I think more people need to be educated about Trick or Treating etiquette.
I am a mom who doesn’t mind handing out candy to the little tikes, but when parents bring their kids to your door early in the afternoon, I think it’s plain rude.
Doorbell ringing early in the afternoon is usually reserved for Jehovah’s Witnesses, delivery folks and sales persons – not little kids in costume.
Last year, Halloween fell on Saturday. That year, I ran out of the house to go to the store to pick up some last minute things. I returned at 2:45pm. But somehow some trick or treaters made it to my door before I got home and splattered eggs all over my front door and windows.
“Trick or Treating before 3 in the afternoon!” Are these people crazy?! “ I yelled.
I still managed to calm down and hand out candy to the other kids with a smile.
And later had to stand outside in the cold with a bucket of hot water with pinesol and a sponge to get all the egg off my windows and door.
This Halloween fell on Sunday. I was pro-active! I put a sign on my door saying:
Happy Halloween! We will be giving out candy! Date: Sunday, October 31, 2010 Time: AFTER 5PM See You Then!
Now even with the sign, I had kids ringing my doorbell beginning at 2pm. Parents usually were not accompanying their kids. They were at the end of the driveway waiting while the kids, many who couldn’t read, or just didn’t care to read the sign, rang the bell and screamed trick or treat.
Whatever happened to Trick or Treating in the evening?
Is it too much to give a household a chance to have dinner? Or just have a life that day that isn’t committed to standing guard at the door ready with a big bowl of candy?
I did a little research and found according to at least one writer on ShowBizGossips.com.
“A good time for trick or treating would be between 4PM to 6PM for children eight years and under, getting them home in time for dinner and bedtime. For children 8 – 12 years old, anytime between 6PM to 8PM is good, provided the neighborhood is safe and adult supervision is provided. Kids over 12 have a little more time allowance, depending on the situations and adult guidance.”
This year, one child even held up a box with a hole in it saying TRICK OR TREATING FOR UNICEF! Expecting me to put change in the box. I said sorry honey I don’t have any money. This while I struggled with a big bowl of candy trying to accommodate 7 kids at the door.
The parents were at the end of the sidewalk telling the kids to say thank you. But I just thought “Wow – you’d send your kid to the door to ask for monetary donations?!”
There are just some things you just don’t do.
Etiquette Expert Diane Gottsman, a nationally recognized etiquette professional and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas wrote in her blog a few of the following tips for parents:
- Follow closely behind your child and don’t allow him or her to wander off from house to house without supervision.
- A parent should also acknowledge the person handing out the candy with a smile and a “thank you.”
- Discourage your older teen from trick or treating. Expect raised eyebrows from the neighbors if your teen is carrying a trash bag or pillowcase for a treat bag.
- Teens should never wear a heavy mask or carry weapon-like gear.
- Inspect all treats before letting your children eat them.
- If you do not want to participate in the Halloween ritual, make it clear by turning off your front porch light. Better yet, go out for a nice dinner and return after all of the little goblins are tucked into bed.
I would include:
- Don’t let your child ask for money at the door.
- And wait till dinner hour or after to do trick or treating unless your block club of neighbors have agreed on a better time. It’s just being a good neighbor and considerate.
Maybe 5pm is just too late for some moms and I apologize. But 2 in the afternoon for trick or treaters seems just a little too early.
