How do you hand out candy on Halloween?

[BitsyNaceyDog]

In the 7 years we've owned a house we've only had 1 trick-or-treater (that was probably 5 or 6 years ago). We only had a couple neighbors at our old house and they were all older. We really don't have any neighbors here. We always buy a very small bag incase we get someone, but we never do.

[caseysmom]

I have only had 2 so far it is really wierd....

[carole]

Well we dashed out early last night to buy a six dollar bag of sweets (candy), and no -one came, i think halloween is dying off in NZ, although it is relatively new, as i talked with others who said the same thing, i always buy wrapped sweets and hand them out myself.

[caseysmom]

Oh my goodness I am getting slammed....I am almost done with the second huge bag.

[Taz_Zoee]

We got about 15 kids. It's 8pm now, so I'm not expecting too many more. Last year the older kids were the ones to keep coming this late, so we shall see.

[smokey the elder]

I usually give out a few pieces. We don't get a lot of trick or treaters in our neighborhood; last night we didn't get any! I think parties are more in vogue. I'll add to the big pile of candy in Tox!

[pitc9]

I voted other because I don't get trick-or-treaters at my house!

[catnapper]

I was a grinch this year. None of my neighbors were handing out, so we decided not to be the only ones on the street with our lights on. Besides, our front steps are in sorry shape and I'd hate to see a kid in a robe tripping or falling because of it. Its the first year we didn't give anything out

[Freedom]

Well, we had over 80 children, and I had to shut the light off when I ran out of treats.

I had out, I do not let them take what they want.

I never give candy. this year, everyone got three treats: an airplane glider, a glow in the dark super ball, and a Halloween themed coloring book. The last 4 only got the balls, as the other 2 items were gone.

An HOUR after I shut the light, I had a group of children at the door! It was after 9 PM.

I really enjoyed it, the little ones in costumes are SO sweet. As it was chilly this year, had to keep the inside door closed until the doorbell rang. I'd open the door and say, "BOO!" One mom jumped, and laughed, and her little 4 year old son admonished me, "Don't DO that!"

Star Wars costumes were prevalent among the under 10 year olds, which REALLY surprised me!

[ramanth]

Star Wars costumes were prevalent among the under 10 year olds, which REALLY surprised me!

It's the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars. Lucas is milking it for all it's worth.

[AmberLee]

I think we had a total of about 50 kids here last evening, they came in clumps.

I usually hand out a small handful per child, then offer them a book. I sort them out by age and sound the kids out by their interests. (No body wanted the nifty science themed books this year. Sniff!) The horror (Goosebumps and the like) went the quickest, but the mysteries were popular, too. Occasionally a child would say X, the one I was handing him/her looked nice but they'd LOVE Y, whose title they could see from the stoop. On smaller groups of youngsters, I'd invite them to step up to the table and pick. I was a bit shocked when one of the trick or treaters proved to be ... I guess in his 40s and yes, he wanted candy and a book, too. Sheesh.

I have about 20-25 books left, a small stash towards next year. I do love collecting used kids books, usually starting in the spring. I love books and it's wonderful to hear a child say " I got a book!!!" as they leave. Mom overheard one group say what a wonderful house we were to come to for this holiday and I think she was a lot happier about the extra set up time it took. *wry smile*

So that's why I picked "other".

[beeniesmom]

Man I had over 175 kids (not kidding). I purchased about 10 bags of candy and was out in less than 2 hrs.
The first year, I'd let them pick and they'd take too much.
From then on out I pick 2 pieces and give it to them.
I still have the occasional one that puts his/her hand in it and grabs a handfull, but since it's few, I don't say anything.

[Lilith Cherry]

Most of my students here in China have never heard of halloween so I got dressed up as a ghoul , fake blood everwhere, lol and took candy to school for everyone.. 363 students!!! Then in the evening about another 100 from other classes knocked on my door to share the bounty! I have never bought so much candy before ever but oh what fun it was!

My students are between 18 and 21 but are far more innocent and childlike than western students... it was great to see them all!

[dab_20]

We hand them the bowl and let them take what they want. We only had one trick or treater last night, so they could've take the whole bowl! haha

[gini]

Living in the heart of Los Angeles I was disgusted by Halloween for many years. We could see the buses and vans being driven up and tons of kids pile out of the vehicles and storm our neighborhood. They were rude and grabby and never said thank you.

And then one year it was as though they had been educated in class or at home and all of that changed. I noticed that parents were always in the wings watching their kids - the kids were polite and all of them said thank you.

I still do get the occasional woman with a newborn which always stuns me - but I give candy anyway. It may be the only candy she will have all year.

I give away small candy bars and usually pick two for each child. At the end of the evening it is a good time to come to my house because you will get four or five candy bars. It is deadly for me to have that in the house!

I stop at 9:30 pm - I think from 5 pm to 9:30 pm is long enough to answer the door.