to think that trick or treating should be made illegal?

[Boogalooblue]

I am fed up with children coming round banging on front door, shouting 'trick or treat' and expecting vast quantities of sweets in return.



I really do not understand why parents think this is acceptable.

I would not send my dcs out begging either accompanied or on their own and cannot comprehend why other parents do.

Yes I have given up answering door after dark on Halloween.

If you feel you must take your little devils darlings out, could you please just go to houses where you are obviously welcome ie a pumpkin in window/on front doorstep.

Not where the curtains are all drawn and light out.

Thank you

[lennygirl]

Message withdrawn

[OrmIrian]

"Plenty of time to be old and think the world is out to get you, why start now? "

My sentiments exactly lennygirl . I don't know if I walk round with rose-coloured blinker or something but IME trick or treaters are generally fine - mostly LOs with parents of older siblings in tow. No-one round here goes round shoving fireworks in people faces or up cats' bums.

[VoodooLULUmama]

oen year, i stuck a note to the porch door

'baby sleeping , do not ring bell, help yourself to sweets!'

and left a bowl of sweets out next to a pumpkin

i thikn there is a world of difference between supervised trick or treating, wtih young, dressed up kids, with adults with them, expecting one lolly, than big gangs of older kids wanting money or throwing eggs

[OrmIrian]

Our local police are giving out posters that residents can out in their windows asking t&ters to stay away.

[kittylouise]

I like trick or treating, dd has fun dressing up and likes walking around dressed as a witch in the dark, collecting sweets. All fine by me (though God knows why I have got the trick or treating shift, whilst DP stays in in the warm and gives sweets to the kids that visit, but that's another story!)

I never did Trick or Treating as a child - it was not popular really - but there was a strong tradition of bonfires on 5th November, and loads of kids made a guy and collected pennies, then turfed poor guy on the fire and watched him burn. Which IMO has a lot more sinister connotations, really.

[ally90]

I must say I resent the teenage kids coming round with just a mask on. Bit pathetic really. Think DH frightened life out of them the other year...invited them into house to see our halloween decorated kitchen (for neices...not us ) Not been back since

Smallies...I like, yeah its begging, but they look cute. I do think it polite to go to houses where it is clear they are welcome. For older people some think it is scary...

And lets not forget...don't we get hassled walking thro town with charity boxes been waggled under our noses? It is a bit intrusive to those who have not asked for it...

so yabr (is that the right acronym?)

[treacletart]

We shall be doing it for the first time this year but will only knock on doors with pumpkins. DS was only 3 last year and I felt too little to do it proprly yet but he sat behind the front door with a big bowl of sweeties desperate for trick or treaters to visit us. It was really funny watching 14 year olds in scream masks who would clearly have preferred hard cash being asked to choose what colour worm sweet they'd like by a toddler in a monster costume

[oopsiedoopsie]

The pumpkin code varies a littel round here.

Pumpkin outside: knock

No pumpkin outide: knock, if theres no answer egg / brick the house unless you know where thier car is, then key / remove wing mirrors.

I have no problem with the kids coming round supervised or otherwise, its the 20+ year olds wearing a bedsheet over thier head that sorta ruin the experince for me. I spose its easier than getting a job though.

[amidaiwish]

last few years our trick or treaters have all been children and mostly young children with an adult lurking by the gate.
i think it's fun
we have a pumpkin outside so i think it's fair that if someone has a pumpkin lit up they are welcoming (even wanting) trick or treaters.

but let's see...
teenagers wanting £ - well they'll have to put up with a dairy milk treat bar (BOGOF in Tesco!)

[Beelliesebub]

I must admit I haven't got a problem with trick or treaters on the whole, what I do object too is the constant knocking for the last four weeks and not even dressed up for the occasion....
I think it's acceptable to knock from the friday closest to halloween and then no knocking at all from the 1st of November.... until next year.

[Beelliesebub]

Oh yeah..........
and last year we actually had a lad knock on the door asking for a penny for the guy...

[willbiteyourneckandmakeulikeme]

agree. its beggin. would never let my kids annoy the neighbours.

