Halloween

We don't hand out candy on Halloween. This is a practice I have wished they would have stopped a long time ago. I know it's hard, but times just are not what they used to be.

I've always fixed up bags of candy for the girls. This year Michelle has asked us not to do the candy as she doesn't want the girls to have so much sweet.

So we are going to give them a combine gift of movie passes. There is a movie coming up they want to see. So we'll get them some cards and give it to them in the cards.

Their church has what they call a Neewollah party. If the kids wear costumes, they are very strict on what kind. The girls usually don't wear one. They have games and goodies there.

I wish more church's or communities would have something safe like this for the kids instead of having them go door to door.

What is your feeling on this?

We don't pass out candy either - but we don't really live in a neighborhood anymore - so there really aren't trick-or-treaters here.
Which I'm glad, because I don't like to hand out the candy - like you said, things aren't what they used to be with this holiday.
Our church has a Fall Festival for all of the children to go to - and it's a lot of fun.
Most of the churches, if not all of them in our area have some sort of festival to keep the kids off the streets.

It's sad but true....things are not what they once were. When my children were younger we only went to the homes of relatives and close friends....never, ever to strangers! I still love making up bags to give out....most of our visitors are again, relatives and close friends. Our church has a Halloween party for the children that they can attend instead of going door-to-door. I think that the practice of trick-or-treating can still be done safely if you stick to homes you are familiar with! Just my opinion!

Kim

we are taking the kids to our church halloween party the night before halloween. they have great games, the kids wear costumes, prizes etc and its good family fun. on halloween they wear their costumes and we take them to trick or treat to a couple of trusted neighbors, some relatives homes and then over to my sisters house where we have pizza and treats. we have a good time. we dont feel comfortable bringing them to strangers homes to trick or treat at all. unfortunately halloween has changed from the innocent fall fun we had as kids. I dont like the gory, evil costumes etc. The kids can wear their costumes to school for the halloween parade the friday before halloween, (they go to catholic school) but they have rules about the costumes thankfully. I am baking pumpkin cookies for the class and the first graders will be bobbing for apples.

At the kids school they don't call it Halloween party anymore. It's a fall party.

Michelle is homeroom mother in both girls class and she really finds fun games for the kids to play. Nothing scary. Just good fun.

Our town still has a lot of door to door. Several of our churchs have parties to keep the kids off the streets. Our Kiwanis club has a downtown fest where we give away hot chocolate, coffee (for parents) and popcorn. We are handing out pencils this year. Trying to keep as many children safe as possible.

Our city has a haunted house and safe trick or treat, that is fixed up like a scary street and different business hand out candy, cost is a free for the haunted house and one bag of wrapped candy per child (they go through the candy again to make sure its safe)to go through the scary street. there is music out side and vendors selling hotdogs and different food items. It starts early so you can get home and get ready for school the next day..:)
It's enjoyed by everyone.
Waving From Florida
Donna

Oh please don't take Halloween away from the kids. I went when I was a kid, my kids went, and I hope that my grandkids are able to continue this.
Halloween can be fun and safe if you have parents who take part in the fun.
And as for giving out candy, well it don't have to be candy, it can be those small boxes of rasins, or the small bags of chips and pretzels or pencils. My only dislike about Halloween is that I see to old of kids going door to door... these are teenagers who just smear a bit of make-up on their faces and do not dress up and expect candy. Or parents who are taking their 6 month old baby around and asking for candy for the child. Come on.. this is where I draw the line.
But all in all, Halloween is a holiday for kids, it's the excitement of dressing up and going out at dark and hearing the sound of the fallen leaves under your feet and the smell of Autumn in the air.
And if you don't want your kids having that much candy then limit the amount of homes that they go to.. or else take their candy home and place it in a big bowl and tell them that they are allowed one or two pieces a day.
Halloween is an AMERICAN tradition isn't it? Lets not take it away from the kids who take part in it or adults who enjoy having their door bell rang on Halloween night and finding standing outside their door a child dressed up as a Princess or a Cowboy or whatever.
I'm all for Halloween, it seems as if to many things are being taken away from us as it is, "prayer from schools", and now they want to take away "ONE NATION UNDER GOD" from our pledge.
Whats next, and where does it stop?
If you do not wish to join in on the fun on Halloween I have no problem with that to each their own. But in my little town the ones who wish to take part in this fun turn on their porch light and those who don't leave their lights off.
Halloween is a harmless holiday if supervised by parents.

Tylo7