Trick or Treating--Leave the candy or stay behind to pass it out?

[emma'smom]

We face this issue every year. Both DH and I want to go trick or treating with our two dds (4 and almost 2) so that we can see the neighbors and see our children say "trick or treat". Last year we just left a big bowl of candy on our front step with a note saying "We're trick or treating too! Please take one!". We ran back to check the bowl and add more candy every now and then.

Do you do this? How do you handle wanting to be out and about with the kids while still making sure you are giving out candy (without it all disappearing as well)?

 

[CTPinkPrincess]

Last year I stayed home to pass out candy while DH and "Belle" went out trick or treating. This year, DD has said she wants us to leave the bowl of candy on the front step so we can all go trick or treating.

I'm not worried about all the candy disappearing early in the evening (when it seems the younger kids are out) but later on when the older kids start showing up. I understand the dilemna...If you find the answer, can you let us know too?

Happy Halloween!

 

[krismom]

I put all of ours in a big "cauldron" and hope for the best. The younger kids are always honest- I usually have some trouble when the high schoolers get out and about (ie: found the bucket in my tree last year!) Either way- I feel I've done my part, and I can be with the kids.
Have Fun!

 

[Captain_Hook]

No kids here, so I can't speak from personal experience.... but, how is your area divided? Would it be too much trouble to do half and half? One parent go first and the other stay behind and then half way through come back home and swap (maybe even a bathroom break and empty out the bag)?

 

[Mom2Ashli]

We both normally go for just a little than one comes home to pass out the candy. If my Mom is in town she will stay at our house and pass out the candy for us.

 

[tripplanner]

We both go with our kids. I leave the candy bowl on the porch with a note to take two. I realize that at some point in the night some teenager will come by and empty out the bowl, but that's OK. I at least made the effort and the younger early kids most likely were able to get their share.

 

[liznboys]

We've always done as Captain Hook says! (why does that crack me up?! lol) Anyway, we just take turns...one of us stays and passes out candy while the other takes the boys around to half the neighborhood. Then we switch. It works perfectly!

I have to be honest and say that the leaving the bowl of candy on the porch thing doesn't seem very friendly to me. I like to greet my neighbors (kids) when they come to our door. And I like when our neighbors are there to say hello to my kids. I understand why you do it though.

Happy Halloween!

 

[mickeyfan2]

Pass it out.

How much fun would your girls have if every house they went to just had a bowl that said take one? You want to enjoy seeing your daughters say TOT but deny that parent's kid the same opportunity at your house? Do like CH said.

 

[Anjiebaby]

My DH loves Halloween so much he turns the house into a real spookfest and dresses up to meet the kids and hand out candy. I take DS and DD around the neighbourhood for about 1 1/2 hours then come back. DD3 stays at home with me and DS7 goes further with my DH. He really enjoys giving the kids coming to our door the full show. He has had most of the Halloween show up for weeks but tonight he adds dummies crushed under the car and one Dummy ironing another on an ironing board and he has turned our front hall into a stone dungeon. He even has dry ice to give it a spooky effect. DH and I both dress up and the kids love that. My DD is a flower so I am going out as a bee. My DS is Jack Sparrow and my DSis is coming out with us as Elizabeth Swan. DH's costume is a secret.

 

[Reese]

We take turns. Last year I took the kids around to the neighbours well DH stayed at home handing out candy. This year he'll be taking them out well I stay home and hand out candy. We all make a special trip to Grandma and Grandpa's together.

 

[Becky2005]

I do both. What has worked in the past so far for us, is that once my Middle Schooler gets home, I put some out in a bowl with a note & take my kids around for an hour or so. Then we come home & have supper, etc... by then my DH will be home from work and one of us stays home to pass out the candy. Usually by then my little guy is done & doesn't want to go back out anyway. We have always told the older ones we will take them back out after supper but in the past few years my kids have just wanted to stay home & pass out the candy themselves. The fight over who's turn it is to answer the door (at least for a bit & then they get involved in their own stuff).

