Any other Mums refusing to take the kids out trick or treating?

[Theboulderhascaughtupwithme]

Just wondering if I totally mean/unreasonable. We do a lot for/ with the kids, clubs, weekend days out, doing stuff at home etc etc but I just cannot muster any enthusiasm for taking me out trick or treating. I find the whole concept of trawling round the houses letting them beg for sweets cringe worthy.

Strangely I have no problem with other kids coming to ors and always have some sweet etc ready for them which makes me feel I am being a bit unreasonable.

Also I don't want to fork out on costumes and I am totally not able or into making them.

So I guess I am giving myself permission to just not do even tho my eldest particularly has been keen and asking to go.

What's other people's stance?

I don't do it. If another parent invites my kids I will let them go but I don't like it, hence I'm having a big Halloween party instead so they won't want to.

Homeless people knocking on doors isn't even comparable, that's not a tradition.

If enough of them did it on the same day every year, that would make a tradition, though. Still wouldn't make it acceptable
As for just not answering the door, when it's relentless and every five bloody minutes for at least two hours it's not that easy.
I'm big enough to take it, but there'll be some vulnerable people out there who hate it.
Even not putting any decorations out and having your front window in darkness doesn't stop them from constant knocking.

Nope. I don't do Halloween.

Although this year I'm doing a few halloween bits (shaped biscuit and sandwiches) as they normally have a picky tea one night of their holiday.

Nope. We spend the while year teaching children not to accept sweets from strangers so this seems a bit . It's overhyped, and yet another excuse for the shops to make money.

The American's can keep this one.

I honestly didn't realise that people knocked on doors that were not decorated and had the lights off?!?

I honestly didn't realise that people knocked on doors that were not decorated and had the lights off?!?

Ours did the other year and they still knocked!

I've never been keen on the idea until we lived where we live. It's a small family-heavy estate where we know the majority of people, we all have a note through the door saying if anyone wants to participate then leave your porch light on, so no one's bothered if they don't want to be. Almost all the children go to the same primary school so it's very friendly.

Every year MN has multiple threads like this.

You don't need to have strangers justify your choices

Take them or don't

You're the parent so it's your call.

I'm gutted. My five year old doesn't want to do it. So I'm compromising with a turnip on the doorstep and sweets in a dish.

We have a big halloween parade where we live which is more fun than trick or treating. Though, I confess, I did do it with my friends as a teen. Bonfire Night was a bigger thing when I was younger.

I enjoy it but we only go to houses that have something on show to indicate that they are participating in the festivities.

I'm going - wouldn't miss it. The houses round here have been done up really spectacularly. There will be at least a couple of houses where the kids are handed a microphone and told to sing for their treat, which always cracks me up. One house will be blowing dry ice out into the garden and playing spooky music. And all of this at no cost...

We live on an estate where it's really popular, same rule about only knocking on the doors of decorated houses - there are some Americans at the end of the road and they put on a fantastic show with tombstones in the garden. It's just a lot of small children in costumes, no tricks, and my children will be (for the third year running) a pumpkin and a pumpkin fairy respectively. I have a pumpkin hat to accompany them so do tip me the wink if you see me tonight. DH stays home to answer the door and last year we had about 150 small costumed visitors. I've suggested he gets one of those clicky things for this year to keep count!

I just go with it, so as not to be the fun-police parent, which is how it would feel to me anyway. I get DH to take them, I answer the door with sweets, and they are only to knock on decorated porches and we just go a couple of streets up and back. Its one night, its a pain in the arse really but I find often its more fun if you participate than not. Its irritating that it has become such a thing though.

I'm in scotland, and guising is really big where I live. The kids go to friends & neighbours houses (with pumpkins in the window). They then tell a joke of sing a song in return for sweeties. Our older neighbours always ask if he DC will be coming & tell me they have sweets in specially. They love seeing them!

No begging & no 'tricks'.

Our whole estate gets really into it, most of the houses are decorated and all the kids will go around tonight. Everyone thinks it's great fun. We just don't call to the houses that aren't decorated - it's quite simple! The kids really enjoy the bit of excitement and it's harmless. I wouldn't deprive them of it when they can see all the other kids having such fun.

I agree that if you decide to participate you should only go to decorated houses, as clearly if they have decorations out they are 'participating' in Halloween and essentially inviting trick or treaters. I usually get trick or treaters regardless of the fact that I don't put decorations out though. Most years I'll give out sweets though regardless as I know we will always get them (we live in a busy estate with lots of families). This year I'm putting a sign up though saying no trick or treaters (not because I'm mean, but have a 7-week old DD who gets very grumpy and cluster-feeds all evening, who would not be impressed if I had to keep pulling her off my boob to go answer the door, and it's far too stressful to deal with a screaming baby just to hand out sweets to the local trick or treaters). I also think there should be an age limit on trick or treaters. Small children in costumes accompanied by their parents is one thing, but sometimes I have had groups of teenagers in masks etc at the door and it gets a bit intimidating I think.

I hate Trick or Treat with a passion. I've never taken mine and nor will I. They aren't fussed about it either thankfully.

Sil used to say we were miserable and mean for not letting them do T or T. Oddly enough it was always bil who took their kids out in all weathers to go knocking on doors whilst she stayed at home

Most people love it where I live. People make cupcakes or cookies aswell as giving out normal sweets, and one house with an elderly couple in it make little bags with toys etc in them and we stay and chat for a while while they pretend DS's pumpkin costume is terrifying

With other houses the kids knock once quietly and move on if no-one answers. We get a few mouthy people going on with themselves that we are harassing them but we just turn and walk away (while they are still mouthing off usually) and we make a mental note not to go to that house again.

No-one 'begs' - its just a simple "trick or treat smell my feet etc" (my DS loves this particular bit ) and DS does a bit of a dance or whatever and he gets a few sweets.

Maybe its just where I live (we're all pretty common ) but there are only one or two people who are a bit miserly about it, otherwise its really lovely to see everyone out with their little ghouls enjoying themselves

What's the etiquette if you don't want knocking but leave some sweets out in the porch with a note to people to help themselves. Will that work as a compromise? Don't want to be grumpy but also don't want to be up and down to the door.

Worried - a few people do that where I live and I'm always very pleasantly surprised to see the kids only taking a small handful so they leave some for others.

Ok, thanks. That is what I'll do!

I've never taken ds. I just tell him that some people have to stay in to give out treats to callers. And of course there will be some treats for him too.