Trick or Treaters... no costume?

[MagicalMom]

We had a lot of teens with no costumes. We had adults with & without costumes. I gave them all candy. I even had one Mom & 5 little girls come. each little girl got her candy & then said "I need extra for my little brother" then the Mom even held out her bag & said "I need extra for my son!" I don't care. We have enough candy in this house than we could possibly eat. We enjoy Halloween & don't follow any strict rules. DS 4 wore himself out trick or treating & decided to return home early to pass out candy. When all the candy was gone he dumped his own in the bowl & began passing it out. He had a ball & can't wait until next year to pass it out again. That was the highlight of my night, watching him sit on the steps yelling "Here comes more kids Momma!!!!"

 

[DVCLiz]

I had one kid tonight who said, "I have two bags - my brother is in the car - he peed in his pants."

I did not laugh until I was sure he had left my yard, I promise...

 

[MagicalMom]

I had one kid tonight who said, "I have two bags - my brother is in the car - he peed in his pants."

I did not laugh until I was sure he had left my yard, I promise...

Almost happened to us tonight! We were a couple of roads over when DS announced that he had to go BAD! We ran as fast as we could & thankfully made it, but I was sweating it for a bit!

 

[disneymac]

when we take our kids out trick or treating, i leave a bag or bowl of candy out with a note to "please take one - happy halloween" -there has only been one year when all the candy was gone. so we don't know if those kids were wearing costumes or not! tonight, dh answered (after we got back) and said there was a guy who had to be in his mid-20's, dressed as tigger - we laughed - must have been a dare or something!

i like the idea of having someone without a costume sing or dance or something, although we didn't have anyone come here without one!

happy halloween everybody!

 

[SandiH]

At our house - teens need to be in costume - my husband denied a kid tonight. The kid couldn't believe it. If they want to trick or treat - then my goodness - they should dress up in costume and trick or treat! I'm not worried about any tricks. My husband also had another teen come up - appeared not in costume and when hubby asked, the kid showed him his fangs. At least he put some effort into it and had a quick response instead of standing there clueless! I like the idea of having them sing a song or do a dance. I bet they won't come trick or treating the next year without a costume or a plan!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion - this is just how we handle it at our house - you are free to handle it how you would like!

 

[pfishgirl]

we also had several boys without costumes.. I did give them candy. however, I gave them the junk stuff.. the left over plain lolipops with the handles (that I normally use for little kids)

 

[poohandwendy]

Honestly, I figure if they are going to take the time to walk around...they can have the candy, no big deal. It just is not a big deal to me...I do make an effort to 'figure out what they are', which probably embarrasses them.

My 16 yo son would have loved to go ToT tonight...he LOVES candy. He told me he would not go (even dressed in costume) because he was afraid older people would be intimidated and think he was taking advantage or looking to rob them, lol. He is 6'1''.

 

[lulubelle]

Anyone who gets into the spirit of Halloween and rings my doorbell gets candy. There are those without a costume and the teen girls who wear their high school cheer outfits and they all get candy from me. I just feel the holiday mandates those who want to trick or treat deserve a trick or treat! Anyway, I wish I had the courage to ask the older non-costumed kids to sing or dance or do something for the treat as one other poster stated. That sounds awesome! Congrats to you

 

[kdibattista]

Wow... I'm glad we don't have any scrooges living in our neighborhood!!!

Rules.... for Halloween... give me a break. Enjoy the night or turn out your lights

 

[MELSMICE]

I always give them the candy - dressed up or not - who cares.

 

[ericamanda01]

My thought is if the kids are brave enough to ring my door bell without a costume on then they should get some candy. It's takes nerve to TOT without a costume on. Besides I had a bag of bite size Snickers for the older kids and full size candy bars for the little ones. It really is a small childrens holiday, but I think that everyone should get some candy.

 

[Jeafl]

I felt bad for the little kids without costumes, was kind of wondering if maybe their families could not afford it or something.

You know, this is the case more often than you know. I work at an elementary school and we have a costume parade every year. You get to know which kids come from homes where there isn't money in the budget for a costume. I always brings odds and ends of costumes to school so that these kids at least have a mask or a cape or a costume of some sort. It just breaks my heart when they come to school with no costume at all.

In answer to the OP's question, anyone that makes the effort to come to our door gets candy.

 

[beattyfamily]

My kids ages 6 & 9 kept getting compliments from the houses we went to for their manners. They actually wore costumes, and actually said Trick or Treat and they actually said thank you and Happy Halloween! Most of the houses made a comment about our DDs actually saying Trick or Treat. Pretty sad.

