# Did you have many children Trick or Treat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898 "2009-11-01T01:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/21 "2009-11-01T04:56:15Z")
I think parents truck their kids to “famous” trick-or-treating streets. In SE Portland, Reed College Place is THE place to go trick-or-treating. I don’t know about other streets in Portland. I had the usual amount…fewer than 30. And I haven’t eaten one piece of leftover candy…yet… ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/22 "2009-11-01T05:32:39Z")
We had 16 according to my Mom (I took my son out). The streets were pretty dead, a few clumps of kids here and there and one Mom driving her van along behind the kids! Sheesh, it wasn’t cold or anything out. A couple layers under my sons Tiger costume and I threw a sweater on under my hoodie (to which I had Roo and Pooh peeking out of the pocket… I was Kanga) and we were fine. I’m glad I made sure to buy the type of treat I like, Hawkins Cheesies are going to be my snack at work until Christmas… ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/23 "2009-11-01T05:51:50Z")
We had 100, an all time low for the last 7 years. The most we’ve ever had is 170. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/24 "2009-11-01T05:51:59Z")
We had about 20-30. A few large groups of 6+ and some smaller pairs. It was actually a larger collection of children that I’d seen in year’s past but I think I miss a lot of them before getting home from work. My son was out with his friend and they canvassed the entire neighborhood. He had to stop off at the house to dump his sack and get more. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/25 "2009-11-01T06:13:12Z")
We had a lot of kids, and when we went out the streets were full. I still have candy left, though–good thing I didn’t buy another bag. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/26 "2009-11-01T06:29:20Z")
Around 150 here. The littlest kids that start early got lucky this year, I had glow necklaces and mini-bottles of bubbles left from my wedding reception a few weeks ago so they got the bonus goodies along with their candy. ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/27 "2009-11-01T06:40:28Z")
We didn’t have a huge number (about 12 groups), but it was more than we’ve ever had in the past. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/28 "2009-11-01T08:57:52Z")
We kept our lights out and went to bed early, so none. But even when I took my dog out for her last pee of the day, I didn’t see or hear any kids out. Our neighborhood is pretty isolated and spread out, and I don’t see too many kids around here anyway. So, no disturbing the dogs and no leftover candy - it was a good night. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/29 "2009-11-01T09:57:25Z")
Didn’t keep a really good count so maybe 40-50, with two bags of candy left. Weather could have been a little warmer but at least it wasn’t raining… ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/30 "2009-11-01T10:02:24Z")
One factor is that businesses like malls are increasingly offering Halloween events indoors for those kids without access to many safe Halloween doors. I arrived at my local mall in the middle of one such event, and the place was swimming with tykes in all kinds of finery. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/31 "2009-11-01T10:51:03Z")
Our trick or treat hours are from 6:00 to 8:00. We had 63 kids this year which was better than the year before at 48. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/32 "2009-11-01T11:36:09Z")
None, we live out in the country, and our town being cognizant of the diffuse nature of the area sponsors an all age party at the school and has for about 5 years now. I really sort of miss the kids, but I would rather have them be safe. If we get to move back into town to the house my greatgrandfather built, we would get kids again and we would have a blast setting up the candychucking process. [when we were still in Portsmouth VA, we went all out one halloween and had a friend dressed up to look like an undead motorcyclist, he had a tiny cyalume stick under the visor to make it look liek we stuffed a set of leathers and put a fake head on it. Set the bowl in his lap and he would terrorize the older kids and not move if it was a batch of really young little girlish type trick or treaters. _That_ was fun.] ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/33 "2009-11-01T11:38:23Z")
3 This town hasn’t had many kids go out publicly since the mid 80’s. The parents have this phobia that everybody is going to steal the children or poison them. I had the most kids stop when I lived in the country halfway between two towns. Those 3 kids were relatives and one was eating a candy cane somebody handed out. That was so wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/34 "2009-11-01T12:54:56Z")
None. I live pretty far out in the country, few of my neighbors have kids, my driveway is steep, my front yard is covered in trees - all in all, not very inviting. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/35 "2009-11-01T13:10:13Z")
I haven’t had trick-or-treaters in over 20 years until the past two years, and their mother calls and tells me when they’re coming up the hill. It really blows. I used to love Halloween. I think it died with the Tylenol murders. It just hasn’t been the same since. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/36 "2009-11-01T14:01:45Z")
Five. We live along a busy street, and although it’s well-lit and has wide sidewalks, I think a lot of parents steer kids away from us and to the quieter side streets. Our neighborhood in general is busy, probably because we’re near the international school and it’s sort of contagious. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/37 "2009-11-01T14:11:25Z")
We rarely get any at all (doesn’t hurt that our porch light and doorbell are shorted out). But we live in a largely “gray” neighborhood, so there aren’t a lot of kids to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/38 "2009-11-01T14:19:45Z")
We had a vary large number of kids. I took 7 out t-o-t’ing myself and got caught in a clump of about thirty. We had to split off because there were lines at the doors! DH passed out candy. He sat on the semi-darkened porch and had a couple of scary noisy things he could trigger with his flashlight as the kids walked to or from the house. He made the bigger kids push the button on a scary coffin thing that makes noise and then has a scary face jump out. Next, he offered the kids their choice of turnips or potatos (one little princess sadly said “I don’t want that.”). Then he gave them candy and warned them to not eat too much candy by showing them the ‘pumpkin barfing pumpkin guts’ we carved. LOL! big fun! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/39 "2009-11-01T14:22:27Z")
> [@Katriona](#): > > We rarely get any at all (doesn’t hurt that our porch light and doorbell are shorted out). But we live in a largely “gray” neighborhood, so there aren’t a lot of kids to begin with. How nice of you to wire the porch light to the doorbell. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898/40 "2009-11-01T14:25:34Z")
We had one little girl come before we went out ourselves with a group of twelve other neighborhood children. We hit every house with lights for a three block radius. It was great! I haven’t done this in about ten years and my little girl had the best night of her life. Two houses had adults dressed up to scare the kids and one set up a haunted mini-maze. I was surprised because we don’t live in the greatest neighborhood but it seems like everyone around here was really into it this year. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-have-many-children-trick-or-treat/515898.md?page=3)