New rules for trick or treaters

[pmcalk]

Don't get me wrong--I love Halloween.  I don't mind that kids are driven to my neighborhood to trick or treat.  I am glad they feel our neighborhood is worth the drive.  Just a few things that bother me:

1.  8:30 is about the right time to quit.  9 is pushing it.  If you ring my bell after 10 pm, I may call the police.

2.  PLEASE--wear a costume.  Nothing fancy--you can throw an old sheet on, I don't care, but at least make some effort.

3.  If you are shaving, you are probably too old to trick or treat.  If you are driving from door to door, you are definitely too old.  Get a job, and go buy your own candy.  Oh, and please put out any cigarettes before coming to my door.

4.  One bag per person, please.  If you are carrying two or three, at least make up an excuse, like my sick brother is at home.  I am gullible--I will believe you.  

Happy Halloween to all.

[OurTulsa]

I think I live in the same neighborhood as you, although I'm a southsider and you took the words right out of my mouth.  

The only addition I would contribute is (and I might ask your permission to put this at number 1 but I'll follow current form now):

5. Say 'trick or treat'!  

I had a couple of kids that ran up to the door held out their bags and didn't say boo.  I almost literally had to pull 'trick or treat' out of them.

[Cubs]

quote: 1. 8:30 is about the right time to quit. 9 is pushing it. If you ring my bell after 10 pm, I may call the police.

Does the city set any kind of times for trick-or-treaters? Just curious because when I lived in Chicagoland, each town set times that trick-or-treating was "allowed." Several towns set it up so that the kiddos went out right after school and then most were done by sun down.

quote: 3. If you are shaving, you are probably too old to trick or treat. If you are driving from door to door, you are definitely too old. Get a job, and go buy your own candy. Oh, and please put out any cigarettes before coming to my door.

Cigarettes? Wow .... glad I didn't have any of those up here in Owasso.

[Ibanez]

I go all out for Halloween...even more so than for Christmas. Lights, decorations, 3 fog machines, real coffin in the front yard with a friend dressed as a mummy in it, guillotine complete with headless dummy spewing blood, creepy music, sound effects, friends in the yard dressed up as trolls/werewolves/witches/etc...kids love it. I get a ton of trick or treaters and always leave everything turned on and going full bore until 10pm. Neighbors don't mind, they love it to. If it is a warm night some sit outside just to watch the kids, and sometimes the parent's, reaction to my house.

Over the years the kids have learned to be polite when they come to the door and say "trick or treat" and "thank you" because they get more candy that way. Don't say trick or treat and you'll get 1 piece of candy, say it and you get a handful or two.

Too many people these days a fuddy duddys and don't do squat for Halloween.

[DM]

Can I just say that its OK for parents to dress up too. They should not actually trick or treat for candy but I was the only parent walking with my child last night that was dressed up.

[pmcalk]

quote:Originally posted by wavoka

I go all out for Halloween...even more so than for Christmas. Lights, decorations, 3 fog machines, real coffin in the front yard with a friend dressed as a mummy in it, guillotine complete with headless dummy spewing blood, creepy music, sound effects, friends in the yard dressed up as trolls/werewolves/witches/etc...kids love it. I get a ton of trick or treaters and always leave everything turned on and going full bore until 10pm. Neighbors don't mind, they love it to. If it is a warm night some sit outside just to watch the kids, and sometimes the parent's, reaction to my house.

Over the years the kids have learned to be polite when they come to the door and say "trick or treat" and "thank you" because they get more candy that way. Don't say trick or treat and you'll get 1 piece of candy, say it and you get a handful or two.

Too many people these days a fuddy duddys and don't do squat for Halloween.

I hope I didn't come across as a fuddy duddy.  We go all out as well--we bought a fog machine this year, have the whole yard done up as a grave yard, strobe lights, scary music, etc....

I have kids that go to sleep at 8, so when people ring the door bell (after I have turned off the lights) at 10 pm and wake my kids up, it bothers me.

Part of the fun for me is seeing the great costumes.  So when people don't dress up, I feel cheated.

I am not a stickler for forcing the "trick or treat" mostly because I have painfully shy kids, and know how hard it is to get them to say anything.  

Most things don't bother me--even the teenager's trick or treating.  I was just a bit suprised at the number of kids who showed up with more than one bag.  No explanation, they just stuck both bags up for me to fill.

[Sangria]

I give out treats until 8:00pm. Period.

If someone comes to my door in costume I give them treats - I don't care how big of a kid they are.[}:)] I also have healthy bisquets if someone brings their dog to my house in costume.

If kids come to the door with multiple bags I put candy in one bag. There is no greater love than a child who learns to share with the less fortunate sibling at home.