To not let my children go trick or treating

[Nolikeythespookey]

I really dislike trick or treating. It is not a British thing - it is a new thing from America and I think it's greedy and intrusive. I don't want my kids going to strangers doors and essentially saying 'give us sweets or we'll do something bad to you'. I think it's horrible manners and not even necessarily safe. I don't think children need a big bucket of 'candy' either.

My kids have been young enough to discourage this so far, but this year one has been invited out trick or treating with friends. I've said we have other plans. He's 6. When they get a bit older and are more aware of the whole thing I won't let them feel left out and will grudgingly allow them to go (with an adult) but I really, really hate this stupid non tradition.

We did used to have 'guising' on hallowe'en in the UK, where kids/guisers had to do a 'party piece/turn' to earn their treat, and I think that's a much nicer thing - bit of give and take and no demanding/threatening from the kids, plus the treat could easily be 20p or an apple.

[Twattybollocks]

It might be an import but its definately not new, I did it as a kid and I'm ancient (very late 30s)
My kids do it, I don't have a problem with it, its just harmless fun,

[Naebother]

When I was a kid (early 70s) it was the BEST night of the year. I have such happy memories, we loved it more than christmas.

It was so exciting going out in the dark, all dressed up, everyone in my neighbourhood joined in. We came home with bucketloads of fruit, monkey nuts and 5 ps.

I want my kids to enjoy it too. It's just a bit of fun. We go out with them, visit a few friends and neighbours.

[WestieMamma]

I hate it. I hate feeling scared in my own home. I hate having to spend an evening with the lights out, sat in the dark, pretending I'm not in.

[PaperSeagull]

It's that time of year again. . .

I love Halloween. I think trick-or-treating is a wonderful tradition. Children show off their costumes to the neighbors. Families hand out treats. The atmosphere is amazing. Disclaimer: I'm an American. So sue me.

Although there was originally a threat implied in the phrase "trick or treat," in all my years I have never known any child to follow through on that implied threat. Most children probably have no idea what the phrase originally meant anyway.

Participate or don't, the choice is yours. But I can assure you I don't see this lovely tradition as greedy or intrusive. It's entirely the opposite, IME.

[Retroformica]

Our trick treat nights are lovely.

A small group of friends with kids. We eat pumpkin soup and make spider biscuits before apple bobbing. We trick treat other friends/nice neighbours houses (prearranged sometimes)so the kids are knocking on familiar doors. Those doors always have a pumpkin outside as a sign they are happy to take part. We live in quite a nice community and its a real laugh.

[BrokenSunglasses]

I can see where you're coming from, but I think it's harmless as long as you enforce the pumpkin rule and that you make sure your dc understand why it's important.

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

I absolutely hate Halloween, my kids have never been out trick or treating and I never answer the door, in fact I do try to go out to the cinema or something with them instead.

I buy some sweets for them so they don't miss out, and I buy some for the kids next door usually the day before, mainly so they don't come over.

Its a horrible day for me.

[gordyslovesheep]

very late this year isn't it this thread

are you being unreasonable stopping your children doing something you don't like - no

as to the rest

Celts and stuff blah blah - older than the hills, not American mummmble etc etc

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Other new things from America that you should eschew:

lightbulbs
Bifocal spectacles
Lightning rods
The transistor
acrylic paint
airbags
clothes hangers
crayons
dental floss
dishwashers
hair spray
gift wrapping
email
jeans
lasers
MRI's
microwave ovens
nylon
Monopoly
paperclips
popcorn
safety pins
tea bags
teddy bears
supermarkets
swivel chairs
vacuum cleaners
zippers
Fucking Slayer

[Squitten]

Nobody seems to do it around here. We've lived here for 4yrs and I think we had one lot of T&Ts one year - that's it!

I'm due DC3 via homebirth on Oct 30th though so any T&Ts might well get more than they bargained for if they come knocking this year...

[PaperSeagull]

Love your list, Katy.

[Flossie82]

YANBU

My children will never be trick or treat knocking on strangers doors.
Paperseagull the choice is yours - it isn't your choice if people are knocking on your door without you asking them to is it? That is the problem!