I would not give candy to anyone over the age of 10 who didn't have manners enough to say Trick or Treat, and preferably a costume too.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Sorry, Papa - let me rephrase that.

I think it is mean to deny candy to anyone aged 18 or younger on October 31st, regardless of attire. And I think people who have small children might someday, far in the future, want a courtesy extended to those children, whether or not they have on the attire that their father once thought he would (or could) insist on. Fair enough???

Not really. You meant the exact same thing, you just tried to disguise it with nicer words. And no, I would be TOTALLY ok if people didn't want to give my kids candy when they are teens if my kids made no effort to dress up. And absolutely I CAN insist on them dressing up. They are my kids. If I thought for a second that they would go TOTing without a costume I would just make them stay at home. My house, my rules.

I agree with a poster later on who says that if you show up with no costume - especially teenagers - you aren't trick or treating, you are begging. I'm laughing to a point, when people say if anybody makes the "effort" then they get candy. To me, no costume means no "effort", UNLESS it was a young child who I belived could not afford a costume. But in my neighborhood that would not be the case.

 

[ReggieB]

You know, this is the case more often than you know. I work at an elementary school and we have a costume parade every year. You get to know which kids come from homes where there isn't money in the budget for a costume. I always brings odds and ends of costumes to school so that these kids at least have a mask or a cape or a costume of some sort. It just breaks my heart when they come to school with no costume at all.

In answer to the OP's question, anyone that makes the effort to come to our door gets candy.

A couple of kids in my DS5 class didn't bring costumes. Luckily there was a small stash of spares. I think the parents just didn't know to be honest, as I had to ask another parent about it. DS5 isn't so great on passing verbal communications from school!

Would I give un-costumed kids candy? Absolutely. If an adult came up to my door asking for candy I would probably give them some too!! Luckily I usually have plenty of candy so it doesn't bother me one bit. We also have great kids in my neighborhood. There were a few kids that could have been considered a bit old for Trick or Treating, but they were friendly and polite, so I am happy to indulge.

 

[buddy&wooz]

I said in another thread that I won't give candy to kids not in costume unless they can "explain" their costume and say trick or treat- I can honestly say I've never NOT given out the candy- they always come up with some explanation (yes, one kid actually said he was a "kid begging for candy" for Halloween... )

Candy because you're intimidated is just sad. If I felt that way I'd be looking to move to a different neighborhood.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Has anyone noticed how many people here are giving candy out because of fear of reprisals? Candy by intimidation....great holiday we have here.

This is one reason why I have stopped participating in T or T....I felt like it was "give me what I want or I will be back later and trash your house"....

Most of these older "children" do not live in my neighborhood....many of them don't speak enough English to say "Trick or Treat"....I didn't like the rules of the game so I chose not to play.

Ready for flaming now!

Amen Meezers!!! We haven't ever gotten any ToT but we keep our lights off for these reasons too.

 

[Poohnatic]

If they say 'trick or treat', they get the loot. The group of teens that came to my door late all were dressed, however, there were quite a few pre teens that weren't.

Suzanne

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I give it to them. I want to be a good neighbor. The good neighbors dont get egss, shaving cream and paintballs as presents from the teens. I would actually rather have them not in costume. That way if something happens we know who did the mischief. 2 of our ds were out with their friends and none of them had costumes on.

 

[DVCLiz]

Not really. You meant the exact same thing, you just tried to disguise it with nicer words. And no, I would be TOTALLY ok if people didn't want to give my kids candy when they are teens if my kids made no effort to dress up. And absolutely I CAN insist on them dressing up. They are my kids. If I thought for a second that they would go TOTing without a costume I would just make them stay at home. My house, my rules.

I agree with a poster later on who says that if you show up with no costume - especially teenagers - you aren't trick or treating, you are begging. I'm laughing to a point, when people say if anybody makes the "effort" then they get candy. To me, no costume means no "effort", UNLESS it was a young child who I belived could not afford a costume. But in my neighborhood that would not be the case.

LOL, I was being facetious - I still firmly believe that it's wrong to deny anyone candy on Halloween - dressed or not, under 12 or almost 18. If you want to make those rules for your children, be my guest. I'll disagree, of course, but why do you care??? Halloween is over now, and you are allowed to handle it at your own house any way you want!!!! Everyone who came to the DVCLiz house last night got an Airhead and a mini Reese's cup - even the kid who showed up at 9:15 with a school letter jacket as his "costume."

Now, on to the important subjects - like what are you having for Thanskgiving???