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Original poster

Since when did kids get so... grabby?! (A Halloween one)

390 replies

MessyHouse91 · 31/10/2018 17:53

Perfectly happy to be slated here - I don’t spend much time with kids (expecting DC1) so this might just be a kid thing!

This is my first year living in a house on an estate (moved from my city centre flat) so my first year buying sweets for the trick or treaters. I love Halloween so I bought massive bags of sweets.

The first kids I held the bowl out so they could choose their own sweets from the selection, but each of the kids grabbed massive handfuls for 5 or 6 bags of sweets each.

For the next kids, I held the bowl out again and said ‘one each please’. The kids didn’t listen and took big handfuls again, and then Mum looked a little embarassed and told the kids to put them back. I didn’t know if it was the done thing to give them a limit and didn’t fancy standing on the doorstep while the kids rifled through their bags trying to figure out which ones it was, so I told her not so worry about it.

The third lot, I put the sweets into their bags for them. One little boy asked if he could have another for his sister, so I chucked in an extra, and then he got half way down the drive and asked for another for his sister. I said ‘I gave you one for your sister’ and he said ‘that was for my big sister, this one is for my little sister’. I gave him a third, and he shouted to his friends ‘SCORE! GOT ANOTHER ONE’.

I loved trick or treating as a kid (my mum only ever let me go to neighbours we knew) so I don’t want to be miserable about it. I was just so looking forward to decorating and seeing all the kids in their costumes! I know it’s just kids and just sweets but the whole thing seems a bit sad, especially as I’m now out of sweets before it even gets going.

Do I go to the shop and buy more and enjoy the whole thing and chalk it up to experience, or do I stop answering the door and be grumpy for the rest of the night?

OP posts:
BumsexAtTheBingo · 31/10/2018 19:46

Think it must just be the kids in your area op. Everyone who knocked here took one sweet without having to be told and said thank you. And people on our road leave their bowls on the step for children to help themselves if they go out and even unaccompanied children were politely taking just one and moving on.

bettytaghetti · 31/10/2018 19:46

Have had lots this year too. Shame the weather improved!
Quite a few grabby kids too, 7 or 8 years old, so old enough to know better. The teens have been fairly polite in comparison! Although the 2 teenage girls who showed up in school uniform with absolutely no attempt at a costume really should have got short shrift!

iwillkeepthishouseclean · 31/10/2018 19:47

We presently have a ran out of sweets note on the door/

Kids just take loads and loads ...

BifsWif · 31/10/2018 19:47

Every single visitor we’ve had (around 15 maybe) has taken only one packet of sweets and every one has said please and thank you, it’s been lovely.

bigbluebus · 31/10/2018 19:48

We've had loads of children call here. Virtually all of them hèlped themselves to just one lolly/choc bar - except for one pair (boy & girl) whom I didn't know who dived in and took a big handful each. Their buckets were so full that most of what they took fell off when added to the pile. I did comment that they should leave some for other people & the dad(?) did say sorry - but the children didn't! (They were about 7 or 8 so old enough to know better).

Gibble1 · 31/10/2018 19:49

Just picking up on the comment about Cubs, we’re on half term this week so did Halloween games last week. I got them to come in uniform though because the Halloween costumes are so flammable that I absolutely will not support anyone buying them or putting kids in them. A friend of mine nearly died when she was set alight by a tealight in her witches costume.
Besides which, it’s Cubs!

AllTakenSoRubbishUsername · 31/10/2018 19:49

That's really rude. Mine take one each even if the bowl is left outside, but I have seen some kids grab handfuls and not even say thank you. Mine would get a rocket if they did that!!

Merryoldgoat · 31/10/2018 19:50

We have a very busy Halloween - kids if all ages - I think I’ve probably had 50 kids and all bar one group took one sweet each - I’ve not had to police a thing.

RuggerHug · 31/10/2018 19:51

Ims2017 Bloody hell!!!!

greendale17 · 31/10/2018 19:51

Think it must just be the kids in your area op. Everyone who knocked here took one sweet without having to be told and said thank you.

^This

oblada · 31/10/2018 19:54

Kids here have not been grabby at all and ive been telling them to take more as ive got loads left !! What did annoy me was the repetitive bell ringing - i was working from home and couldnt come to the door before 6pm and some were just on the bell for 3 minutes straight / ringing 3-4 times in a row. Thats rude.

Spankyoumuchly · 31/10/2018 19:55

There are some lovely dcs out there. Where I live they all said thank you. Not to boast, but just there are nice dcs.

EK36 · 31/10/2018 19:57

All of ours have been lovely so far. Last year we had a couple of grabby kids but this year they have all been lovely. Just popped a tub of lollies outside so we 're not disturbed during our movie, hocus pocus.

rainbowquack · 31/10/2018 19:57

Just got back. My kids know you take one thing each and if I didn't hear them say thank you, they were sent back to say it properly.

We have had fun!

runwithme · 31/10/2018 20:04

We left a bucket of sweets outside the house with a note that my son wrote, with strict instructions to take one each, and upon our return (three hours later) there were some left. I am surprised and think that it must be the 'mwah haha' that he added for theatrical measure that scared them off!

3WildOnes · 31/10/2018 20:04

Everyone took just one from ours, I had to tell them that they could take a couple. My own children only took one and said thank you.

dontalltalkatonce · 31/10/2018 20:05

I dole the sweets out.

Ringsender2 · 31/10/2018 20:05

Mmmmm black jacks

sodabreadjam · 31/10/2018 20:09

In Scotland the trick or treaters are called guisers. They are expected to be in costume and they are expected to tell jokes, riddles or stories.

We hand out sweets - we don’t expect guisers to pick from a bowl. Most people make up little bags of sweets in advance. Monkey nuts and apples are often given too. I ask if they want an apple as some just chuck them away. I gave up on the nuts this year as very few wanted them.

Nine guisers so far and they have all been polite with good jokes.

YouTheCat · 31/10/2018 20:13

Only had one lot. Two boys of about 10, one had a mask on. They were polite.

Possibilities of some older ones later but I'll only answer the door till about 9ish. After that all the sweets are mine.

Fresta · 31/10/2018 20:14

100% not grabby round here- all very polite too! Even the two 6ft teenage boys with deep voices and hoodies on took one sweet and said thank you. (to be honest was happy they didn't mug me!)

ReanimatedSGB · 31/10/2018 20:14

Had one girl of about 4 who took a big handful, but most of them have been fine with just one or maybe two each. Our road and the next road are the kind of go-to roads for Halloween round here and have been for a long time, as at leat half the houses put up decorations and encourage visitors.
We are running bit low now, but going to call it a night in about 20 minutes and cook tea... the other nice bit of Halloween is pumpkin pasta.

stayathomer · 31/10/2018 20:14

Have had lovely groups here-all standing back and some asking 'are you sure?' When I offered more!! Very hard not to look grabby when you're holding them out and I'd assume most kids would aim for more than one but I honestly think that's just excitement! Have a good night OP

redfragglebiker · 31/10/2018 20:15

We've had a couple of grabby ones. I used my teacher voice as she calls it and told them one each please. The vast majority have been very sweet and polite though.

redfragglebiker · 31/10/2018 20:15

*as DH calls it not she.