Halloween - does anyone NOT let their kids trick or treat?

[Otta]

It's not what you

see on the tele or in films.

I believe you, but the fact is that people over here saw the films / TV, and copied them.

And I still think the double standards thing is harsh. I'd rather no one indeed on my door to be honest, but if they do, I'm not a total git who's going to be mean to kids.

[chantelle]

i agree the holiday is better-celebrated in the US - where the spooky thing is just one element and costumes are much more fun and creative, as Helena says. I hate how here it seems to be all about blood and gore and scariness.

Really, it is such a fun holiday in the States - it's sad to me that it gets attacked here as an unwelcome Americanism. Even for adults, it can be a total blast - lots of Halloween parties and parades such as in Greenwich Village in NYC that are like a mini-Carnival.

I am happy to put out a pumpkin and welcome children of any age. I've never had any problems and I don't expect anyone to perform for me. It's just a bit of fun in the end.

It doesn't have to be commercial either - making a costume for your child is half the fun, and you can also make your own sweets or hand out apples or whatever you fancy.

[new mother]

We don't do it, to answer the original query.

[eedee]

We do early evening on the 31st with our 3 yr old and 8 yr old and 3 friends each. We buy some fun Halloween craft things to do first then only go up and down our own street, only knocking at houses with pumpkins... I also post a note the day before asking 3 nice neighbours whether we can call at 6pm and offering to give them sweets to hand out, so we are assured of at least 3 or 4 positive welcomes :-).

Personally on that basis it's a fun half an hour for all and then the condition is that only around 5 sweets are eaten on the night - the rest are saved for another day.

Everyone on our road seems to enjoy going up and down and if we've taken away the pumpkin at bedtime people don't call any more...

Happy Halloween to all, and may everyone's nights run as they personally wish...

[Alan Medic]

I have fond memories of Halloween in Ireland. We didn't have any trick or treating and like Otto I think it's one too many things imported from the US that's not needed. We had games at home and of course a barmbrack. What you got in your slice was as exciting as anything. I'm curious but does anyone play Halloween games at home anymore?

[pommie]

i think its quite shocking how "older" kids are taking part in trick or treat. I usually only open the door if i see that its young kids

[vesti]

My "older" kids take my younger kids trick or treating - and I'm extremely grateful to them for doing so!

What counts as too old to go trick or treating then?!

[hellosailor]

That's an interesting question, is there a sort of cut off age? I don't know..

I have wondered in recent years when groups of teenagers have come to my mum's door asking for cash, not sweets, whether their parents are imagining that their teenage boys (not meaning to generalise, just has tended to always be groups of teenage boys at mum's door rather than girls) are asking for penny sweets or do they know they're going out to ask for cash, potentially, like in my mum's case from pensioners, or egging their house etc if the door isn't opened.

If so, do the parents of groups like this think it's all part of the fun, or would they be horrified to know that's what their teenagers were doing. I think if I had a 15 year old that was getting dressed up for trick or treating and it wasn't to accompany a little sister or brother door to door, I probably wouldn't think they were going out to do what the 6 year olds were doing...but I don't have a teenager so maybe I'd just trustingly think 'awwww bless, they still want to dress up for sweeties...!'

[pommie]

vesti, when its kids around 16 plus without any younger ones with them

[vesti]

Ugh! Thankfully not happened to us.

Although I do find myself under a yearly seige from the people round the corner who seem to invite every kid under 10 in E Dulwich to trick or treat with them and think it's Ok to have hoards of them surge forward into our very narrow doorway and snatch at any sweets going. I am planning my management of them this year!! Maybe I can campaign for a minimum group size or have an "Only 2 school kids in the doorway at any one time" sign...

[Goodliz]

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have fond memories of Halloween in Ireland. We

> didn't have any trick or treating and like Otto I

> think it's one too many things imported from the

> US that's not needed. We had games at home and of

> course a barmbrack. What you got in your slice was

> as exciting as anything. I'm curious but does

> anyone play Halloween games at home anymore?

On Saturday when kids were with cousins we did bob apples (duck apples) and had a halloween quiz. Did not let kid do trick or treat tonight.

[????]

I didn't have trick or taaeting as a youngster

I';s clearly an american import

But the fun in our household, out on the streets near us and random visits from wirtches/goblins etc

...I think you really have to be a big BAH Humbug not to let your kids enjoy this. Dressing up, sweets, answering the door to ghosts, knocking on other doors and all stopped when you take you pumkin inside....what's not to like.

I wish I'd had it when I was young