The annual “what time is trick-or-treat” conversation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year, my neighborhood group has a massive discussion about what time trick-or-treating is. Or whether Halloween should be “moved.”

Some want Halloween on another day or for trick-or-treating to be in the afternoon. There are still trunk-or-treats, right? Does anyone live in a neighborhood where trick-or-treat was moved?

Why don't you just rely on the answers from the last years responses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I give out ToT on Oct. 31 from 7 pm to 9 pm.

This is more the norm in our area also, although there are only a few after 8:30. Six seems a bit early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where I live, it’s 6-8. They are pretty strict, no one over 12 and no one out after 8. They want an adult with the kids.
I think 8 is a bit late for the younger ones, so the police station and fire company start at 5:00.
Yes, there are many trunk or treats during afternoon hours, too.

That's so restrictive and contrary to the spirit of the original. We used to live in Scotland, the birth place of Halloween, and it was a free for all, which is the entire point. Even here in the DC area, it's pretty relaxed. My kids loved ToT well into their teens. My 14 year old and her best friend are really looking forward to it - costumes ready and everything. It's not about the candy, they don't take a lot and don't eat half of what they take. It's about the fun and the disguises.

[Anonymous]

We sometimes have toddlers and infants come by at 5:30, but everyone else comes between 6-8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We get little toddlers around 5-6, the swarm starts around 6 and peters out after 8. I don't think anyone needs "official" time limits.

Officially really helps set expectations on both ends. In the same way that I’m probably not ready to see your 3yr old at 5pm you’d likely be annoyed if my teen rang your doorbell at 9:30.

Official is different from community-based norms.

This is so stupid. Go by the porch light rule. If my light is off and your teen rings the doorbell, they will not get candy, even if I have some left over. Community based norms is how the world runs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We get little toddlers around 5-6, the swarm starts around 6 and peters out after 8. I don't think anyone needs "official" time limits.

Officially really helps set expectations on both ends. In the same way that I’m probably not ready to see your 3yr old at 5pm you’d likely be annoyed if my teen rang your doorbell at 9:30.

Official is different from community-based norms.

This is so stupid. Go by the porch light rule. If my light is off and your teen rings the doorbell, they will not get candy, even if I have some left over. Community based norms is how the world runs.

So, in sum, our community based norm that the town suggests hours and that’s how we prefer it is stupid because your community based norm is better. Thanks. That clears it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where I live, it’s 6-8. They are pretty strict, no one over 12 and no one out after 8. They want an adult with the kids.
I think 8 is a bit late for the younger ones, so the police station and fire company start at 5:00.
Yes, there are many trunk or treats during afternoon hours, too.

What do you mean, "They" are strict? This is wild to me. Are you carding kids at the door? "They" want an adult with kids? What if someone rings your doorbell at 8:30, do you call the police?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We get little toddlers around 5-6, the swarm starts around 6 and peters out after 8. I don't think anyone needs "official" time limits.

Officially really helps set expectations on both ends. In the same way that I’m probably not ready to see your 3yr old at 5pm you’d likely be annoyed if my teen rang your doorbell at 9:30.

Official is different from community-based norms.

This is so stupid. Go by the porch light rule. If my light is off and your teen rings the doorbell, they will not get candy, even if I have some left over. Community based norms is how the world runs.

So, in sum, our community based norm that the town suggests hours and that’s how we prefer it is stupid because your community based norm is better. Thanks. That clears it up.

The porch light rule has always been in effect. You never ring the bell of a dark house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where I live, it’s 6-8. They are pretty strict, no one over 12 and no one out after 8. They want an adult with the kids.
I think 8 is a bit late for the younger ones, so the police station and fire company start at 5:00.
Yes, there are many trunk or treats during afternoon hours, too.

What do you mean, "They" are strict? This is wild to me. Are you carding kids at the door? "They" want an adult with kids? What if someone rings your doorbell at 8:30, do you call the police?

I wonder who “they” is and where this is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We get little toddlers around 5-6, the swarm starts around 6 and peters out after 8. I don't think anyone needs "official" time limits.

