American moms - I need Halloween advice please!

[weewilliewinkie]

So as a Scot living in VA, I need some advice on what to do this Halloween - regarding the trick-or-treaters that are bound to come knocking on my door! My problem is that I have a 3.9 ds and 9mth dd, and I really don't want the doorbell ringing all evening as they'll both be tucked up in bed, hopefully sound asleep.

Is it incredibly rude to avoid the neighbourhood kids? I don't know a single one of my neighbours, so are they likely to come round anyway? I have no decorations outside at my front door, and was wondering if this signifies my lack of involvement in the holiday, so maybe my house would be ignored?

I was thinking of putting a nice notice up on my front door asking the kids not to disturb us, and leaving a big bowl of candy out for them to help themselves - would this be acceptable?

Help! I'm dreading it!

[Earlybird]

Don't leave a bowl outside as some greedy child will inevitably dump the entire contents into their bag.

What about leaving a big sign over the doorbell/door knocker that says 'please knock'? A knock will probably be less likely to wake/disturb your two.

[weewilliewinkie]

earlybird - i just don't want to have to deal with them at all! also, my dh is away at the moment, and I just have a thing about anwering the door at night when I'm on my own...and some of those costumes are scary, man!

I'll just turn the lights off and hide, I think...

[expatinscotland]

just turn off the lights or stay in a back room.

isn't your son kind of into it, though, at his age?

i don't know.

i'm american, but married to a Scot and living in Scotland, and our 4-year-old is pretty into this Halloween biz, which seems to be a bigger deal here in the West than it was in poe-faced Edinburgh

[hana]

I'd do what you suggested and put a bowl out with a sign - you could just put a handful out and refill as the night went on so the greedy kid doesn't get it all

or leave your lights off. we never went to dark houses when 'trick or treating' as kids

[ScaryScienceT]

I our city, TorT was strictly from 6 - 7.30pm, and very heavily policed!

You don't need decorations, but it is nice to buy some funsize sweets. If you don't want anyone to come, leave your lights off.

If you leave the sweets out, the first group of teens will take the lot!

[USAUKMum]

In our neighborhood porch light off / outside lights off, the house was not to be visited. The bowl would work for the escorted children, but first set that didn't have a parent along, the whole bowl is likely to go. I'd probably not do that.

[ScaryScienceT]

Kids have bags for their candy? In our neighbourhood, it was pillowcases

[dooneygirl]

Another neighborhood where no lights on means no candy given out. But no lights means no visible lights in the house, also.

Most people are done Trick or Treating at a fairly early hour here, which is nice.

[chocchipcookie]

I think you may be imagining this is an all night thing. Where we are in Ohio it is 6-7 and all over by 7.30pm. All the kids come with their parents, it is v. sedate and polite.
If the light is on they come up to the door.
Surely yours could stay up until then? You don't have to do it of course but it is a nice way to say hello to people and be involved in your neighbourhood, especially as you have children yourself and you might want to go next year.
I'm surprised your son hasn't said he wants to go.
It is a little bit standoffish not to join in my humble Halloween opinion.

[annh]

WWW, wouldn't this be a nice way of getting to know some of your neighbours by going round and asking them how trick or treating works in your neighbourhood? When I lived in the US, I found all our neighbours v-friendly and only too willing to help. Agree that very often, it's a short, intense period and your children may well be able to stay up for it.

[weewilliewinkie]

My ds is having a big Halloween party at his pre-school where he gets to dress up in his costume, and have a parade etc, which will be great for him. I haven't seen much sign of other kids the same age in my neighbourhood though, and believe me, I'd love to meet some locals! I'm not stand-offish at all so please don't get me wrong. I do get a bit nervous being in the house on my own.

I think I'll answer the door until 7.30pm, then hide! Fair enough?

[chocchipcookie]

I think that sounds a really good compromise, I totally understand about not answering the door late. Then your ds can dress up and hand out candy. If he is like my son it will be give one, eat one.

[SSSandy2]

I think go the whole hog and give it a try. You might really enjoy the whole evening. I am not keen on Halloween because it just isn't my tradition and I don't like the scarey stuff, spiders and so on. It all seems such a consumer thing here but in the US where it's a real traditional holiday, I think I'd throw myself into it.

[chocchipcookie]

How did it go WWW - has it happened, ours was Saturday.