The church next to my daughter's elementary school will be having a Trunk or Treat this year on Halloween (I know some other churches/locations have them before Halloween) and I am considering doing this instead of going door to door this year. What are your exeriences/thoughts about this? They are serving free hotdogs and drinks, will have face painting and bounce house. I don't see any reason NOT to do this - from here on out honestly because then my kids are not required to walk door to door in a neighborhood we don't live in (since we live in the country). I actually am kind of excited for this 'new tradition'.
Thoughts?
Should clarify that we would be walking with our kids (ages 4 and 2) not driving them door to door. We have always trick or treated in my parents subdivision but they have since moved (out into the country as well). So we could still go to that neighborhood and we would know some of the people.
**For those of you who aren't sure what a Trunk or Treat is**
A bunch of people offer to bring their cars and basically have candy for each kid to come by and get. My girlfriend does this at her son's school and decorates her trunk. So other than that, I'm not sure what else is to it. Not sure if I should expect 5 cars (ie: not much candy) or 20 cars?
We've trunk or treated the last two years instead of trick or treating. My oldest (6) asked if she could trick or treat at houses this year. So, although I prefer the trunk and treat...she wants to do the good ol door to door. I guess its the fun part. :)
I had never heard of this. Sounds like a great idea. I don't know what we're going to do. I need to find a good neighborhood to trick or treat in. Although I live in a very nice, family neighborhood, it amazes me how many houses don't participate in Halloween. We can walk for an hour and get 10 pieces of candy!
We will do both this year. Never been before.
Trunk or treat is at a nearby church.
But we will also trick or treat for a bit at the nice neighborhood next door to us I know most of those people by sight (not close & personal).
I always inspect candy etc.
Many of the yard decorations arouned here have gotten macabre - tombstones, fake limbs sticking out of the ground, ghouls, skeletons, skulls & zombies - I find them offensive. The pervasive images of death are just gross to me.
So in an effort to avoid all of that our church has a big party for kids - anyone is welcome to bring their kids - as a way to provide an environment that's not so "dark". There are games (booths to throw rings around bottles, beanbag tosses, etc.) plenty of prizes in the form of candy, face painting, etc. The only guidelines are that costumes can't be scary or include weapons.
A benefit of the party is that parents come inside the church building and realize that since the roof didn't fall in maybe they'll come back another time - and some do. ;o)
we have a trunk or treat (not even sure what that means) at my son's school on the fri before. we then go trick or treating on halloween.
both, we go to the church trunk or treat and then trick or treat the neighborhood.
I have never heard of Trunk or Treat, but I like that idea. I may bring it up at my daughter’s school for next year. This year they are having a Fall Festival Party and can dress up in something that is appropriate for a Christian school.
Oooh...I know what you're talking about now & no, we've never done that, but I guess we would if it was really the only option.
What I thought you meant was when people drive their kids into different neighborhoods than where they live (I guess because of the "better candy" or something) & then literally drive the kids from one door to the next & don't have much respect for all of the ACTUAL neighborhood kids on foot. This has been happening with more & more frequency at my parent's neighborhood where we bring our kids every year. That irritates me, a whole heaping lot.
With a bounce house and face painting you can bet there will be a lot more than 5 cars. We love Trunk or Treat. We sometimes will stop by a few specific neighbors who we know well afterward, but Trunk or Treat is our main event. Trunks can be fun to decorate too. Bring a bag of candy to pass out and once you are out of candy you just close your trunk and have fun doing something else. I say that in case you were planning on handing out candy and unsure of how to go about it. Some years I decorate, sometimes I just stand there behind my car with a bowl of candy, some years we are only takers and not givers. Do what is best for you. I hope your kids have a blast!
Our church does this and it's really nice because the people back their vehicles up to the side walk and sit on their cars to give out candy. This way there are no little kids in the parking lot at all. The kids all stay on the grass or sidewalk. It is so much safer.
We also have a carnival style party inside where the kids can go fishing, do cake walks, throw a bean bag, toss rings on a can of pop, etc...it is a great party.
If ours was on Halloween I would do both, truthfully, trick or treating from door to door is one of my few fond memories from childhood. I had so much fun, it was also so exciting!!! You could find some other activities throughout the weekend before for the kids to do safe stuff then go to at least a few friends houses on the evening of Halloween. There is nothing to compare to the fun.
So, I'd do both.
I think, given your current country living, trunk or treat is a beautiful option.
for people in rural areas trunk or treats are nice because usually they are accompanied by a party and it is great for the community to get together. I take my kids around the neighborhood we live in the suburbs so we have a lot of neighbors some go crazy and make the haunted houses out of their yards and the kids in the neighborhood usually all go together and the parents follow close behind so we get to see and visit.
