Trick or Treat Manners for Kids
Trick or Treat Manners for Kids
Halloween demands hi-jinx and tricks, but it's a real treat when kids' manners rule the day! With lots of experience on both sides of the trick or treat 'transaction', I'm sharing my essential trick or treat manners for kids to keep the the Halloween season friendly and fun.
Essential Etiquette for Trick or Treating
Halloween evening can turn into chaos pretty quickly without a little preparation. I recommend role playing with kids before you hit the treats for candy solicitation.
The most appropriate trick or treat dialogue exchange goes like this:
Child (knocks on door) | Trick or treat! (make eye contact and smile if face is visible under costume)
Adult | Happy Halloween! Please help yourself to a piece of candy.
Child | Thank you! Happy Halloween!
You can see how easy and brief this well tested exchange is. I've experienced many forms of the above to my delight. I've also encountered at best thoughtlessness and worst rude trick or treat behavior.
Here are some best practices for Halloween night!
Do
- Compliment the candy selection
- Use your best manners - just because you're 'disguised' doesn't mean you can act like someone less than your best!
- Make eye contact when giving thanks
Don't
- Complain about the candy selection
- Push your way to the front - if there's a loose line, queue up and wait your turn
- Ask for more candy
- Start trick or treating too early
- Complain about an alternative offering, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, stickers or other non-candy item
- Stay out trick or treating too late. End by 8p-8:30p when some neighbors may starting to prepare for bedtime, especially with young children in the home.
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More Halloween Manners
When given the chance to celebrate Halloween with others either before or after trick or treating, there are a few polite manners to keep in mind.
- At a party, clean up after yourself
- Give thanks to the host or hostess
- When swapping candy, do so with grace. If a candy swap turns ugly and argumentative, end the swap.
- Help your host or hostess clean up
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