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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:
Lauren83 · 31/10/2018 20:16

I'm in shock because every single one that called tonight just took 1, we had about 20 groups

MrsRhubarb · 31/10/2018 20:17

Nearly all polite and careful to only take one little bag of Haribo each here. Getting a little bit giddy towards the end of the night. I gave my best teachers face to the two boys who decided to dick about with the cat flap while I was coming to the door. They looked sheepish and apologised. Now DD is in bed the pumpkin is in, lights off, and I am scoffing the leftover sweets.

Racecardriver · 31/10/2018 20:18

To be really really honest it may just be where you live. Where we live the naice children aren’t allowed to trick or treat (at most they will have a party) and the not naice kids don’t seem to have great manners on that front (not that Halloween etiquette is particularly important anyway, it’s just one night w year) and their parents are rarely with them. It may be the same in your neighbourhood.

Mrsmadevans · 31/10/2018 20:23

I have had some lovely children here tonight and they have been as good as gold. I actually asked them to have more because they were taking so little bless them.

ineedaholidaynow · 31/10/2018 20:26

We've had lovely children at the door, but there have been some children in the area kicking in pumpkins if they didn't get enough sweets Angry.

Rowenaravenclawsdiadem · 31/10/2018 20:27

We aren’t doing it tonight because of the dog. Last year I put a bowl out with a sign that said please do not knock, puppy at home. It got ignored and people knocked anyway when the bowl was empty. So tonight I’ve turned off all the downstairs lights still had a couple of knocks!

VanGoghsDog · 31/10/2018 20:29

Most of mine were fine, a littlie tried to take three and I said "oi, one each you little rascal" and his bigger brother showed me he had one and told him to put the others back - they were only about 7 and 9.

'Nice one' seems to sub for 'thank you', but I can live with that. One lot sang a Christmas carol :)

All seems fine to me - except I have a ton of left over sweets to eat!

Dandybelle · 31/10/2018 20:36

Next year, buy a water pistol and when they say 'trick or treat' shout TRICK and spray them with water.

Only joking. Your trick or treaters don't sound very nice though.

fuzzywuzzy · 31/10/2018 20:37

We made little cups filled with sweets and tied up in cellophane. Dd has been giving them out and according to her everyone has been extremely polite and said thank you some prompted by parents.

Before we moved here we lived in an area where we had late teens turn up in masks demanding money. I refused to open the door to trick or treaters after that!

Glad we moved.

Maelstrop · 31/10/2018 20:37

Children shouting through the letter box?! I’d be fucking incandescent!

I’m totally miserable, I don’t agree with giving out sweets to random kids. I’ve put the No trick or treating sign on the door. I can’t be bothered with multiple dogs barking and getting up and down every five minutes.

chardonm · 31/10/2018 20:44

I guess I'll go against the grain .... but seriously bemoaning kids got taking 5 pieces of candy?!? I try not to sweat the small things.

RavenLG · 31/10/2018 20:48

We've not had a single knock. I think if one knocked now I'd dump the whole bowl in their bag.

chillpizza · 31/10/2018 20:50

We took ours out this year we don’t do it every year though. We go with the children and they are told one each although the toddler needs reminding sometimes. They all however say thank you. A lot have offered our children more than the one but I did see a group of around 10 children going around and they got to a “please take one” bowl and they pretty much emptied it leaving a handful plus a few over the driveway. My children picked them up and put them back in the bowl and only took one each. My mil had people coming back to her door more than once for more sweeties Shock we only go to decorated houses. Knock once if no answer we move on. My house undecorated this year as we alternate between being out and in I have loads of knocks with parents directing their children to knock on my door from the cctv footage Hmm

hdh747 · 31/10/2018 20:59

Was just getting ready to take ours in when the last group arrived, a big group of kids about aged 10-12 with no adults, so I was a bit on edge, but every single one took one treat and said thank you with a smile. Been a lovely evening actually and my kids are adults now so we just did the pumpkin thing for other peeps kids but it was lovely to see them.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 31/10/2018 21:06

Without exception every child here tonight has been polite and lovely. The youngest was probably 18 months and the oldest about 14

I think you have had back luck maybe?

frostywalkshotchocolate1 · 31/10/2018 21:07

My older girls take 1 each! Unless told otherwise, my 2 year old DD on the other hand GRABS like her life depends on it 😂 luckily she's got
Small hands and grabs 2 things at the most haha

Inniu · 31/10/2018 21:18

I had to go out mid trick or treating. I left a cauldron in packets of sweets and crisps in front of the door with a sign saying please take a packet.

There were still some packets left an hour and a half later when I got back so not too grabby around here.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 31/10/2018 21:21

I bought a load of minin packs of Smarties, and just tell them one each. Nobody's tried to take more.
Out of one group of about five, not one said thank you.
All the others have, though.
Haven't had so many kids this year, usually get rather more. . Plenty of Smarties left for me! 🐷

sabrinathethirtysomethingwitch · 31/10/2018 21:21

In our first Halloween in our first home together, I spent all day making toffee, white chocolate or milk chocolate apples with sprinkles. Ordered the wrapping and bows off eBay. All delighted with myself. --

I wish I had pictures of some of the disappointed faces. Some kids said "have you anything else...I don't like those" Shock.

Safe to say that was my first and last year making the effort. Now I just go to the pound shop and buy cheap sweets. Give the people what they want! Tempted to give the brats chocolate covered Brussel sprouts

Grasshopper123 · 31/10/2018 21:26

Not too grabby here either....we're really lucky where we live, we leave out a massive bowl of sweets (along with a load of decorations) every year when I take my kids out trick or treating and have always (so far) come back to some left. All the children tonight have been very polite. Our village really signs up to halloween tho!

Thishatisnotmine · 31/10/2018 21:28

A group of five children aged about 4-10 knocked on my door. I encouraged them to take two bags as we had so many. They checked I was defintely ok with that and said thank you.

Most kids are polite. But Halloween is also about getting sweets from strangers. They are excited! At least kids don't do tricks (throw things at your house) as is half the point of trick or treat.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 31/10/2018 21:31

Just taken the kids into town. Had a great time. They were all polite and non-grabby. Found a few houses with bowls left outside that had been completely emptied though and it was still quite early.

Need go to and supervise bed time now, I think they’ve taken their sweets up with them!

Muddlingalongalone · 31/10/2018 21:33

The vast majority of houses we visited encouraged my dd's and friend to take more - they also had a joke each to tell

Betsy86 · 31/10/2018 21:39

Hopefully Jamie Oliver will get it banned next year..... Grin

lynmilne65 · 31/10/2018 21:45

Haven't had a one ! 🧐😎

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