Halloween

iamsteph

H and I are thinking about not handing out candy this year.

We lived in an apartment for a few years and had no trick-or-treaters. We were so excited when we moved to a townhouse in a neighborhood where people walk around and stuff. The first couple of years was nice, and there are a couple of houses that go all out.

There's always seemed to be a high number of kids who aren't from the neighborhood, which is fine, this is the city and I understand parents want their kids in a safe neighborhood. However, there are a bunch of older kids that aren't dressed up, toting along their little sibling who might be/not be dressed up.

And then last year, before it was even really trick-or-treat time, I had some older kids come by with a little kid, and I went to give them candy, and they just reached into the bucket and started grabbing handfuls. I was so shocked by their rudeness that by the time I pulled the bucket back, they had wiped out half our candy. 

They then had the nerve to come back to our house two more times! I didn't even let them get up the steps of our porch before I said ''uh uh you've already been here turn around''.  H and I weren't raised that rude, and the whole thing has turned us off to giving out candy any more.

So we're thinking this year we might just turn out all the lights and close the curtains and watch movies. It's a bummer! 

xmaryrickx

I don't think you should let the actions of an obnoxious few ruin the fun for you and the others who are respectful. I would think that the fun younger kids come earlier so grab your candy and sit outside. Hand out one or two piece to each don't let them grab from a bowl. When the obnoxious one start to show up call it a night.

jcsntms06

xmaryrickx:

I don't think you should let the actions of an obnoxious few ruin the fun for you and the others who are respectful. I would think that the fun younger kids come earlier so grab your candy and sit outside. Hand out one or two piece to each don't let them grab from a bowl. When the obnoxious one start to show up call it a night.

This... I don't let kids grab candy, I only give them 2 pieces. I also don't give candy to older kids not dressed up. Last year we took DD around, even though she was only a year old. Obviously she wasn't eating any candy (I took the candy to my work the next day!), but I just wanted to show off her cute costume. 

Matildasun

I make the uncostumed teenagers sing for their candy. I do it in a joking way. They usually refuse the candy at that point or sing one line of something fairly sheepishly. 

mrs. remy

matildasun:

I make the uncostumed teenagers sing for their candy. I do it in a joking way. They usually refuse the candy at that point or sing one line of something fairly sheepishly. 

this is a fantastic idea!

Re: the rude candy grabbers, I usually just hand out the candy myself or I tell them as they come up "you can pick two pieces" and I've never had a problem.  Most of the kids in my neighborhood are pretty respectful and do things right. However I learned last year not to go inside to pee for two minutes because I came back outside and they had completely cleaned us out.

KathrynMD

meh - yeah, we get a mix.  there are lots of cute little kids, some slightly sassy tweens and then older kids that are barely in costumes or even 20-somethings that say they are getting candy for their kids at home, etc.  I don't really care either way.  Halloween is all about little kids anyway and I remember how awesome it was as a little kid to get candy - if the cost of providing that thrill to a little kid is spend $5 more in candy for some rude older kids, so be it.  If you really think about it, its such a weird tradition anyway, I just have fun participating and doing my part as an "adult" while my daughter and other kids get to go around trick or treating. 

DH likes to do a really scary scene in our yard - skeletons, blood, sound machines - it scares the bejebers out of tweens - especially the boys who try to act way too cool for the whole thing.  Its hilarious and we have fun that way too!

SarahKate31

When I used to live in a different neighborhood, most of the trick-or-treaters were not in costume and extremely rude. A few even stepped into my house in order to grab the candy. I definitely didn't offer the bowl after the first few times. I'd just give each kid 2 pieces. It's kind of soured me on handing out candy and I haven't done it in several years.

The past few years we have gone to our friends' house for Halloween and trick-or-treated with their kids (and not been home to hand out candy at our own house). But now that we have DS I don't know what we'll do. He's obviously too young to trick-or-treat this year but I'd still like to get in the spirit with a costume and handing out candy if we stay at home.