Halloween Etiquette

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Replies

  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    I just give them the candy cuz I want them to go away as fast as possible.

    This. I do appreciate when they say thank you. To me that is far more important than saying "Trick or treat." Oh, and orderly behavior, I had six kids rush me earlier, grabbing at me, making demands about what they wanted. That bothered me.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    I just posted this response to another Halloween topic:

    (Obviously this is on the parents' shoulders to teach their kids or go with them to the doors, can't expect 4 year olds to know this stuff.)

    1. Teach your kids to take one piece, unless the candy-giver specifies otherwise. It's so rude to take whole handful.

    2. Say Thank You! The candy might be free to you but someone paid for it. People who have busier TOT neighborhoods may spend upwards of $20 on candy!

    3. In my town there is a two hour time frame for TOT. Don't come an hour early or late. Not cool.

    4. One knock or doorbell ring is sufficient. Trust me, I hear you.

    5. Never ever ever EVER say "Ew I don't like this candy." This needs no further explanation.

    I really do love Halloween and passing out candy, I just wish parents would take the time to teach their kids a few manners before sending them out. Obviously kids will be kids, but it's still important to be polite.

    ....And as for older kids/teenagers/college kids trick or treating: Give 'em a break. Who doesn't like free candy? As long as they're dressed up and polite, who cares? I went trick or treating last year in full costume at 19. Most people were humored and cut me some slack. Happy Halloween!

    $20? In a busy neighborhood? I don't know what Halloween candy costs where you live, but it starts around $6 a bag here, $20 would be nothing.

    And I've never heard of an official time frame for Trick or Treating.

    I'd also, don't clamor for what you want, especially if I just gave you what you asked for.
  • L00py_T0ucan
    L00py_T0ucan Posts: 1,378 Member
    I just give it. I don't stand on ceremony.

    ^ Exactly. I"m open for business till I run out of candy or go out for my own fun. I live in a place where some people are still suffering post-Sandy power loss and if Trick or Treating is a way for kids to experience some stability and normalcy I'm okay if some of kids seem rude or don't have costumes. We're all alive today for pete's sake and not in a shelter. :flowerforyou: :drinker:
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    Tonight, a lot of creatures may visit your door. Be open minded. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy might have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy might have motor planning issues. The child who does not say "trick or treat" or "thank you" might be painfully shy, non-verbal, or selectively mute. If you cannot understand their words, they may struggle with developmental apraxia of speech. They are thankful in their hearts and minds. The child who looks disappointed when he sees your bowl might have a life-threatening allergy. The child who isn't wearing a costume at all might have Sensory Processing Disorder or autism. And as we all know, the child who is rolling their eyes at you may have Tourette's Syndrome. Be kind, be patient, smile. It's everyone's Halloween. Make a parent feel good by making a big deal of their special child. Please share and remind others


    This is my opinion. other than that be nice. Its a kids day.

    I'm a former special education teacher and a friend shared the above post with me today--it may not be the case for all "silent" kids who come to your door, but you never know someone else's story. If you don't feel like you have the patience to open the door and deal with the kids, you could always do what my mom used to do if I wasn't around to hand out candy--she simply turned off all the front lights in the house and didn't answer the door (she doesn't like holidays).
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I just put the bowl on the front porch and let them help themselves. It avoids the awkwardness, and I'm not tempted to eat it. Its a win-win situation :P

    This. I have very noisy pugs and I don't have a fenced backyard. Seems cruel to banish them for the entire evening so the bowl on the porch is best solution, if a little impersonal.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    What do you say when all your lights are off and the cutest llittle batman baby knocks on your door and you don't have candy?! :sad:

    That happened once when I was little with an older widower who lived next door to us. He gave me a little ceramic chicken that belonged to his wife. I still have that chicken. Way better than candy.
  • TheFitHooker
    TheFitHooker Posts: 3,357 Member
    We went to the mall and took the kids and I kept on saying to my 9yr old and 2yr old who doesn't talk much I might add "Say trick or treat" and had one lady say "No kids ever say that anymore." I said "Most want to stick their bags out and look at you" lol. I also told my son who took his mask off "You are the trick put your mask on so you can get your treat" lol.
  • Cameron_1969
    Cameron_1969 Posts: 2,855 Member
    Tonight, a lot of creatures may visit your door. Be open minded. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy might have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy might have motor planning issues. The child who does not say "trick or treat" or "thank you" might be painfully shy, non-verbal, or selectively mute. If you cannot understand their words, they may struggle with developmental apraxia of speech. They are thankful in their hearts and minds. The child who looks disappointed when he sees your bowl might have a life-threatening allergy. The child who isn't wearing a costume at all might have Sensory Processing Disorder or autism. And as we all know, the child who is rolling their eyes at you may have Tourette's Syndrome. Be kind, be patient, smile. It's everyone's Halloween. Make a parent feel good by making a big deal of their special child. Please share and remind others


    This is my opinion. other than that be nice. Its a kids day.

    All true. . but more likely he just wasn't raised right.
  • TKelly06
    TKelly06 Posts: 225 Member
    Thanks for all the comments, it let me see how other people are doing it.