[becklespookle]

I take my DSs out, we only go around our street and only to houses with either pumpkins or decorations. I completely sympathise with people who don't want to join in with it all and think it is the parent's responsibility to ensure that their DCs don't knock on their doors.

I think it is all good fun for the little ones although I draw the line at teenagers, IMHO if they are old enough to be out after dark without adult supervision then they are too old for Trick or Treating! I get in glowsticks to give to children that come here knocking too. Luckily the Trick or Treaters only come on 31st October here .

[Squiffy]

For those who hate it all, the way to get through the evening is to leave a sign on the door saying "help yourself to sweets", and underneath place a bucket, empty except for one or two random sweet wrappers.... everyone will assume they got there too late and move on...

Next week I will be distributing tips on avoiding your in-laws at christmas, and how to avoid charity dress-down day in the office...

[Baffy]

pmsl squiffy!

[Riddo]

Have just printed out a polite notice from the police website asking trick or ttreaters to stay away.

We only get the teenage, not even dressed up kind here. They make me very nervous and I end up hiding upstairs with the lights off.

[motheroftwoboys]

I love it and am going home early from work to decorate! My DSs think I am mad! We live in Gateshead. We never get anyone knocking on the door before "the night" and it is always just youngish children who have the most wonderful costumes. They knock at the door while the mums and dads hover at the gate. I get a new Halloween "thing" every year. This year it is a green walking hand!! Sadly, we couldn't get a pumpkin - all sold out! We will have candles everywhere, masks hung in the window, lights in the outside trees and a skeleton hanging in the tree . Last year our black cat Oska posed on a table in the window beside the pumpkin and a large hairy hand! Can't believe people begrudge spending a few pounds on sweets. Always the little, pre-wrapped treat things round here, or lollipops. Never have had anyone asking for money. There weren't so many children in our previous house and I was really disappointed if we only got a couple of calls. We now get about 30! - seriously! But it seems to finish around 8 at the latest. Also I am 50 but we certainly did trick or treat when I was little - with a turnip lantern which my dad did very seriously every year. Remember one year he rigged up a torch light inside it!

[LOOBYLOU2]

I'm with you Madamez too ... this subject and poppies.....
My DD goes out with a group inc parents and they only go to neighbours who have a pumpkin, webs or lights outside.
Have to admit most of what she brings home goes in the bin when she's not looking.....
but she would be really upset if she couldn't go - the dressing up is the best bit for her!
A tip from a friend in the US is to buy cheap horrid "candy" then at least they don't come back

[saadia]

To the OP, YANBU. I totally agree with you. I don't see why I should be disturbed all evening just so that some strangers' kids can get their kicks. If they like dressing up so much then people should have Halloween parties and entertain them that way.

[LyraSilvertongue]

I do think the best way to deal with this issue is to have a code whereby trick or treaters only go to houses displaying a pumpkin. Then those who want to take part can, and those who want to be left alone will be left alone. The problem is getting people (especially unaccompanied older children) to stick to it.
I've just spend the last half hour carving our pumpkin and will be happy for trick or treaters to come round.

[mm22bys]

I don't see the point of Halloween. My DS1 is still too young to take part in trick or treating, and I don't believe in knocking on strangers' doors at night to ask for sweets, but I bought some sweets today as I would rather go against my principles than have egg and flour thrown at my house. I thought about putting a sign up along the lines of "we offer healthy treats" but chickened out.

He will be going to his nursery's halloween party on Saturday, and he and his brother will be going in "costume" but this is only because I don't want them to miss out on a fun time.

I agree with the OP though that T or T'ing should be made illegal.

YANBU.

[LoveAngel]

Oh FGS don't be such a misery guts.

[Tortington]

misery misery misery guts

at least buy tangerines - you sour faced old hags

[SueBarooooItslikeaWarzone]

I've set up the iron man traps on the drive for tonight, and we've tethered a lion to the apple tree on the front lawn. That should see 'em off.

I really don't think it is just misery-gutsness, though. I know elderly people who have been terrified by the whole thing, family members included, and a friends little girls was sobbing with fright a couple of days ago because of the ugly masks appearing at the window.

[Blandmum]

That wouldn't be a Christian eating lion would it Sie???