One more trick or treat vent

[cheyita]

I know we talked about a lot of this stuff last night, but I forgot to mention my Halloween vent, which I used to give the older kids a hard time.

I answer the door, and a group of kids stand there, looking at me with their bags held out. I look at them..."Yes? Can I help you?"

Kids have forgotten the fine art of saying "Trick or Treat!" when you answer the door. I don't let the older kids get away with it.

And if they don't say thank you, I usually hand out a sarcastic "You're welcome!" anyway.

As I said, I cut younger kids some slack - they are young and excited. Kids 8 and older need to know better.

 

[nativetxn]

The "big" kids don't seem to have a problem shouting "trick or treat" when they come to my house. That great big "thank you" always seems to so difficult for them, though. I also yell "you're welcome" as they leave if they forget their manners.

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

did anyone else have an increase in "tweens" showing up at their house in jeans and a t-shirt with a bag? to me that's not ToT, it's begging...maybe it's jsut here in Houston that so many kids do that...

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

You sound like me when I hold the door open for the big kids/adults. 1/2 the time they say nothing, and I say "You're Welcome," as they walk away. I would have done the same on Halloween that you did. Someone has to teach these people manners.

 

[GoodFairies]

I'm also one of those people who gets a little irked when kids just stand there and don't say trick or treat or anything at all. But last night there was this shining moment when this kid, he must have been about three years old, comes up, says trick or treat, thanks me and turns to walk down my steps and looks back and says "Have a good night!" I got the biggest kick out of that. Gotta love that kid and his parents. I happened to be on the phone when I answered the door and my friend heard it all and was like "What!?! How old was that kid?"

 

[Jenn Lynn]

My DD says Trick or Treat before the person opens the door. She didn't get it yet. LOL! She always said thank you though.

 

[oogieboogie]

I hate that too, which is why I drum into my kids that they have to say Trick or Treat and Thank You when going door to door.

My 4yr old has really gotten it so much so that after he gets his candy and runs back to me, he does a report:

DS: Mommy, I said thank you and he/she said your welcome!

Mommy: That's good. Let's do the same at the next house, OK!

DS: Mommy, I always do that!

When he forgets, we (the parents) do stop them before they go on to the next house and remind them. I think that's just common sense and courtesy and it shows respect.

One funny moment last night, they knocked at one house, and I guess, the person wasn't fast enough opening the door, and DS4 shouts out: Hellloooooo.....

That was hilarious!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

DW and I went out with our three youngest kids and we told them that every time they didn't say thank you loud enough for us to hear, they had to give us a piece of candy!

 

[missypie]

I would say that at least half of the folks who came to our door didn't say Trick or Treat (or the spanish version thereof), much less "thank you." DH says that next year he's just going to stand and stare mutely at everyone who stands mutely at OUR door!

 

[arminnie]

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how very, very polite (and adorable) my trick or treaters were.

It seemed that they all arrived in groups of 4-5 and EVERY SINGLE one of them said "Happy Halloween or something to that effect" and also "thank you" after receiving the candy.

I think they were primarily from my immediate neighborhood (because we are at the top of a steep hill). I wish I knew who the parents were so I could thank them for raising such polite youngsters.

 

[Beanie]

I always make sure my kids say "Trick or Treat" and "thank you" as well! I agree, it is the big kids who have a problem with the thank you part!

 

[mrsgus06]

This is a classic. Our dd turned 3 a week before Halloween and can not seem to keep up with the walking with our other dd's 6, 7 & 9. With only 4 houses left, she ended up on Daddy's shoulders but sent her bag with dd 9 to the door. She watched until the door was opened and then yelled from the street "trick or treat" and when Katie held Logan's bag out for candy, she waited until the home owner dropped her candy in and then proceeded to yell "thanks" at the top of her lungs . I know it is tacky to trick or treat from the street via an older sister, but at least her manners were in check!

 

[CinderellaIam]

We had a various mix of rude "tweens" covered in shaving cream showing up and just holding out their bags, and many, many others who said either trick or treat or happy halloween. Maybe only two who did not say thank you.

Two very adorable boys about 5 yrs. old, were in a group of about six kids...as each of them came to the door they said Happy Halloween...I like your house! LOL it was too cute and too funny. It's not like we had a lot of decorations or anything just some light up outlines of figures (bat, witch, ghost, etc) in the bay window and a scarecrow sitting on a bale of hay over by the driveway.

 

[KathiWithAnI]

I have 4 kids, ages 5, 7, 9, and 11 and we went with a friend of mine who has 2 kids ages 4 and 7...
I noticed that my 7 yr kept waiting to be last at each house and he seemed to be talking a long time at each one. We had told our kids to say Trick or Treat and Thank you and kept asking them if they did.
Finally, I asked my 7 yr old what he was saying at the door each time, here's his spiel: ( oh yeah, his costume was a Ninja)
Trick or Treat, Ninja's rule, Happy Halloween, have a nice night, THANK YOU!! LOL

We just laughed and said you GO Kevin!