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Trick-or-treating tips to keep your children safe this Halloween

It can be spooky out there…

Halloween is just around the corner, meaning little ones will undoubtedly be excited about trick-or-treating. 

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But before you and your children go door-to-door around your neighbourhood asking for a trick or a treat, here’s a detailed guide to the Halloween tradition.

Is trick-or-treating a thing in Australia?

Halloween in general is nowhere as big as it is in the US, however, the holiday has definitely gained momentum Down Under in recent years. 

This includes trick-or-treating; so, if you and your little ones want to do it, do it! 

What does it mean to go trick-or-treating?

Trick-or-treating involves children dressing up in Halloween costumes, then going door-to-door and asking each house, “Trick or treat?” Each house then gives the children a candy treat, like a chocolate bar or something similar. 

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children trick-or-treating

What is the etiquette for trick-or-treating?

If a house does not have any Halloween decorations and all the outdoor lights are off, do not knock on the door; they likely don’t want to participate in trick-or-treating. 

Whereas, if a house has no decorations but the outdoor lights are on, you can knock but at your own risk – don’t expect anything and be extra polite just in case someone staunchly against Halloween opens the door. 

Obviously, if a house has Halloween decorations, knock away! 

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Why do we say trick or treat?

Well, half of Halloween enthusiasts interpret the saying as a threat. 

‘Give us a treat or we’ll trick you!,’ essentially. 

children trick-or-treating

In fact, in America, there have been many cases of children TPing or throwing eggs at houses that did not obligingly hand out a treat. Plus, this has been depicted in many a movie too…

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Of course, we don’t condone that behaviour. 

We, along with the other half of Halloween enthusiasts, interpret the saying differently – if a person who was asked trick or treat replies with, ‘Trick,’ the children must do a trick to earn their candy. 

The trick can be very simple, like performing a little dance or telling a joke, and most who reply, ‘Trick’ are quite lighthearted and just want to playfully mess with the kids before handing out treats. 

What are five important safety tips for people who go trick-or-treating?

  1. Make sure an adult is supervising young children and/or that older children are going in a large group; there’s safety in numbers!
  2. Plan a route ahead of time, so you and your child know exactly where you’re going. 
  3. Check the treats before consumption; if anything’s unsealed, it’s safest to throw it away. Plus, if your child has allergies, you’ll need to double check what they’ve been given before they can eat it. 
  4. Make sure your kids know to never go inside a house while trick-or-treating. They should never go near a vehicle offering treats either. 
  5. If your child has a mobile phone, make sure they take it with them. Or let them borrow one for the night.

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