Trick or Treat?

DCFC79

I cant say ive heard of these rules, dont remember any rules like turning off a light, i do remember we only went to certain houses eg not houses with elderly folk in.

ankspon

There are no rules and keep the Americanised scrounging rugrats away.Would you let kids go to a stranger begging?

dizziblonde

edgex wrote: »

our front hall, which has the front door opening into it, connects the lounge, dining room & kitchen, & it has the stairs in it.
so no, we will not leave that light off.


are you going to supply me with a sign?


WHAT RULES???

Only rules I know are either:

My football - my rules (don't think it applies here)
Or the one about "the female makes all the rules"... don't think it's that one either.

Nah it's some completely arbitrary bit of tosh the OP came up with to justify her kids harassing more people for sweets rather than going to those houses obviously up for the fun.

edgex

Beetlemama wrote: »

I doubt any of you are mean enough to yell at little kids, but it makes it easier for everyone if everyone knows the rules. While it wasn't an old tradition here, it's certainly a new one and the streets are now full of kids. All the parents sites and the letters they send home from school tell you these are the rules you should follow, it seems a shame if only the kids know them and risk upsetting people - and people upsetting the kids.

Peace out.

The OP should come back &;

post links to these 'rules'
upload a copy of the 'rules letter' from the school

explain how people that dont have children at the same school, or spend their entire life on parents sites, or even have children, would know that there are rules

Jenny007

I didnt realise we had to 'opt out' of Haloween, I always thought you 'opted in' for example putting out a pumpkin.
I dont 'do' Haloween but I understood that to be the rules. Im not going to be a prisoner in my own home in fear of the house getting egged (again). Im not going to sit in darkness, its my home and I'll do as I please.

Luckyred

I have never heard of of these "rules" and its not because I don't have children..... I do and grandchildren. Neither do I recall seeing decorations or a pumpkin or whatever in anyone's window ever. Maybe some people put them in and perhaps I just haven't noticed as I am not "into" Halloween.
I asked my daughter about it all and all she knows is that school advises children not to knock on doors unsupervised for any reason which of course includes November 5th and Christmas. She didnt know about "lights out" and pumkins in windows.
There is no way would I sit in the dark if I didnt want to answer the door. I just wouldnt answer it.
I decided that I wouldnt answer the door last night because none of the neighbours have children so I dont know where they all come from and my husband wasnt home from work until 8pm and I dont like answering the door when its dark. Someone knocked after he came home so he answered it and gave them £1. Soon after that they were coming virtually non stop. He gave a £1 to the next two lots but then decided enough was enough so we didnt answer the door anymore and we disobeyed the rules by keeping the lights on! :eek:

markmead

To save hassle for all involved, i think its best to prearrange the route the kids take - that involves allowing them only to visit friends, relatives and neighbours that have agreed to having visitors. Trick or Treating is a tradition that is clearly taking route in the UK, let our kids have fun, but lets also be sensible and take precautions. When I say precautions, this is not only for the kids, but for those in our community who are vulnerable, elderly, religious etc.

I tend to think of Haloween to have similar merits of a house party - I would prefer to let my neighbours know beforehand out of curtsy.

Having an unidentified caller at night can prove to be an issue for some people. In the interest for all involved, I would suggest parents pre-plan (with their kids) the route they take and identify the houses that are 'friendly' towards this custom.

TheEffect

We had lots of sweets ready, but as we live on a primerily student road, we had no trick or treaters. Maybe the parents were worried we'd hand their children a bottle of vodka and a packet of benson?

threemuttleys

RichGold wrote: »

An alternative to telling people how to light their homes would be to not take your children out begging.

quite!

hows about, you go and buy your kids sweets, rather than sending them out begging, and I get to sit in my lounge with my lights/fire/tv on, and not be told what to do or what not to do

AsknAnswer2

How dare you?

And yes, I really mean that. There are no 'rules'. There are some local customs but I'll be damned if I am going to inconvenience myself by putting a sign up or turning off my light for people I don't know who have come to my private living space uninvited. Why should I?

I do participate but I only have one custom: If I don't know you or your child, you are not welcome. I do however welcome guisers whom I know and they know what hours to knock.

Knocking on the doors of strangers is completely irresponsible as well as ignorant. You have no idea who is behind that door and similarly I don't know who is stood outside mine. I do have the advantage of a peep hole though. A person completely deranged could answer the door. Or the occupant could be in extremely poor health. Do you really think that someone who is terminally ill and doesn't want to be bothered should use any of their limited time to write a sign or consider having to leave their light off so as not to upset you or your child who, as complete strangers, have come to their home without invitation? I don't. Yes these examples are extreme however they are the reality for some people and they highlight my point of not having the faintest idea of who the occupants are and how either you could be affected or how your intrusiveness could affect them.

Go only to the doors of the people you are accquainted with - that saves heartache for both your child(ren) and occupants who want to be left in peace.