Halloween isn’t for everyone, but those that do celebrate by handing out treats or taking your little ones treating, then hopefully there will be some useful ideas on this post to help you enjoy the night and safely…
Considering giving out treats this halloween?
As much as people would appreciate anyone giving out anything, as it is super kind of you! Please always only hand out those individually wrapped sweets. It can be a fair bit cheaper to buy a packet of loose gummy sweets, like a Haribo mix and it feels better for the environment, due to less packaging. But it isn’t actually cheaper in the fact many of these will likely be thrown away for health and safety reasons, by parents or guardians. So this would just be producing food waste too.
Sadly those with dietary requirements are often not always considered, due to many reasons; availability, choice selection, price, the variety of allergies and dietary requirements. So it isn’t always possible to cater for everyone.
The only rule I would say to try and avoid is handing out confectionery containing nuts, such as snickers, as this is a common allergy that could be highly dangerous from some people to be in proximity, even if they haven’t eaten them.
This could potentially be quite stressful explaining to a child why they might not be able to join in trick or treating but it is best to be honest. It can help for them to wear gloves if needed (it is starting to get chilly so some woollen gloves might be useful to help reduce contact and also to keep their little fingers warm!) I know some parents ‘trade’ with their children when they bring their goodies home, so that they can exchange them for something their child can knowingly eat and safely, so their children can join in the fun with their friends with less worry.
Alternative items to gift
Mini craft bags (Containing cut out paper shapes and googly eyes) this could actually work out cheaper than sweets, if you have the time.
I know a lady down our street, when we were younger, who collected up any loose change over that year and handed out her copper coins to people on Halloween. If you give around 6p to each child and you have 50 people come by, that is £3.00 in total, plus you don’t have waste left over either.
Halloween Etiquette
Thinking of taking your child, friend or relative trick or treating? Although we should call it Sweet treating, that sounds much more pleasant!
Outfit – It would be great to offer your child/ren an option of what they would like to be and if they’d like to make their own outfit (a lot of people buy outfits now, but the fun of it myself would be the creation of it, we are all different though!)
If you are strapped for cash, of course you can choose for them, but it helps with giving them a choice from one or two items, to help them make decisions for themselves.
Whatever you do please consider the testing and safety standards of the outfit itself. Some people may remember that in 2014 Claudia Winkleman’s, then 8 year old daughter, Matilda, had her halloween costume set alight whilst standing near a candle.
You can find out more about the safety testing from the Good Housekeeping post from 2016, there are more likely other useful posts online but this one is quite good overall.
So please be cautious if using real candles too, if you can you could use a glow stick or LED candle as an alternative.
Brief your children before they leave (if they are old enough to understand) with the general ‘Halloween etiquette’ of where to knock, how to knock, be polite and if you allow them to munch whilst out and about then to bring their rubbish home with them.
Rule one of Halloween etiquette now is usually to only knock on people you know or/and to only call on those that have pumpkins out and usually lit. Once the pumpkins have been put away, this usually means that the treats have all gone or the household is finished for the night, so please try elsewhere or it may be time to head home.
Etiquette two is usually to be polite and considerate, this goes for those trick or treating as well as those kind enough to hand out treats. Including only knocking or ringing the bell once and clearly, if no one answers please move on.
Always say please and thank you. Those giving treats please also consider that some of the people coming to your door may be non-verbal or just knocking on your door might have made them feel a little anxious already, so they may be very quiet and not up for responding.
In recent years, colour buckets/containers have started to be implemented to help distinguish those with extra needs or allergies to help without them having to say anything. But of course it wouldn’t be required, but could be a helpful aid, which would be useful if we all knew and recognised the different colours to their meanings.
Teal: Food Allergies
Blue: Neurodiverse
Purple: Epilepsy
Whatever you decide to do on Halloween, whether it is staying in and keeping cosy, having an early night, gifting to the trick or treaters, even taking out your little ones or throwing a party.
Make sure you have a nice night.
We’d love to see your creations, decorations, outfits etc.
Remember there may be a prize for you too, if you enter our competition before the 29th October 2023.
Previous Related posts on Thame.net:
Halloween Creations Competition
Pumpkin carving templates and Tips
Yummy Pumpkin Soup Recipes to help reduce food waste…
Famous Ghosts of Thame
