If you’re going with younger kids, you might need to leave even earlier to make sure you get home by bedtime. Some smaller towns might have specified trick or treating times to follow. Ask your neighbors or check your local newspapers or bulletin boards to find out.
You can even choose a bag that matches your costume. If you dress up as a mermaid, for example, you could have a bag with shiny sequins on it like scales, or bring one shaped like a fish.
It’s tempting to take a lot of candy when there’s no one there to see, but remember that other kids will be coming to the house after you. Let them get their share of candy, too.
Don’t touch any Halloween decorations or anything on their porch on your way up to the door. You don’t want to break anything!
Just take one piece of candy, unless they say you can grab more. You can say “trick or treat” in a loud voice, but don’t yell.
Trick or treating in an apartment complex is also safer, since you won’t have to deal with traffic or dark streets.
It can also get more dangerous to stay out past 8:30 or so, as fewer trick or treating groups are out. Ask your parents beforehand if they want you home by a certain time.
In groups of 4 or more, try to stick with a buddy just in case you get separated from your main group. Set up a designated meeting place in case anyone gets separated from your group. Bring cell phones if you have them, too! You can even coordinate your costumes with your friends. Try going as the Three Musketeers, the Avengers, M&M’s, or characters from a TV show, book, or movie, like Harry Potter or Winnie the Pooh.
Agree with your parents on a time to be home by. To save time and avoid getting lost, plan out your route beforehand. You can even walk it a few times in the days before to ensure you know where you’re going.
You should also make sure that you can see other trick-or-treaters, especially if you’re in an unfamiliar neighborhood. If you notice a place where nobody’s out trick-or-treating even at a time when you have noticed multiple groups of people trick-or-treating, it might not be the best choice to trick-or-treat there.
