Mum's Halloween plan to keep trick or treating safe
A Melbourne mum has shared her system for children to trick or treat safely, without bugging neighbours who don’t celebrate Halloween.
Daisy, 12, and her brother Ted, 9, love dressing up each year and doorknocking on Halloween, so their mum Kate found a way for them and other families in their neighbourhood to do so safely.
In the weeks leading up to Halloween, Kate and a few neighbourhood mums letterbox drop nearby streets, letting residents know local families will be “trick or treating” during a two-hour window.
The letter carries the details and safety information, like requesting parents to accompany their children to ensure their safety, especially crossing the road. And reminding older kids to share their lollies.
On the reverse is a picture of a ghost, which residents who want to participate in the event can stick outside their homes to indicate it is a safe and welcome place to door-knock.
The letter states: “Hanging up this ghost (on reverse) in a position visible from the footpath (e.g. letterbox, fence or door) will indicate to the children that lollies or treats will be available at your house if they knock on your door.”
The system also means those who don’t wish to have their door knocked on are usually left alone.
Kate, 43, has previously lived in the US with her husband Dan, where the October holiday is widely celebrated, so she told Yahoo7 she wanted to bring some of that community fun to Coburg, in Melbourne’s north.
“It’s such a nice night here,” she said of her event that has been running, and growing, for the past five years.
“You get to know your neighbours. That’s the thing I like most about it – it’s about bringing the community together,” she said.
“No one knocks on anyone’s door that doesn’t have [the ghost sign up].”
Kate said it’s not only the younger residents who enjoy the Halloween street party.
“People that don’t have young kids anymore dress up as well… The older people really like seeing kids out having fun.
“There’s an older lady who bakes biscuits and hands them out to the kids,” she said.
Each year more families are getting involved in the initiative have grown the event from a couple streets, now to include about 200 trick-or-treaters, with about eight streets handing out treats.
Queensland cops adopt safe Halloween system
The letter on the door system is also being encouraged by Queensland Police Service, which has created its own handy posters for residents.
To help you indicate whether householders would enjoy a knock on the door come October 31, the force says its posters can be used “to thwart the witches and wizards or invite them in!”
Visit the QPS site to download a poster.
Safe trick-or-treat tips
To make sure your Halloween doesn’t become a nightmare, QPS advises trick or treaters should:
Be accompanied by an adult monster at all times (or a responsible witch, ghost or vampire);
Always walk, not run, between houses and stick to the footpath rather than the road;
Wear bright colours to enhance your visibility to passing motorists;
Never enter a stranger’s house, even if they have invited you in after knocking on their door; and
Consider joining your friends on a neighbourhood adventure – there is safety in numbers for little witches and ghouls.
