My friends and I plan a protein heavy dinner, usually BBQ or chili or something and everyone comes over around 6. We usually have a potluck style meal and have been doing this since our youngest children who are now teens were toddlers. The school age kids and preschoolers trick or treat after dinner and just at sunset which is usually around 7.

We normally meet up with friends to trick or treat after dinner. This year, DS is going to a friends house to trick or treat and then they are watching a movie in the backyard. He is in 6th grade. It will be a late night but it is a one night thing and he has shown that he is ok after a late night. I would be surprised if the ES Teachers plan anything too strenuous the day after Halloween, heck I would be surprised if MS or HS Teachers plan tests or quizzes or papers due that day.

We have a very small neighborhood of around 50 homes, in a single street with only one entrance.

We used to congregate (kids and parents) at one person's house after school, pretty early in the evening. It was a party, and all kids would be served a "low-fuss dinner" by the host - Mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, carrots and ranch, milk or juice, cupcakes. Took some pictures and then the kids and parents would go ToT as a group.. Only went to homes where there was a pumpkin and porch lights were on. whole trick and treating show would be over in around an hour or so.

Lights off and all parents and kids went home. It was simple and easy.

Our neighborhood is the big treat or treat street. DS has always done trick or treating with friends. They either come home with him or parents bring them over around 4-430. There is an early dinner of pizza or sandwiches, something easy and quick because the kids are excited to trick or treat. In our town, its from 6-8 so usually leave the house at 6 and are back around 645 (they always bump into friends and spend time talking etc) . Kids empty out candy and trade. Because of how busy the street gets, we ask that the parents not come get them until after 815.

That's not how we do things. We meet up with friends in a specific location and let the kids run house to house trick or treating. Then we go out to dinner, then home.

I make an easy to eat, cozy dinner. The children never eat it. If it’s a school day, they come home so excited that they basically live off adrenaline until it’s time for candy.

One thing I’ve noticed they’re up for is a ton of liquids after trick or treating. So thirsty!

It reminds me of the year my group of friends rang the bell and the door opened to a raging high school party. Everyone had what were in hindsight cups of beer, but we were so hot and thirsty we must have thought “water!”. So we asked for cups of water instead of candy and they brought them out to us. It could have been really dangerous but it’s a fond memory!

If my child is going there straight from school, I'd presume the host is feeding them. If not, it's an easy text to confirm timing and dinner. We've hosted and also had DC go to friends' houses.

Feed your kid a lot first, so they aren't starving for candy. Host is not expected to feed your kid, but maybe they will.

Anonymous wrote:Since Halloween is on a school night, would you let your child go to a friend's house (not close enough to walk to) for trick or treating? And if so, do you think the host should provide dinner?

We normally invite a family over that lives in a neighborhood with few sidewalks and houses very far apart. We live in the Kentlands, so we get tons of trick or treaters.

We’ll do the same thing this year. We usually order pizza.

We have a good neighborhood for ToT. When we were in the daycare/preschool years, we had friends who lived in neighborhoods that did not have a lot of ToTing and they came to our neighborhood to ToT. After dinner, we did not provide dinner. But the kids often came home and had a short like 30 min playdate in our house before they went home.

Yes, I'd allow and encourage it! If you are the parent of the invited child, I'd just ask the host what the dinner plans are. If you are hosting, I'd provide dinner.

All through ES, my neighbor hosted a big pre-ToT open house where we'd gather before heading out in small groups to ToT. In middle school that transitioned to us having our kids' best friends over for dinner and costume fine tuning before they went out (without parents).

We completely disregard usual "school night" customs for Halloween.

Of course we let our kids do this. Feed your kid early.

I did it myself as a kid and so have both of my kids. As long as you have a set end time and pick-up location, what's the big deal?

Also, dinner is completely optional. Just be sure to communicate either way so parents know if they should feed their kids ahead of time, or not.

Yes, I allow this. Halloween is only once a year.
I generally provide an early dinner before going out, so if friends are here that's what I provide to them as well. A lot of times older kids come directly after school.

Since Halloween is on a school night, would you let your child go to a friend's house (not close enough to walk to) for trick or treating? And if so, do you think the host should provide dinner?