To take my ds aged 22 months trick or treating

[YummyorSlummy]

Even though he can't say 'trick or treat'? Not sure whether to go or wait until next year and just let him answer the door instead. So please can you all tell me what to do?!

I think it depends tbh. If you're in a small community where everyone knows each other, or if you just call on friends, dress up and have a halloween party etc at the end of it then that's lovely - and I think that's probably why some of you can't understand the begging comments. On the other hand.... we haven't ever had decorations or pumpkins outside the house - but the doorbell rings all night and not just with children we know - infact mainly children we don't which means they can't live very near to us at all. So, for the little ones who we know who come dressed up, not begging, just fun visitng neighbours - but for those who are just going street to street knocking on every door, then I would say that is begging

It has relevance in so far as your comment "small children are not thugs. Unfortunately, they grow up and get let out on their own" seemed to indicate the you don't think older children are capable of guising without behaving like thugs.

If turning up at someone's decorated, receptive house on Hall'o'ween and saying 'Trick or Treat' without menaces, receiving treats/gifts/sweets is begging......

then surely turning up at someone's decorated, receptive house and saying 'Merry Christmas' without menaces, receiving treats/gifts/sweets is begging.

and first footing is begging. "Penny for the guy?" anyone?

Actually just calling in on anyone for a cup of tea is begging, by that definition. Maybe we shouldn't have any traditions

I've just done a poll of my family including DP, and two of DDs friends who are all part of 'normal loving families'. Every one of them mentioned eggs as a trick. DP suggested tricking as knocking bins over and throwing eggs!
If the holiday has nothing to do with kids behaviour, why has every supermarket in the area, banned sales of eggs to kids this weekend?

And don't forget birthday parties - just another excuse to beg for presents

Let him answer the door instead can still dress up! much more exciting and nice and warm.

YABU - trick or treating is crap. :)

Don't know - maybe you live in a rough area? They've certainly not banned their sale round here. Have just asked DS (13) what a trick is - it's when you tell a joke, apparently.

It has relevance in so far as your comment "small children are not thugs. Unfortunately, they grow up and get let out on their own" seemed to indicate the you don't think older children are capable of guising without behaving like thugs.
Not at all. But given that it happens all the time on October 31, obviously older children are capable of being swept up in the occasion and acting in a thuglike manner as they think it I acceptable.

Actually, I live in the heart of constable country. Hardly 'rough'.

It's a shame that the local children aren't capable of behaving themselves, Constable country or not. How do they cope with Guy Fawkes, and the general mayhem of Christmas and Easter? All those fireworks, liqueur chocolates and begging letters to Santa - it must be like Sodom and Gomorrah down your way

crikey am very suprised by some of these responses and thank god we live where we do.

yes we do go round to our neighbours with our children and get dressed and chat to people. we are part of a community and halloween or dropping christmas cards round or just passing the time of day is part of that.

in answer to your question get him dressed up.. if you have close family or friends who would like to see him then call on them. if not he can be the sweet hander outer.

and for the bah humbuggers..... dont put a pumpkin out turn the lights out or maybe chat to the families and teenagers that call on you to trick or treat you might meet some lovely people and make some new friends

We live in a nice area with good schools and generally nice kids - yet the Police are using there much-needed money and resources to visit schools to raise awareness of the issues mentioned here. Tradition has changed and sadly egging is now considered an acceptable trick by too many, otherwise 'nice' kids (as we found out when we did a survey in school). Sadly it's also now deemed acceptable to 'trick' people for not answering the door. Sadly it has now become a horrible evening/night for far too many people who have their reasons for not wanting to be disturbed.

Well, that's horrible for you Penguin . I can assure you that it's not like that everywhere in the UK, but your opinions are obviously informed by you experiences.

I am part of a community. we all know each other, chat, exchange Christmas cards, and give sweets to each others kids when and if we want to. Why do people need to give in to pressure from retailers and people who have to do things because that's what everyone else does, to be a community?
If my child saw a local friend in the newsagents and asked them to buy them some sweets, I'd be mortified.

Have lived in many parts of the UK and seen the same thing over and over.....personally I don't have a major issue with neighbour's children asking but am gutted that it is now such a problem that Police forces are being driven to spend time and money on this.

My (American) twin grandchildren are 22 months old. They dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. It was last night in their community. Ultra cute! LRRH loved it, ran from house to house with her big brother (age 4, a policeman), loved going to the doors, didn't care about candy. BBW was a tired wolf before it started.

Many houses and yards were decorated quite elaborately. It lasted from 6 to 8, and if lights were off, you did not go to that house.

It IS an idyllic community they live in. The kids were very excited and polite. Most of the kids (and their parents) went to a lot of effort for their costumes and make up.

That is Halloween at its best, I think. Excitement and fun! And over in two hours!

Some people really are a bit miserable at the moment! If you don't want trick or treaters just put the sign up, always worked for my parents. I've never heard of the no decoration=don't knock thing before so other people might not realise that you don't want to be disturbed if you don't have a sign up as well.
I was 11 when I first went trick or treating, my mum always refused to let me or take me out so I went over to a friends house for the night and went trick or treating with her. Mum was furious when she found out (she absolutely hates halloween) but it was worth it. Its so much fun for kids and young children pick up on the excitement as well.

We'll be putting a sign up. I have no objection in principle but am currently 40+4 weeks pregnant and have two dogs who find the doorbell ringing very exciting. I really don't want the stress. We'll be unplugging the doorbell!

Wouldn't bother going out

We had a little tot last year and I felt really sorry that her parents had dragged her out. Don't do it. I never let mine do it ever, despite the upset it caused. I hate the whole thing. Dress up at home and have fun without distrubing the neighbourhood.

YANBU - take Ds out. Both my Ds's have been out at about 2 yrs old and loved it. Grandma took them and they just visited a few houses that were decorated / houses of family and friends. They were out and back v quickly. Can't see how it is begging! Also, quite a few of the older people quite liked to see the youngers ones dressed up etc. I have never had a problem with people egging the house etc, but then all the teenagers knew that we were good for chocolate . We consider it to be fun. I have never begrudged spending the few quid on treats, and have always really enjoyed treating the neighbours' kids with a couple of quid on top of that. But then we know most of the people on the street (we have moved since then), mainly because we made a point of getting to know them.

Oh, and if it is begging - what about the Whit walks ( which are quite popular where we live now) - I always got given money, often from strangers, as I paraded through the town with the choir.

All this Hallowen thing has become an out-of-control import, only enriching the pockets of the cynical retail industry. If you've watched American films, such as ET, you'll see that "trick or treat" is for LITTLE children to dress up and go visit their friends etc. In this country, gangs of youths rampage around and making a complete mess of the local area. I refuse to let my ds (12) or dd (7) participate in any way. I'd much rather that they go around doing £1 for the guy at this time of year.