Should we let our kids go trick-or-treating?

Question

I've just heard so many horror stories; it really doesn't seem safe anymore. Should we let them go trick-or-treating? If not, what are some fun alternatives?

Answer 1

I take my kids out in the neighborhood and make sure I'm with them. My husband checks every piece of candy before they eat the candy. If he has any doubt that the candy is safe, he tosses it.

I don't see any problem with trick-or-treating, as long as you use your head and make sure your kids know the safety rules.

If you are still not comfortable with trick-or-treating but would like to take the kids out for candy
1) Check for local Halloween Alternatives - a lot of churches have alternative parties that evening.
2) Sometimes the Malls or the nursing homes have trick or treating at their places. The local nursing home does this every year and the kids go to the resident rooms in their costumes and pass out candy.

Answer 2

There will always be horror stories. I heard more when I was a kid then I do now. Just let them go to all the neighbors you know and check the candy. What I do every year is have their friends over for pizza and games before trick or treating.

Answer 3

Go with them, and check the candy before they eat it.

All those horror stories regarding "razor blades in apples" or poisoned candy are urban legends. There is not one reported case of a stranger doing that to a child. When it has happened, it was the parents or family of the child.

and for the last time, to correct an idiotic statement already made

Halloween (aka Samhain) is a PAGAN holiday, not a satanic one!
It never had anything to do with the devil! The Catholics adopted the holiday (as they have done with many pagan holidays) and renamed it All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween. The night before All Saints Day, when one is supposed to pray for the saints (and the departed).
Halloween wasn't celebrated in America till the Irish immigrants started comming over in the mid 1800's. I'd think twice before calling my ancestors Satanists. Obviously you didn't read the whole artice before you posted the link......

Answer 4

Trick or treating is so outdated --for safety reasons, and for other reasons as well. Originally, children (in the role of little ghosts) were given treats to placate them and ensure that they didn't cause unfortunate incidents during the coming year. Today, kids have so many treats they don't need to go begging door to door. And most parents comb through the stuff they bring home and chuck half of it out, so there's a terrible waste as well.
For a few years, Unicef did great work by having kids collect for united charities, but this year they have discontinued that practise, as it costs more to have people sort and count the change than the collections boxes bring in.
I think the whole concept of Hallowe'en has changed. Many communities have community parties, for the whole family, with costume parades, apple snapping, some carnival type games, etc. and finish off with a supervised fireworks display. In the long run, it doesn't cost any more than it does to buy bags of candy to give away at the door.

Answer 5

I don't celebrate halloween at all for various reasons but for those that continue to do so- a few alternatives that are safe would be:

have a party, inviting other similar aged children to your home- have each family represented bring one bag of candy to share

in our area- the shopping mall sponsors trick or treating - the kids walk through the mall and each shop hands out candy

many churches hold harvest festivals where they provide games and candy for the children

Answer 6

You need to let them go Trick-or-treating. It's part of being a kid. If not you may as well not bother with Halloween. Most of the stories you've heard are urban legends, there has only been one case of someone being prosecuted for poisonning Halloween candy, no court cases for drugging spiced cider, none for razor blades in carmel apples, all complete crap that sells securely wrapped candies.Make sure they're accompandied by an adult. Inspect their candy before they eat it.

Answer 7

Sure you should let your kids go trick-or-treating you just have to set some ground rules. When my cousin and I went trick-or-treating we were never to go to a house with out the parental figure know that's where we going, never go into anyone's house and don't touch any of the candy until we got home so it could be inspected, for example. And after you've laid down the rules, tell your kids why it is so important to follow your rules.

Answer 8

I walk with my son (he'll be 10 the week before Hallowe'en) to make sure things stay safe. And we LOVE it. It's a great chance to walk through the neighborhood at night, to say hello and "thank you" to our neighbors when they give him candy, and to be out with the other kids in costume and enjoy the season and the holiday.

If you're hearing horror stories... check them out on Snopes, a site that researches "urban legends" and publishes whether they're true or false. I'd be willing to bet that every one of the "horror stories" you've heard are false, told by people who want to step on other peoples' fun. Look at the site in the Sources field to see what I'm talking about. I think you'll find that the biddies who have been scaring you have been the unwitting dupes of a little Hallowe'en horror... not knowing it's fiction.

Happy Hallowe'en!

Answer 9

I'm thankful I got to go trick-or-treating as a kid, it was a fun experience. If you make sure they don't eat any candy until they get home and inspect all of the candy thoroughly when they do get home, it shouldn't be a problem. And make sure they don't go to houses that aren't lit up, or look unsafe. Halloween can be a fun time for kids as long as common sense is exercised.

Answer 10

What horror stories? Many parents bring their kids trick or treating in my neighborhood. Just use common sense. If the porch light is off,then don't go there. Make sure you have a flashlight with you(ON) so motorists can see you and your kids.