Officially really helps set expectations on both ends. In the same way that I’m probably not ready to see your 3yr old at 5pm you’d likely be annoyed if my teen rang your doorbell at 9:30.

Official is different from community-based norms.

This is so stupid. Go by the porch light rule. If my light is off and your teen rings the doorbell, they will not get candy, even if I have some left over. Community based norms is how the world runs.

So, in sum, our community based norm that the town suggests hours and that’s how we prefer it is stupid because your community based norm is better. Thanks. That clears it up.

Damn straight. Now either GWTP or move back to Ohio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We get little toddlers around 5-6, the swarm starts around 6 and peters out after 8. I don't think anyone needs "official" time limits.

Officially really helps set expectations on both ends. In the same way that I’m probably not ready to see your 3yr old at 5pm you’d likely be annoyed if my teen rang your doorbell at 9:30.

Official is different from community-based norms.

This is so stupid. Go by the porch light rule. If my light is off and your teen rings the doorbell, they will not get candy, even if I have some left over. Community based norms is how the world runs.

So, in sum, our community based norm that the town suggests hours and that’s how we prefer it is stupid because your community based norm is better. Thanks. That clears it up.

The porch light rule has always been in effect. You never ring the bell of a dark house.

But if people start at 5 PM it’s not even dark enough out for porch lights so will that clearly signal please do not come to my house this freaking early? Even when my kids were toddlers we never went out that early (this is in reference to PPs mentioning little kids going out at 5). We’d go out around 6 PM, hit up 5-7 houses, and head home. Also infants do not need to ToT.

6-8/9 is fine and works with the porch light rule because it should be dark enough by then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We get little toddlers around 5-6, the swarm starts around 6 and peters out after 8. I don't think anyone needs "official" time limits.

Officially really helps set expectations on both ends. In the same way that I’m probably not ready to see your 3yr old at 5pm you’d likely be annoyed if my teen rang your doorbell at 9:30.

Official is different from community-based norms.

This is so stupid. Go by the porch light rule. If my light is off and your teen rings the doorbell, they will not get candy, even if I have some left over. Community based norms is how the world runs.

So, in sum, our community based norm that the town suggests hours and that’s how we prefer it is stupid because your community based norm is better. Thanks. That clears it up.

Damn straight. Now either GWTP or move back to Ohio.

Our town already suggests hours. I don’t have to move to Ohio .

If the town didn’t suggest hours, that would be fine too. We’d just have more delightful conversations like this one when everyone asks what the hours are and people get their feathers ruffled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where I live, it’s 6-8. They are pretty strict, no one over 12 and no one out after 8. They want an adult with the kids.
I think 8 is a bit late for the younger ones, so the police station and fire company start at 5:00.
Yes, there are many trunk or treats during afternoon hours, too.

I call BS.

[Anonymous]

What would you do if you get a trick-or-treater at 430pm??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We get little toddlers around 5-6, the swarm starts around 6 and peters out after 8. I don't think anyone needs "official" time limits.

Officially really helps set expectations on both ends. In the same way that I’m probably not ready to see your 3yr old at 5pm you’d likely be annoyed if my teen rang your doorbell at 9:30.

Official is different from community-based norms.

This is so stupid. Go by the porch light rule. If my light is off and your teen rings the doorbell, they will not get candy, even if I have some left over. Community based norms is how the world runs.

So, in sum, our community based norm that the town suggests hours and that’s how we prefer it is stupid because your community based norm is better. Thanks. That clears it up.

The porch light rule has always been in effect. You never ring the bell of a dark house.

But if people start at 5 PM it’s not even dark enough out for porch lights so will that clearly signal please do not come to my house this freaking early? Even when my kids were toddlers we never went out that early (this is in reference to PPs mentioning little kids going out at 5). We’d go out around 6 PM, hit up 5-7 houses, and head home. Also infants do not need to ToT.

6-8/9 is fine and works with the porch light rule because it should be dark enough by then.

Just don’t answer the door. It’s not like they’ll kick it in.

We get small kids starting at 5. If we’re too busy, we just don’t answer the door. I get why young families go out early, and plenty of people are ready for them. We went out early ourselves when our kids were younger. We usually had people very excited that we were the first trick or treaters.