Trick or treat - weak social skills

[MaroonyBalloony]

I love seeing the Trick or Treaters, and while my own DC are too young to go out they will enjoy helping give out the sweets.

My issue is I never went as a child, and really don't know what to say to the children when they're at the door!

Does anybody have any stock phrases Previously I've just said "ooh scary costume" or "ooh lovely costume" (depending obviously haha) but I feel so awkward and stupid, especially when the parents are close.

My anxiety around it sucks the fun out a bit and I worry I make the children think I'm weird, any tips?

Thanks!

My dd loves Halloween more than Christmas - it's sweets but also the chance to run around in with friends, dressed up in a way you think is super cool, possibly showing off your 'magical powers' and terrible jokes and the whole pretending to be scared when it's not really scary.

The highlight of Halloween every year at our house is when I get back from trick or treating with our youngest and my wife tells me about all of the mortifying experiences she has had misgendering children and adults.

My favourite was the butch lesbian who she referred to as "your dad". This is funny because my wife is a butch lesbian who has kids who have led her into many situations where she's been called "your dad".

My wife is autistic and really tries, I think the pressure of knowing all of this social interaction will arrive at our door sends her into massive brain fast mode.

You don’t need to say anything. They will take the sweets and go!

Haha, your poor wife! Glad to know I'm not the only one who suffers saying daft things.

Thanks all for the advice, I probably am overthinking it so that's good to know, will steal a few of these responses too 😁

"Ahh you look brilliant, would you like a sweetie? Have a great night!"

Yeah, WE'RE going to hand out the sweets this time, not offer the tub and they take handfuls. We were all out in no time! Rude gits.

Don't over think this! I never usually say anything at all! Just hand the sweet bowl over and smile. Occasionally I might say 'just take one or two' or something like that! But usually I don't say anything!

Trust me, the kids only care about getting the sweets to fill their bags. And the parents are just thinking 'I'm so cold! this is so boring, I can't wait to get home'! They will not care one little bit what you do or don't say!

Relax, hand out the sweets, smile and shut the door! 👍🎃🍭

(If you happen to have spare money and want to do something nice for the parents - hand out some cans of wine or g&t! Or a few small shot glasses of wine or port! They'd love you!!!)

Literally, if all you said was "Hiiiiii", that would be fine too

Last year my DH opened the door and went "AHH , you scared me" to our first trick or treater. Poor kid burst in to tears.
I tend to stick with I love your costume or Happy Halloween.
Not sure if I can trust DH with door duty this year...

In scotland we call it going for your galoshins on Halloween (its a celtic festival that belongs to the Scots and the Irish) and you had to do a wee turn, a song or a joke for your sweets. Some kids still do that up here other just look at you all glaikit when you ask for that so perhaps its dying out. Scottish mum's get them to learn a wee turn for going out, don't let the traditions die out!

I'm Scottish so I usually say "hello, have you got a wee party piece for me?" Might not translate for England though...

I wear a witch's hat and pretend to cast spells on them.

I say, "One sweet or two only, you horrible lot, or I'll turn you into mice and feed you to my tiger!"

That's the over 5s though - the younger ones get "aww sweet, a pumpkin, how original!".

When I was with my ex, we did Halloween... had £100s worth of decorations on the front of the house. Used to get about 80 kids visit (I was sad and kept count). We took in turns opening the door.
I understand your pain as this is something I struggle with too. I would just say "wow, that is a cool costume". Some kids were so polite and would take one small sweet. I try and urge them to grab more (we had loads).
I am convinced some kids knocked more than once so they could get more sweets 😂

If you think you might struggle with kids in costumes, wait until you get teens turn up in none that ask for money.

DH struggles with this too OP, don't worry 😁

I keep telling him not to overthink it but he does!! Genuinely, even if you stand there and just hand them the sweets, they will not care and neither will the parents. Obviously it's nice to be friendly, say hi, make jokes as I do but you definitely don't need to