Trick or treating ... thoughts

[weloveicecream]

Does anyone else not allow their children to trick or treat? We do Halloween activities in the house, have been to Halloween parties and a Halloween farm day over this half term but do not allow my ds to go out trick or treating.

I was never allowed as a child and apply the same to my own child. Not for religious reasons but not comfortable with receiving gifts from strangers.

Does anyone else not allow their children to go trick or treating? Just genuinely curious

I don’t allow my kids to knock strangers doors, no. I don’t like the idea of children bothering strangers for treats and I wouldn’t want mine to eat anything from a stranger either. I also get annoyed that people have to adjust their evening on Halloween - turning lights off etc. All so that they don’t get bothered by strangers. Some trick or treaters can be incredibly rude too. Knocking the door and then when you don’t answer they start knocking your windows too. If people want to trick or treat they, in my opinion, should be knocking the doors of people they know who they know are happy to participate. They should not be bothering strangers.

Nope. Everyone around here does, it's lovely hearing happy excited children all dressed up. They knock where there's pumpkins, they ignore the houses that don't. The sweets are all wrapped. Not sure why you'd ban them from something that gives them a lot of joy but you do you.

My kids go out as a lot of houses in our area go all out with decorations and we know a lot of the people, we go to houses that have pumpkins lit outside and no later 7.30pm.

If we lived in the area I used to live then no way would I allow them.

in my area, if you have a pumpkin or decorations it means you’re happy for trick or treaters. Kids never go to the houses without the decorations. They’re also pretty much done by half 7. I allow my kids and they know to only go to decorated houses, only take one sweet and always say thank you

I guess it depends on where you live.

If you were in my village I would say YABVU. It's very clear which houses are joining in and which aren't, and the children are absolutely respectful of that. It's mainly small groups of excited young children accompanied by their parents - we don't get any teenagers. It's a lovely, friendly community evening and honestly I would think you were incredibly mean to deny your child the chance to take part.

I can see how I might feel differently if there was a different vibe about it though.

I won't be letting my kids do it. Think it's begging.

We go trick or treating. I think it's a nice, harmless, tradition. My kids are young and therefore accompanied and we only visit houses that have decorations or outside lights on. Plenty of people seem to enjoy the kids coming to their house and having a chat with the parents. The evening has a community feel about it, people passing and wishing each other Happy Halloween and others inviting kids to their houses. It's nice!

Of course it isn't begging, that's a ridiculous analogy to make. People who decorate their houses are every bit as active, willing participants as the children. I love having the little ones come to the door.

Imo it is.

I loved it as a kid, and my kids love it now. It's one of their favourite things to do, our village gets really well decorated and it's lots of fun.

What a ridiculous notion, people willingly buy sweets for the express purpose of giving them to children who come to the door. Clearly you don't understand how to do Halloween

We had a lovely evening. It’s a great event in the community. People only knock on decorated houses/those with a pumpkin out so no one needs to hide or switch lights off. They are happy to give out the sweets and others are happy to receive.

@teatoast8 you've said that on several threads.
I was always under the understanding that the origin for a "treat" was a reward for doing a song, dance or dressing up.
Hardly begging.
@weloveicecream I suppose the concept should be you go to your neighbours - who really shouldn't be "strangers" (unfortunately modern society means neighbours often are strangers these days).

Ive never let my 11yo do it and wont be letting my 3yo do it.

We have Halloween fun - pumpkin carving, Halloween parties, we've decorated biscuits etc but no to TorT, and we don't decorate the house to welcome others to knock either.

FFS. Of course it's not begging. The Halloween treats are freely given.

I'm in Scotland so it's very much a tradition here.

We gave out 99 bags of sweets and the kids were hilarious. They complimented our decorations and one randomly spotted the L plates on our car and wished my sons luck with his driving test. 😂 Love Halloween.

😂 😂 😂

I allowed mine only to go to the houses of their friends. I feel uncomfortable knocking on strangers doors.

I don't know where you live, but it is absolutely not like that here. Noone knocks any random door. Houses invite people on by placing decorations outside and you don't knock unless you see lit pumpkins etc. We would not knock even if there was a pumpkin, not lit, because they are probably out themselves, or out of treats or had enough, or whatever. So we all know how to signal we are happy to participate and everyone only knocks appropriate doors.

Funnily enough I’ve just seen a post on a Fb group where someone said they had never taken their child, their own parent wouldn’t let them, said it was begging etc always said no to their child.

Well they just decided to go tonight on a spur of a moment thing as their kid was really wanting to go. Had a great time and wished they’d gone before!

Not if people are inviting. Here we mostly do houses we know, and people who invite children in because they think it is cute. We also give out treats. I think it it is more swapping.

It's not begging! I spent £20 on sweets because I wanted to give them out - so how can the children be begging?! It's a big deal in our village and the children just love it, mine included. I never did it growing up but I can see the joy it brings. Next year we are going bigger on decorations, the kids are already planning it!!

We had a pumpkin out tonight even though my DC are adults, I was very impressed with the all the DC that knocked, from little tots to young teens, they were all exceptionally polite, a credit to all their families.

I loved the fun of trick or treating growing up and it was a big deal where I lived in Scotland. We'd plan our outfits for weeks.

I couldn't deny that to my children, for me it would be like not doing Santa!

We only go to decorated houses, so we know we're welcome.
I do feel a bit sad for kids who aren't allowed.

And for those saying they feel uncomfortable about taking food from strangers, you could always swap it for treats or toys you've bought. One of my children has food allergies so they go trick or treating and then the "switch witch" brings some safe sweets and toys (I've bought myself) that night and takes the sweets he's allergic too. This year he's getting some colouring books and a squishy teddy he wants.

Trick or treating features among my fondest memories of childhood. It was so exciting and special, I absolutely loved it. We took our 3 year old out trick or treating tonight for the first time and she was literally vibrating with excitement. I hope it becomes as special a part of her childhood as it was mine.
The houses that are participating light pumpkins to signal that trick or treaters are welcome. All undecorated houses are left alone.