[freddiefrog]

Virtually our whole village gets stuck in at Halloween and everyone has a blast

We have the same only knock at decorated houses or houses with lit pumpkins rule, pretty much all the kids and villagers take part and we all end up in the pub where they have a fancy dress competition and they put on jacket spuds, hot dogs, etc.

Everyone has a fab time, it's a great way to get all the community together

Those who don't want to don't do it, those who do, do.

[PaperSeagull]

Flossie, in the U.S., the convention is to leave an outside light on to indicate you are happy to receive trick-or-treaters. In many places in England, a pumpkin indicates the same thing. If people ignore those signs, I can imagine it would be very annoying.

[May09Bump]

There is no harm in it - children should be accompanied by an adult and people who want to participate should decorate their houses or put a sign in the window.

I completely dislike the kids expecting money instead or hassling people who don't want to participate.

A bit of fun and respect is what my 4 year old will be experiencing this year.

[IamSlave]

I would love to be in the classic American neighbourhood for it, an old stoop decorated with gourdes and pumpkins topped with the odd black crow .

America does it so much better, they have the houses to dress too.

[morethanpotatoprints]

We sometimes get together with friends as they are nearer to kids and community than we are.
There's no harm if you follow the pumpkin rule.
We won't trick or treat this year as dd has been ill the past 2 years with cold, flu etc during this time.

[KirjavaTheCorpse]

DS is only three, but we don't plan on taking him trick or treating.

LOVE Halloween though, we do loads of spooky stuff and carve a pumpkin and make up lots of little pick'n'mix bags to give out at the door. When he gets older maybe having a little Halloween party.

I don't look down on those who do it, but it certainly isn't my cup of tea. I remember going as a child and thinking then that it felt really awkward and beggy.

[SatinSandals]

I didn't let mine do it when older. I have nothing against Halloween parties etc, I just can't stand trick or treating and bothering the neighbourhood.

[MammaTJ]

I love it. I go mad on decorating the outside of the house and DP takes our DC out and I stay in and answer the door.

[Tavv]

YANBU. In the 70s I never came across "trick or treat". It was fancy dress parties with games like apple bobbing.

Trick or treat is not a positive or friendly activity as it's basically threatening something unpleasant if people don't hand over what you want!

[YourMaNoBraBackOfMyHearse]

YABVVVVVVU. Its my duty as a conscientious parent to weed out the bad sweets. I can only do this when I have a large variety of stock to work through. Halloween is one of the few times of the year that I can get lots done. Its more about the jelly/gum confection around this time of year. In fact I call it Haribeen. I investigate the contents of each bucket with extreme prejudice.

[Trigglesx]

I'm American, although living in the UK. We went trick or treating as children. We did, however, live in a very small town and knew everyone. (I mean LITERALLY EVERYONE).

My DD grew up in America, until she was 18 (although she is now living in the UK as well). She did not go trick or treating. We lived in a much larger city, didn't know as many people, and I didn't feel comfortable sending her out trick or treating to take candy from strangers when we spent all year telling her not to.

Hypocrite that I am, we still decorated up our house quite a bit, had scary music playing, etc, and handed out candy to those who did come to the door. DD was quite happy to help out with that (and she was allowed to nibble some of the candy anyway, so she didn't really miss out on much).

Our DCs here do not trick or treat. It used to be a fun safe evening for children, and it just doesn't seem like it anymore. Not because of paedophiles (for heaven's sake!!) but because of older kids behaving badly in the streets in the name of "fun", the drunk people, and the drunk drivers. And because personally, I just don't think it's necessary. They're not fussed about it really. If they want some sweets, I'll buy some. Not necessary to go door to door for them.

[PaperSeagull]

"Trick or treat is not a positive or friendly activity as it's basically threatening something unpleasant if people don't hand over what you want!"

No, it really isn't. Although it may have its origins in such a threat, no 5-year-old in a ghost costume is going to threaten you if you fail to hand over a mini KitKat.

Seriously, I have never seen any threatening behavior on Halloween in my many years on this earth!

[Trigglesx]

no 5-year-old in a ghost costume is going to threaten you if you fail to hand over a mini KitKat.

Although I know of a few MNers that are capable!