Trick or treating

[Silbury1967]

I know it's a bit late for this post, and it should read 'WAS I being unreasonable', not AIBU!
Do you let your kids trick or treat? We moved to a nice area a couple of years ago and since then I've let the younger kids trick or treat with friends. The area we lived in previously was not as nice or friendly, and I never let the older kids go trick or treating.
Every halloween we would watch spooky kids films or cartoons, eat loads of sweeties and carve pumpkins, but we never answered the door to trick or treaters or let the kids go out. We would also go for a walk in the dark and look for witches.
Now I'm wondering if the older kids missed out by not being allowed to trick or treat. They always used to ask me if they could go but I always viewed it as an american idea and it always seemed like begging to me.
What are other parents views on this?

Sometimes I feel disappointed that I never got to do trick or treating as a child. So I quite enjoy decorating my house, opening the door to them, and dressing up myself for this.

@cavycavy I love the "hand in the shoe box" trick!

Mine did it for the first time this year and they just loved it and it was so nice to see them so excited about something.

How many nights out of the year do we actually interact with our neighbours? Not many in my case so I thought it was really lovely.

It's not begging. People put out decorations/pumpkins so you know they're inviting you to knock for sweets. As the invitation is there it's not begging.

It does depend on where you live. We love Halloween and in our old house would easily give out 100 sweets. New house in small cul de sac we have given out about 15 and that includes my own dc knocking

Our first house used to get teens with hoodies and masks. Always polite but in the dark as a 22 year old female it was intimidating. I wouldn't have answered if dh wasn't home and wouldn't have taken dc out there. We didn't have dc then.

I have very fond memories of halloween rhyming as a child. We went to every house (no-one decorated in those days) and came back with bags of money after singing our rhyme dressed up as witches. No parents with us.

I didn't realise it at the time but I was doing this while my country was going through a bloody conflict - the troubles in NI. I now look back and think that the innocence of children maybe brought some happiness or even joy to the people we called to.

I have taken my children out this year and last with other kids and parents. It is different now, lots of houses decorated and people with decorated houses delighted when we called. The kids love it and it is a nice, happy time. Makes me feel part of my community.

I can honestly say my childhood was full of fun and my parents created a lot of that @CalmDownJanet ... We just didn't do Halloween! Whether you chose to partake in one night's activities a year doesn't make you a fun sponge in my opinion. 😊

Like you've experienced OP we don't decorate our house (and with a nervous dog and poorly toddler we actually decided to disconnect our doorbell this year) and still had 10+ people knocking on the door, sometimes repeatedly when we didn't answer, which woke our child up every time. I think if people choose to go and approach houses that have clearly indicated they're wanting to join in then great, enjoy! But disturbing complete strangers doesn't sit well with me, to me that's a little rude. (although I appreciate most children probably stick to the norm of only approaching decorated houses). Do whatever feels right for you OP x