Tricks for 'trick or treat'

[Beansandneedles]

We're partaking in Trick or Treating this year. A local group from DS's class are gathering together with a few adult supervisors and essentially going to knock on their own front doors. So quite low key.

However, because it's essentially all people we know, we're expecting to be asked to produce a trick at least a few times on the way around!! DS is 5. Not exactly a card shark.

Any ideas for an easy trick he could perform if the moment arises? I can't remember what I used to do 30 years ago, though I remember my dad always equipped us with a trick just in case!!

In scotland it's a joke or a poem or a song

Those we know in Scotland just tell a joke. I'm sure that will be sufficient for a 5 year old.

Oh yes it absolutely was a joke!! Have been sat trying to cast my mind back 30 years to the last time I went trick or treating and coming up blank.

Ah he has some great jokes in the bank already. Thanks!

Chocolate coated Brussel sprouts.

I thought the treat was to prevent the trick (mischief)!

Yes, exactly. The ‘trick’ was traditionally carrying off someone’s gate, so householders were giving you a ‘treat’ so you wouldn’t do it, if, however, the OP is in Scotland, the going round the houses tradition involved singing or performing for a treat — but this isn’t the ‘trick’!

A song, joke, poem or dance, OP.

The worse the better for jokes.

I'm not in Scotland!

We're only going around friends, and assuming at least one dad is going to call them out (playfully) and say 'Trick me!'. Also explained the whole concept to DS who now would like to have a trick ready just in case. Not sure carrying off a gate will work with my weedy 5 year old :P

Maybe I'll teach him that illusion where it looks like you're removing your own thumb!

Trick or treat isn't like that any more in my experience (over the last 10 years). No one asks for a trick, you just knock on the door, say happy Halloween and take sweets!

@Shezlong I appreciate that's true if you're knocking on neighbours doors but this is just friends, they all know the kids, a lot of them are total jokesters. I'd stake a good wager that at least one will ask for a trick!

oh I love when they come and tell jokes. It’s annoying when kids turn up expecting sweets for doing nothing, so last year I made them all tell a joke, it was hilarious 🤣

Never heard.of trick being something the asker performs? I always knew it as playing a prank they wouldn't like on the homeowner. Like a quick spray with a water pistol. Not saying I ever did it, only knowledge gained from films etc.

@Beansandneedles not in my experience, we used to go round our little estate when the kids were under-10 and it was basically all their friends from school's houses and no one ever asked for a trick. Especially not from a very young child, maybe as a young teen they might.
I just wouldn't worry too much about it!

@ShezlongI'm not worried at all, it's fun!!! I'm enjoying planning and working with my son on it but wanted some ideas. I appreciate you've shared your experience, however I asked for recommendations for tricks based on my son's group of friends and comments from a couple of the dads that they are very likely to say 'trick' at the door.

Cook up some pasta / noodles and peel some grapes.
decorate a shoe box do it is spooky (or just black) maybe add some Halloween stickers
Line the shoe box with a sandwich bag so it doesn't go soggy
Cut a hole in the lid
Put the mixture in the box
Trick the person so they have to put their hand in the 'worms and eyeballs', possibly hide some wrapped chocolates in there for them to find.

I taught my DS that trick purely for T&T! Just like you say, there was always a dad who’d ask for them to do a trick.

I’ve had T&Ters desperate to show off their tricks. I had a little magician last year with a growing magic wand in her pocket which was very cute.