I know my DD has offered to take out the boys this year but I just don't think she is ready to go out trick or treating on her own, being responsible for all 3 boys. That's a bit much to ask of a 12 year old when I know her 9 year old brother has a tendency to run ahead a bit (last year he went out with friends, so he wasn't with us).

 

[stczt]

We dont go trick or treating, not real big into halloween. But the kids love to pass out candy. We eat while passing and they get what's left. And I always buy them more. SO they get the candy without the work.

 

[PinballFamily]

Why don't you make a sign for your door saying to pick up "your" candy next door at a neighbor's? (The sign should include an arrow pointing the way.) A friendly neighbor could certainly handle two different candy bowls during the time that you and your husband are out with the kids. That's what some families do around here...just another idea.

 

[chrisn]

DD is all grown up and DS-9 LOVES Halloween but all the rest of us prefer to stay home, greet the kids, hand out candy and watch them enjoy our decorations. I also like to hand out a treat in addition to candy. This year I have the little mini tubs of play-doh (which I'm sure all the mom's will love) so one of us really needs and wants to be there. My sister and I will sometimes take turns at the trunk or treats in the church parking lots, one of us will take the kids and one of us will pass the candy but other than that I would WAY rather stay home.

P.S. It's freakin cold here around this time too!

 

[mtemm]

we face that dilemma, too. our kids are the same age (4, 2, 2). last year the neighborhood halloween party stocked them so well that we didn't bother going out. well, dh took ds (then 3) to a couple of houses, but just 2 or 3. the year previous when ds was 2 we both took him to just a few houses and kept the bowl out. we were gone for about 10 minutes total I think.

this year my parents are visiting so they'll hand out candy while we take the kids out for a bit. but again, we'll probably only hit a handful of houses. they're still young yet, just a few are fun for them.

 

[texasthree]

My husband has been deployed every year at halloween so this is our first year all together. We are going to the halloween party on base then taking our son trick or treating. Last year I left candy in a bowl with a note and returned home to nothing, they even took the bowl so this year I am leaving nothing. I am turning off the lights when we leave for the party at 6pm. I bought the 6 kids that live on our street a candy bar and they know they can pick it up anytime today.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I think it depends on what your kids want to do. My kids LOVE Trick or Treating, we usually go out at 5:30 and stay out for about 2 hours, when we get back there are still plenty of trick or treaters to pass out the candy to. I guess it depends on your neighborhood too, some don't get as many kids coming by. We run out of candy every year.
My best friends kids on the other hand Love to pass out candy , they trick or treat up their street , then pass the candy out for the rest of the night.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I vote for both parents going and enjoying every minute of it. My DS has outgrown going out and it is really sad. cherish those short years.

 

[emma'smom]

We live in a surburban style housing development that is divided into two major streets with little cul-de-sacs on it. We usually just trick or treat on our street and around the cul-de-sac attached to our street. Even this is about 30 houses (if everyone is giving out candy). Most families on the street have young children...so everyone will be out early....maybe we'll just wait until 6:30 (T or T starts at 6) and pass it out to the youngest ones and then go out ourselves. That's the issue...we want to see everyone and admire everyone's costumes and chat with the neighbors as we pass them (in their homes and on the street). We have a very social neighborhood!

For the most part, our candy hasn't walked away too quickly....we're usually back by the time the older kids make the rounds. Last year dd2 was in a stroller...maybe she'll wear out faster now that she is walking...and then one of us will bring her home.

 

[Juliegirl1]

Just in for the evening and had to vent. I took my son trick or treating and then came home so he could hand out candy which he loves doing. I decided it was getting late and wanted him to go take his bath and put my candy on the front porch. Went in for a sec to grab the note I'd made asking the kids to take just a couple of pieces. Heard a thud and went back outside to make sure everything was okay. The very first kid that came by emptied my whole bucket of candy (five bags full - the good stuff too) into his bag. I really can't believe it. Anyway, I hope everyone else has had a happy halloween!