Halloween Guidelines

Kids:

• Don’t be a jerk.
• Be nice to the younger kids.
• Mischief is OK. Property damage and theft are not.
• Teens are welcome, but if you want a treat, there should be at least some attempt at a costume.
• The proper greeting is “Trick or Treat”. Not, “How many?”
• Say thank you. Every time.

Adults:

• Trick-or-treating is done after dark on the evening of October 31 - Halloween. The kids will survive staying out on a school night.
• Regardless of your toddler’s bedtime, your neighbors will not be ready for you before 5pm.
• If you are not handing out treats, turn off the outside light.
• Don’t drive unless you absolutely have to.  Our kids are out there in the dark, wearing masks and excited.  The whole thing lasts for a couple of hours once a year.  You can get milk some other time.
• Don’t put out an unattended bowl of treats unless you don’t care what happens next.
• You must give, if you expect to receive. Either Mom or Dad stays home to give out candy. Take turns. We all have kids, too, and they look just as cute as your precious snowflake; your family’s house shouldn’t be dark when our kids get there.
• Be happy that kids from other neighborhoods come to yours. That’s a good thing; it means you have a wonderful neighborhood that other families find to be friendly and safe.  Get some extra candy and count your blessings.
• Go big, if you can. You don’t have to do it for every baby in a pumpkin outfit - the fun size will do just fine for them. But the big kids will totally love it if you also stock some full-size snickers bars just for them. Try it and see.
• No raisins.

P.S. This list is in fun, and every “rule” has exceptions. (A single Mom can’t be in two places at once, and a non-verbal kid may just doing the best he can, etc.) It’s important to remember that none of us are charged with being "rule" enforcers. Halloween is all about having fun, so be careful not to give ANYONE a hard time. Don’t ruin your night or someone else’s because they don’t celebrate the way you want them to. Happy Halloween!