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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Trick or treating?

49 replies

Artie30 · 23/10/2021 14:37

Is it happening this year? I mean technically absolutely yes it can happen. Many children did it last year in a covid safe way. People stuck lollies into pumpkins outside or hung sweets onto a line of string (fab ideas) but we didn't do go out. We had a Halloween party at home with our own sweets.

Kids have mentioned it and I just said we will see...

We live in an area that's quite big on Halloween. Not what I'm used to as hardly anything where I lived growing up.

Then I keep thinking about multiple hands picking our sweets from the same bowl. Even worse if they are eating them in between houses touching their faces which maybe they won't.

Am I being ott?

I have no issue with trick or treaters coming to our door just is is something my own kids should do this year??

Covid is quite high we we live too!!

I may just agree to just a few houses on our street...

OP posts:
imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 23/10/2021 14:43

If covid is high in your area then it would be sensible to do what you can to stop the spread. Going house to house, seeing multiple people, touching multiple surfaces, isn't ideal in that case.
Trick or treating shouldn't happen at all imo. Why tell your kids it's ok to go and ask strangers (or even people you know) to give them sweets for no reason except to avoid a "trick". It's a bizarre practice Confused

Porcupineintherough · 23/10/2021 14:47

I've no idea what the general feeling is this year. Last year people decorated windows or gardens to make a Halloween trail and the parents provided their own sweets but no one has said anything about that this year. Mine are too old to go house to house and we'd usually give out sweets but yeah, not this year.

Theunamedcat · 23/10/2021 14:48

Do you have a street WhatsApp group or something? We have a community page im thinking of asking the question if anyone is interested in covid safe trick or treating this year

Soubriquet · 23/10/2021 14:49

I’ve got sweets in for kids this year and I’m hoping to take my two out this year

Theforest · 23/10/2021 14:49

We aren't going to bother. Just get loads of goodies at home and watch scary family films.

shouldistop · 23/10/2021 14:49

We're going out guising and will have sweets to hand out.
My 5yo definitely won't lick anyone, I hope anyway.

0palescent · 23/10/2021 14:49

We won't be doing it, and we won't have sweets to hand out. Last year we watched films at home and they had sweets from me.

TurnUpTurnip · 23/10/2021 14:50

I’m planning on going unless I see anything stating other wise, Normally people will post on our FB if they are ok with it, not going to do the pumpkin trail again that was ridiculous tbh, won’t bother doing that again would rather stay in.

Findahouse21 · 23/10/2021 14:51

Our estate has lots of families who are planning to take part with the usual limits of only knocking at decorated houses

Original poster
Artie30 · 23/10/2021 14:58

Thanks all. In all honesty I've not give it much thought - but time is flying.

I have no issue handing out sweets but dc will not be picking out the same sweets from the same bowl after other people have touched them.

Not sure what to do with mine. I don't really fs bit but they may get upset if other kids are knocking!

Maybe we'll go out for a McDonald's drive thru and take a few hours so we miss it all and have our own sweets!

OP posts:
Vilanelle · 23/10/2021 15:01

I'd be quite pissed off if people came to my house. They didn't last year. My boy is only 16 months so non the wiser. I prefer the idea of a spooky film, treats and hot dogs at home

Original poster
Artie30 · 23/10/2021 15:04

@Vilanelle

I'd be quite pissed off if people came to my house. They didn't last year. My boy is only 16 months so non the wiser. I prefer the idea of a spooky film, treats and hot dogs at home
Sounds fab. In our area kids are told to only knock on doors that have a pumpkin or Halloween decorations and ignore the ones which don't. But I don't think they listen, especially if kids are out on their own doing it!
OP posts:
TechGinny · 23/10/2021 15:05

We never do treat or treating anyway, but last year I took my kids round the local area on a pumpkin hunt and gave them each a sweet every time we spotted one (until I ran out Grin). They loved it, so we'll do the same this year.

44PumpLane · 23/10/2021 15:05

Pour sweets into large bowl without touching

Use tongs to hand out sweets

I never let kids stick their hands in the bowl anyway as you get chancers who try and take handfuls and they aren't always policed by their parents 😂

TechGinny · 23/10/2021 15:06

Trick or treating! Not treat or treating Hmm

TheKeatingFive · 23/10/2021 15:08

It's happening where I am anyway. No special measures. I'm in ROI and it was banned last year, but this year the powers that be seem cool about it.

TurnUpTurnip · 23/10/2021 15:09

@Vilanelle

I'd be quite pissed off if people came to my house. They didn't last year. My boy is only 16 months so non the wiser. I prefer the idea of a spooky film, treats and hot dogs at home
People only knock on doors that have pumpkins outside nowadays
MazzleDazzle · 23/10/2021 15:18

My 5yo definitely won't lick anyone, I hope anyway.

Brilliant! Grin

We’re definitely going out guising this year. My kids are so excited! They’ve been counting down the days. If Halloween falls on a Sunday, it’s tradition to go out on the Saturday instead. However, I’ve checked fb and everyone seems in agreement to go on the Sunday. Usually guisers only knock at houses with decorations and as it’s a small village, everyone knows everyone anyway. The kids are expected to recite a poem or joke to get their treat.

MyCatHatesWhiskas · 23/10/2021 15:20

People on my street are doing it. With the usual proviso of only knocking at decorated houses. I’ve bought individually wrapped sweets (mini packets of Haribo).

TheKeatingFive · 23/10/2021 15:20

The kids are expected to recite a poem or joke to get their treat.

I love that. I wish we had it here.

MazzleDazzle · 23/10/2021 15:23

@Vilanelle round here some people leave a note on the door asking kids not to knock as they have a baby. Usually kids only go to houses with a pumpkin outside.

HeyDugeesCakeBadge · 23/10/2021 15:23

We are definitely going out this year. The estate where I live is massive on Halloween and everybody goes all out - I took the kids on a pumpkin trail last year and it was so depressing, some people even chased after us after passing their house to give us sweets. The children are really excited and I'm not going to ruin another year by not allowing them to do it!

1forAll74 · 23/10/2021 15:26

I think if people like the Halloween stuff, they should just do it at home, within their family, I don't personally have kids knocking on my door, as i live off road, and thankfully don't get bothered about it all. But some elderly people in my village don't like to be disturbed by trick or treating stuff.

Notdoingthis · 23/10/2021 15:26

In theory I see no problem with it. Kids should wash hands before eating sweets, which is fine with an airbourne virus. Just put the sweets outside instead of knocking at the door.
But people are nervous, so I understand it may not happen like that.

TheKeatingFive · 23/10/2021 15:28

But some elderly people in my village don't like to be disturbed by trick or treating stuff.

So work to a system where houses signal their participation by putting out a pumpkin. 🤷‍♀️