They may have been “creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky,” but the Addams family was also
courteous. The following tips can be used to teach children that when fairies, freaks, princesses, and
creeps share the sidewalk with courtesy, everyone can have a frightfully polite Halloween:
- When you see other wizards, gremlins, and goblins smile and say, “Hi.” Step aside and let
them pass if there is not enough room for everyone on the sidewalk. - Do not approach a house that is dark. The ghouls and ghosts have, undoubtedly, eaten all the
goodies! - Ring the doorbell once; then wait quietly. The people inside are expecting masked visitors and
will come to the door as soon possible. - When someone opens the door, look at her, smile, and say “Trick or Treat.” When you leave
with your “loot” look at her, smile, and say, “Thank you.” - If you are offered a bowl of candy, take a few pieces (not a handful) off the top. Rifling through
the bowl can cause candy to fall out; it will also hold up the trick or treaters behind you. - If you approach a house and other trick or treaters are filling their bags, wait patiently at the
edge of the yard. When they pass you, walk up to the door. - If you accidentally bump into a ballerina or lion say, “Excuse me.” They will understand.
- When trick or treating by car, open the door carefully; you wouldn’t want to whack a witch!
- Leave a sweet impression by putting candy wrappers in your bag and not scattering them
across the neighborhood lawns.
Finally, as monsters, scarecrows, and kitty cats can certainly be generous, children may want to fill,
not only a bag for themselves, but also a bucket for UNICEF.
Printed in the MetroWewst Daily News October 31, 2007
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Photographer Kevin Dooley