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Notes -
We were Evangelical homeschoolers when I was Trick-or-Treating age, and also didn't have any neighborhood friends, so I guess I don't have any trick or treat golden age to look back on.
My impression is that there's an ideal age range for real trick or treating, and that my kids (5, 2, and not eating solids yet) are a bit young still. I saw some kids doing it last year, I think three total, so it would be a bit of an adventure, people don't signal if they're giving treats or not. I haven't had a single kid try at my house in four years.
I 100% agree on your 2 year old, and I would be a long-range helicopter with the 5 year old. But I had my 3 year old do a turn of the cul-de-sac at least before he said he was too tired to continue. Por que no los dos?
There's a bit of a supply and demand spiral going on, too. People in great neighborhoods don't get enough kids (I got maybe 7 last year?) so don't bother answering the door or handing stuff out. Others don't understand the signal that if your light is on, it means you're giving out candy, which makes kids have to walk a ton to get to a couple doors etc....
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If they are not giving treats, aren't you supposed to be a little juvenile delinquent and play a trick on them?
Theoretically, but I have not encountered that outside of movies
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