People using front-door cameras to catch Halloween candy thieves

What are the (modern) rules for Trick or Treating? We answer the probing questions about how to “Halloween” in 2018. 

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We get it. You have toddlers, with the most adorable pumpkin, or candy corn onesies, and you want to take them around while it’s light out, and before their 7 p.m. bedtime. Sweet. I’m not ready for you at 4 p.m. Frankly, at that time it’s just high school latchkey kids at home anyway, and they have no idea where their parents hid the candy.

Did you know many cities “set” their hours for when trick or treating should happen? It’s not a thing out West, but in the Midwest and Back East, many communities send out notices saying trick or treating should happen between, say, 6-8 p.m.  

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If the porch light is on, ding dong, but if the porch light is on at 10 p.m., maybe that’s too late. Sometimes parents are leaving the lights on for their kids returning late from parties. Good rule? If you hear noise inside, or the house is decorated like crazy and all the lights and animatronic skeletons are active, maybe it’s cool. Anything after 9 p.m. is pretty late in some neighborhoods. Look for context. If you’re on a block where this is their big tradition and the parties go all night, it’s a different game.

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How old is too old to trick or treat?
College? Teen? Senior citizen? 

Maybe 16? After all, if you can drive yourself, just drive yourself to the store and get your own candy. 

Seriously, if you go all out for a costume, go all out for trick or treating if you want. But, better if you can take a young, adorable sibling with you.
Some neighborhoods near colleges get invaded by hordes of fraternity and sorority kids, but if they’re dressed up, why not help indulge their final forays into Halloween fun, until they come back years later, with toddlers in tow.

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First, hopefully they left a note, like “Take 2! Happy Halloween!”
If not, honestly, you could grab the whole bowl and the homeowner will likely never know, but wouldn’t you feel guilty, and you know, Santa is watching for that next holiday.
Go with take two, and move on. less

We’ve all seen them. The grumpy teenager who is wearing a sweatshirt, says he’s dressed as a teen, and sticks his hand out for some candy. You really can’t say no, but it’s a good chance to get rid of some of those pencils you had sitting around. Don’t let them grab their own from the bowl. less

You know them — you swear you’ve seen that witch with the purple hair and Spiderman before. It’s because you have. And probably because you have really good candy. (Are you the house with the FULL-SIZE BARS that everyone knows about?) If they come back more than once, ask them. A polite, “I’m sorry, but we want to save candy for the kids who haven’t come by yet,” would be appropriate. less

When the homeowner invites your grubby hands into their bowl, how many should you take? Two is a good number. Candy holders, though, take note — give some instructions! Suggest, “Take two!” instead of letting them just get as many fun-size bars as their little haunted hands can hold. less

Most good parents are standing on the walkway, admonishing kids, “Remember to say ‘thank you'” but what about the traditional trick or treat?
Some of our staff refuse. They’ll say, “I’ll close the door, and let’s try it again.”
And if the kids say, “Hey, gimme some candy!?”
Well, it’s always nice to have a bowl of raisins for them.

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Growing up, we had a block where every home had a tableau of horror inside, and outside, you could hear 5-year-olds blubbering about how terrified they were to go in, while parents blissfully whisked them in.

A good rule of thumb? Some scary outside is fine, but keep the scariest blood and gore and mayhem inside, and let parents know if it’s appropriate for little ones. less

Can’t stand the thought of your progeny plowing through 5 pounds of pure sugar and fat? Many parents let kids put a bag outside their room at night, and switch it for cash, aka, “Switch Witch.” Parents can adapt this however they want. Maybe let kids leave out SOME but not all candy, and reward based on how big the bag is?
Or if the kids leave their entire bag, and it’s a big haul, maybe more cash. $10 seems to be the consensus.
And what do you do with the candy you take?
Meter it out, a little at a time in lunches? Some schools and parents will absolutely lunch shame you for sending candy in a lunch in the Bay Area, but what’s the fun of a holiday if you can’t reap the rewards.
Many dentists office will collect the candy and send it to troops oversees. less