Halloween presents

[RosieLemonade]

I have got DD a costume and some baking bits. I was planning to pick up some Halloween craft bits too. I've also got her a new ghost book. She is 4.

A few people have posted on instagram (some I know in real life and some I just follow) about halloween presents and Halloween gift baskets. Is this a real thing?

My kids are also impressed when I buy yeh Halloween or Xmas version of stuff in the supermarket. Eg Mr Kiplings with green icing sort of thing

Never heard of Halloween presents in the US, unless it's a very recent development.

I wouldn't do it, but if other people want to, so what? Trick-or treating (or something similar) or possibly a Halloween party with music, food, and party games was the norm, the last time I checked, and the parties were more something from TV than in the average child's real life.

"I've noticed this year, and possibly the previous 2 years, that some houses round here put loads of Halloween decorations up in early to mid October"

I think that really took off last year because everything was shut. I don't see anything wrong with decorating. I don't throw my decorations out, though.
I think it's important to not get sucked in. I bought a few bits for my GC, squishy bats and light up snap bands. I buy presents at Easter instead of chocolate. If it's a matter of spreading out presents, so a couple off the Christmas list, I don't see what the issue could be. It's staying in and gaming/crafting weather.
Someone mentioned New Year presents, I used to hold back a Christmas present or get something in the sale that I wanted but wouldn't pay full price for and give that. That was in the 80's.

I'm wondering why so many people view gifts as tat or planet destroying plastic. I feel a bit sorry for your loved ones if that's all you ever buy them tbh.

I go bit on holidays, I love Halloween especially and I will give gifts, like I usually do because I enjoy it. I've supported small female owned businesses and nothing I've purchased could be classed as landfill tat.

"I don't understand why you'd buy stuff when you receive sweets while trick or treating."

Not everyone goes T&T or live in areas that are safe to do so. Events get booked up, so presents are bought instead.

Great…… more tat, more cash, and more nonsense from across the pond.

In case I wasn’t being clear….. it’s more tat and don’t do it.

Oh god no, don’t let this become a thing. Utterly stupid and pointless.

I sincerely hope that it isn't a thing but suspect that it will become one before very long. The businesses that make, market and sell all the Halloween tat will always be on the lookout to tap new markets in order to increase their profits and persuade people to buy more.

When my children were young, you simply couldn't obtain most of the Halloween crap that fills the shops and the Internet nowadays.

I went to the USA in the 1980s and was appalled at the amount of rubbish on sale around Halloween and how everyone seemed to feel obliged to buy it, ie fancy dress costumes, plastic pumpkins, cheap sweets for all the trick-or-treaters etc. I thought at the time, thank god we don't have this back home! I should have known that it would find its way here, as the UK was a new marketplace for Halloween and ripe for exploitation.

No, I haven't bought my DC Halloween gifts but I have bought some skeleton pyjamas (which will double as their Halloween costume) and some orange card to make spider handprints. I will also choose a new Halloween book as well.

It's nice to tie our activities to holidays and occasions as it breaks up the monotony of daily life.

I haven't got my kids anything.

I've decorated a room in the house and we will dook for apples, have some music on but that's about it.

No, never heard of it.

Absolutely not a thing. The commercialisation and exploitation of even the most nondescript “celebration” events has to stop, it’s out of control, ridiculous and puts even more financial pressure on parents. Just revolting.

Start your own sweet Halloween tradition for your kids such as baking, telling scary stories or playing a game. It doesn’t have to go on Instagram (which is the biggest sham possibly ever invented). Just do what you want to do and bugger the rest.

It's not something we do but it's nice for your DC and it's up to you how you celebrate. We go pumpkin picking each year and we have costumes (DC1 has dressing up clothes that she hasn't worn yet and DC2 has some of DC1's old costumes) but I doubt DC1 will agree to wear one to go trick or treating at her nan's. She's 3 and in previous years she'd let us dress her up for some photos but last year she refused so we accepted it.

By Halloween gifts do they just mean the things you've got in? We do craft and baking bits too. I did pick up a ghost bathbomb for DD but wouldn't consider that a present either.

It is Tuesday. I have bought the DC Tuesday themed crafts all beginning with T, a mug (for the bloody MN hot chocolate under a blanket) and a new duvet cover and a pile of sweets.

I love Halloween 🎃 but for gods sake carve a pumpkin, chuck an old sheet over them and splatter them with red paint.

By the time your child is an adult, the planet will be in an even bigger mess than it is now due to climate issues, pollution, deforestation etc. to provide resources to support mass manufacturing and transport of plastic tat.

For her sake, let her bob for apples.

Not a thing.
I saw Halloween crackers in the supermarket the other day. I think sainsburys. I couldn't believe how consumerist everything is getting.
Seasonal crafts and books, why not for any timemof year?
But presents, crackers, is just all OTT

@Popcornriver

By Halloween gifts do they just mean the things you've got in? We do craft and baking bits too. I did pick up a ghost bathbomb for DD but wouldn't consider that a present either.

Those things and then a doll, a handbag and a purse. Hair accessories and a bottle and bubble bath type things. All for one child.

Wtf
No it's not a thing.

@TSSDNCOP ah but have you got them 'new jammies'? 😂

I'm wondering why so many people view gifts as tat or planet destroying plastic. I feel a bit sorry for your loved ones if that's all you ever buy them tbh.

Indeed! my child is getting a hamper including a costume from the charity shop, two Halloween themed reading books and a fabric pumpkin wand from an artist on Esty. None of it is tat or landfill bound and will be used year after year, apart from the costume which will be returned to the charity shop once outgrown.

RosieLemonade

Are they Halloween themed at least

I've never heard of Halloween gifts and usually roll my eyes at the mumsnet outrage over Christmas Eve boxes and the like.

No, it’s not a thing. We do presents on birthdays and Christmas, and an egg at Easter (although DD was under 2 last Easter so didn’t get one anyway).

We might do some Halloween baking but I’m not very artistic so it probably won’t end up looking Halloween themed.

It will be bonfire night baskets before we know it.

Well of course it's a thing. Just because the competitive miseries on Mumsnet disagree, doesn't mean it isn't something that other people enjoy.

DD6 bought a Halloween themed lipgloss with her tooth fairy money last week. I've managed to hold in my hysteria thus far.