But I agree if you're out you're out, you'll probably be in for some of the early younger kids or the later older ones maybe or take sweets with you and hand them out as you go. It's not a big deal.

I wouldn’t spend any energy worrying about this. If you’re out, you’re out.

I’m leaving treats on the step. I am making a sign which will say please take one - happy Halloween!

I’m going to put them out a few at a time. I’ve made little treat bags 😁

The best thing about being out on Halloween is that you don't have to keep answering the door! We'll be out so the lights will be off so no wasted journeys for kids looking for sweets.

To be fair, this stance is much easier when you don't like Halloween! 🍊

We don’t want people knocking on the door as it will set the dog off each time, so will be fashioning some kind of washing line on the fence and hanging sweets on that. As a pp said, hard to steal the lot!

Last year with social distancing we cut loads of ghosts or of white paper, stuck a sweet on each and hung them up out front. Worked well.

Im not doing anything this year normally I get sweets in and out a pumpkin out etc ,but honestly I just don't. think it's advisable this year

Mine are too old to go trick or treating now but our routine was always that I took them out and DH stayed at home answering the door.

If we are all out we leave a box of sweets out, we only decorate the house inside the front window (pumpkins with battery tealights on the windowsill etc) so there isn't anything to damage. The pegging packets on a line is a good idea.

@ImInStealthMode

I think you're overthinking it. You're out, end of story. No need to leave anything.

Exactly this. There is no requirement to leave anything.

I'm the real Halloween scrooge.

I don't answer the door and I don't give out sweets. To be fair it doesnt seem to be a thing where we live, so we aren't actually disappointing any small children.