    And, I did it because I enjoy doing it, just wanted to know how some of you would handle a say nothing and stare at me look.
  • mikeyboy
    mikeyboy Posts: 1,057 Member
    If they say nothing I give them last year's stale crappy leftover candy! lol
  • gadenni34
    gadenni34 Posts: 294 Member
    Tonight, a lot of creatures may visit your door. Be open minded. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy might have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy might have motor planning issues. The child who does not say "trick or treat" or "thank you" might be painfully shy, non-verbal, or selectively mute. If you cannot understand their words, they may struggle with developmental apraxia of speech. They are thankful in their hearts and minds. The child who looks disappointed when he sees your bowl might have a life-threatening allergy. The child who isn't wearing a costume at all might have Sensory Processing Disorder or autism. And as we all know, the child who is rolling their eyes at you may have Tourette's Syndrome. Be kind, be patient, smile. It's everyone's Halloween. Make a parent feel good by making a big deal of their special child. Please share and remind others


    This is my opinion. other than that be nice. Its a kids day.

    love love love this. as a mother of children with dietary intolerances and a son with SPD and a speech delay this always brings tears to my eyes because it is so true!
  • CarmenSRT
    CarmenSRT Posts: 843 Member
    We got no kids again this year. I miss them. :frown:
  • L00py_T0ucan
    L00py_T0ucan Posts: 1,378 Member
    We got no kids again this year. I miss them. :frown:

    Awww! :embarassed: Sorry!
  • MaryJane_8810002
    MaryJane_8810002 Posts: 2,082 Member
    A teenager banged on my window and said " Ya'll got candy?" Outsider there were like ten kids and four to five adults. The kids did not say thank you, no one said trick or treat or even " Happy Halloween"

    Im glad I gave out cheap candy because next year I will be giving out NONE
  • TKelly06
    TKelly06 Posts: 225 Member
    We got no kids again this year. I miss them. :frown:

    I got like 6 kids last year, so 36 this year was a big improvement. But, at my childhood house we would get about 200 sometimes. When I think of that it makes me sad :(
  • veganbaum
    veganbaum Posts: 1,865 Member
    A teenager banged on my window and said " Ya'll got candy?" Outsider there were like ten kids and four to five adults. The kids did not say thank you, no one said trick or treat or even " Happy Halloween"

    Im glad I gave out cheap candy because next year I will be giving out NONE

    THIS is why manners should still be expected. Just because it's Halloween, that doesn't mean good manners aren't to be expected. You're going up to people's houses asking for free candy, it's hardly unreasonable to expect a "trick or treat!" and a "thank you."
  • gimpygramma
    gimpygramma Posts: 383 Member
    I have to say I think the whole concept of "Halloween Etiquette" is a bit of an oxymoron.So you're fine with the concept of little kids dressing up in all kinds of hideous costumes & begging on your doorstep for candy...but you want them to use their manners??!! I'm pretty sure the grim reaper doesn't have any manners. Not sure that Halloween is the ideal occasion for attempting to instill good values in children!!

    I am taken aback by comments like this. The kids that came to my door tonight were pleasant and appreciative. I didn't notice what percentage said, "Trick of treat," but it was most of them. And as they left there was always a chorus of thank yous.
  • TKelly06
    TKelly06 Posts: 225 Member
    A teenager banged on my window and said " Ya'll got candy?" Outsider there were like ten kids and four to five adults. The kids did not say thank you, no one said trick or treat or even " Happy Halloween"

    Im glad I gave out cheap candy because next year I will be giving out NONE

    THIS is why manners should still be expected. Just because it's Halloween, that doesn't mean good manners aren't to be expected. You're going up to people's houses asking for free candy, it's hardly unreasonable to expect a "trick or treat!" and a "thank you."

    Thank you!
  • ladytinkerbell99
    ladytinkerbell99 Posts: 970 Member
    Tonight, a lot of creatures may visit your door. Be open minded. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy might have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy might have motor planning issues. The child who does not say "trick or treat" or "thank you" might be painfully shy, non-verbal, or selectively mute. If you cannot understand their words, they may struggle with developmental apraxia of speech. They are thankful in their hearts and minds. The child who looks disappointed when he sees your bowl might have a life-threatening allergy. The child who isn't wearing a costume at all might have Sensory Processing Disorder or autism. And as we all know, the child who is rolling their eyes at you may have Tourette's Syndrome. Be kind, be patient, smile. It's everyone's Halloween. Make a parent feel good by making a big deal of their special child. Please share and remind others


    This is my opinion. other than that be nice. Its a kids day.

    ^ Thank you for saying this. You are so correct. :flowerforyou:

    p.s. You are my hero!
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    I have to say I think the whole concept of "Halloween Etiquette" is a bit of an oxymoron.So you're fine with the concept of little kids dressing up in all kinds of hideous costumes & begging on your doorstep for candy...but you want them to use their manners??!! I'm pretty sure the grim reaper doesn't have any manners. Not sure that Halloween is the ideal occasion for attempting to instill good values in children!!

    There's never a wrong time to instill good values and manners in your kids. In fact, the fact that they are "begging for candy" is even more of a reason to say thanks. If all the kids that showed up were schmucks, no one would do it any longer.
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