Definitely have AP and her friends over in their costumes.

We've had several au pairs beg to be the ones handing out candy at the house. They thought it was the best thing ever. We would usually have them take our kids trick-or-treating to like 10 houses right around our house and then they would hand out candy when we took them to more houses a little further away. Then they would usually go out with their friends after. They've all thought it was awesome.

Leave a bowl of candy out and take AP with out with you. You have 3 kids to take out and will be hard to wrangle them all. Your now 3 year old probably didn't get it as much last year but will probably try to take off every chance they get, and then just give up at some point. Unless your taking a double stroller and wearing the infant, you'll probably want to go out out with 2 strollers too. You can also have AP turn back with the younger ones if the oldest wants to hit up a few more houses.

Anonymous wrote:She can interact with the kids who come to the door---that is cultural exchange.

Handing out candy is the most boring part about Halloween there is. Wonder why HP wants to take the kids out instead of staying home to hand out candy and let the AP take care of the fun part...

OP, yes you can ask her to stay home and hand out the candy. If you ask her, she can say no. It's not really a childcare related task you can schedule her for either (unlike taking the kids trick or treating which you could schedule her for). If you ask her to stay home and she agrees at least let her out early enough to go party with her friends afterwards. Halloween is supposed to be a fun holiday, not one AP has to spend at home watching everybody else have all the fun.

Unless you are a single parent, ask you spouse to hand out the candy, take AP trick or treating with you. Or leave a bowl of candy (scratch the candy, leave a non-food item) at the door for people to take. Don't expect her to end up with the short end of the stick.

Anonymous wrote:Have ap hand out candy while get kids ready. Then ap does one side of the street with kids while you hand out candy. Then switch back and you take kids down the other side. No child under 5 needs or cares about more than two blocks. Have her hand out candy while you put kids to bed, then she goes out. Both get to experience both aspects of a holiday aimed at kids (not adults!!!!!), then she gets to party.

Correction: the holiday is "aimed" at anyone of any age that wants to celebrate it. (!!!!!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really sad. Poor au pair!

There are worse things in the world.....

+1 - I mean really

Anonymous wrote:Really sad. Poor au pair!

There are worse things in the world.....

Really sad. Poor au pair!

Have ap hand out candy while get kids ready. Then ap does one side of the street with kids while you hand out candy. Then switch back and you take kids down the other side. No child under 5 needs or cares about more than two blocks. Have her hand out candy while you put kids to bed, then she goes out. Both get to experience both aspects of a holiday aimed at kids (not adults!!!!!), then she gets to party.

Anonymous wrote:OP - I can tell your heart is in the right place, but I really think you should throw some candy in the bowl and have your AP come with you and your kids while you go around the block. She will enjoy it so much!

Maybe the AP is more interested in the going out aspect than going trick or treating with kids aspect??? You don't know what the AP will enjoy, and OP framed the question as pass out candy vs going out. You are welcome to take your AP trick or treating, but need to stop interjecting.