My teenager thinks trick or treating will still happen.

[nicegirl73]

I’ve explained to them all (14,12 and 10) that people will not be doing it this year and I don’t want them to be disappointed.
But she just got angry with me now saying I don’t know that it won’t.
Am I unreasonable trying to manage their expectations that there won’t be any trick or treating?
Ir maybe some places still will trick or treat...and I’m worrying too much.
I am in no way one of the people jumping to abide by all the ever changing rules I just can’t seem trick or treating happen. Help!

@BitOfFun

Yes, I agree. You are probably right.

I suppose I meant it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. They could do something together at home ( I appreciate the novelty of that is wearing thin...)

How about a virtual spooky sleepover where she watches a scary film online with a couple of friends (if they all have access to same streaming films) and has some sweets?

@Breakupcharlie it’s not against the law. I sometimes get even older kids than that uni think it’s great that they still enjoy dressing up.

Thank you all! I really had the feeling virtually everyone was in agreement there would be no trick or treating and I just don’t want them to be sad or even worse someone shouting at them.

@EmeraldShamrock

Many are going ahead unfortunately. I'm dreading the door knocking repeatedly while I'm trying to keep my DC indoors.

I have printed a sign off that says i am not doingbit.. tbh i don't know if people will or won't but don't wanr people knocking my door. - the people imo who don't care are the ones who probably aren't following the rules

It’s sensible to not do it this year, surely they can understand that?
I’m a bit surprised they’re not passed it at that age, I would worry a gaggle of teens knocking on people’s door may be a bit intimidating for some? My DD aged 11 is too old now so we’re just getting our own sweets and will have a pumpkin.

Where we are (Wales) ToT is banned completely this year, which given our other restrictions is fair enough.

Even if we lived in a tier 1 area of England I would still give it a swerve this year to be on the safe side- and my kids love trick or treating.

I’m sorry your teenager is struggling to come to terms with it most likely being a no-no this year, it’s probably the final straw for them. My son (9 and with ASD) was heartbroken but has now come to terms with it being different for now.

In my area, people are still going to decorate so the children can walk round in groups of six or less. Instead of knocking on the door, people are going to peg small individual bags of sweets to their front hedges.

Teenagers shouldn’t be trick or treating anyway

@Breakupcharlie

If your 14 is planning on going treat or treating she’s too old and it’s against the law.

I think it is in the USA! 🤔

DH has bought about six bags of mini bars / bags of sweets, more than usual. We usually only get one or two and we then eat the sweets ourselves that are left. If anyone does it this year I will fling them down to the bottom of the drive.

We just don’t answer the door. My kids are adults now, I have zero interest.

(Fling the sweets, that is.)

My areas doing a pumpkin trail. We all decorate pumpkins which sounds obvious and take kids out hunting for them. Some people are pegging bags of sweets out etc. We'll be making the most of it and getting involved

Our kids are much much smaller and DS just turned 5 very disappointed by absence of trick or treating. So..... plan is -

1. We’ve been to pumpkin festival and had lots of fun and picked out pumpkins
2. We’ve picked costumes for DS and baby dd for her first Halloween.
3. We’ve got sweets in + decorations for indoors + bat cupcake kit and party food in freezer + garden friendly fireworks + making a Halloween cake.
4. Spotify playlist ready. DS 5 will run proceedings for our household Halloween party complete with cupcake making contest, yummy food, sparklers, crazy pumpkins in back garden, twinkly lights and staying up late and party music. Baby DD will be a cute witch in her 9-12 months outfit.

See there’s still things to do! Just adapt for older/younger kids!

Oh and spouse and I will have a takeaway later that night!

I read of a good idea - hide sweets around your house & give kids torches to hunt for them in the dark.
Probably not what the 14yr old wants, but younger kids may enjoy that.

I think a lot of people won't want to do it - we're OK with it but I think most of the street isn't. We've bought some (individually sealed) treats to give out if anyone does come. I think we might have to put out a 'trick or treaters welcome' sign or something so that people can knock if they want and know we're happy to deal with it. No one's having prolonged contact with anyone, and there's really no proof that people catch it from surface contact as you just can't pick up enough infectious droplets easily.

I can't imagine it's 'against the law' but it's considered rude around here to be trick or treating once you get to a certain size/age.

We live in an area with quite a few elderly residents and DS was gutted when I told him at about 12 he was too big to go knocking on strangers' doors with his mates. Lots of people find it intimidating to have teens knocking at the door in the dark.

It's really for the little ones.

To be fair I actually did read an article years ago that claimed trick or treating itself was technically illegal. I can't remember the details.

Isn't 14 and 12 too old to be trick or treating?

A 14 year old shouldn't be trick or Treating anyway for goodness sake

Our kids' school has specifically asked that the students not trick or treat this year, on the basis that cases around here have been rising and they want the school to be able to stay open to Christmas.

It's a risk for them and for those around - knocking on doors, crowding the most popular roads, rummaging around in bowls of sweets (or even if in separate bags, there's still a risk).

I like Halloween, and we'll still be decorating and doing our own family fun, but with a masked pumpkin out front, and a blocked off gate.

@Breakupcharlie

If your 14 is planning on going treat or treating she’s too old and it’s against the law.

I assume this is someone in America who thinks that the laws where they are apply to the entire world

I am not sure a pumpkin trail will hold much appeal for teens...

Those of you saying you won't open the door to trick-or-treaters, are you worried about getting egged?

Those of you saying you won't open the door to trick-or-treaters, are you worried about getting egged?

No because they’re mainly tiny 5 year olds with their mums & dads.
If an older child / teen did that to my house they’d only do it the once !

Those of you saying you won't open the door to trick-or-treaters, are you worried about getting egged?
Does this happen? I'd go mad.
Thankfully it is smaller DC around here. I'll feel mean ignoring them, they wouldn't egg you but if I leave abasket out the first would clear it.