Post-Halloween Behavior of Children

NEW YORK (AP) Halloween, among the most profitable holidays in the year for candy sales, can be a nightmare for parents and teachers of certain children, says the medical director of an institute for children with learning problems.

“Too many too-sweet treats can turn some usually agreeable children into monsters at home and in school,” says Dr. Jerome Vogel, medical director of the New York Institute for Child Development.

“Many children simply cannot handle the over-large doses of sugar in Halloween candy,” explains Vogel. “Too much sugar can cause irritability, disruptive behavior, decreased attention span and loss of concentration. Headaches and stomach aches are also very common to children the day after Halloween. Parents and teachers have told us they dread this post-Halloween period; there are arguments and fights at home, and classes the next day are virtually unmanageable, with children agitated and restless,” he adds.

The institute, founded in 1968, is a non-profit, diagnostic and treatment facility that focuses on the physical factors that can interfere with learning and affect behavior. In dealing with over 3,000 children with learning problems, the institute has found that nutrition can play a major role in many learning and behavioral problems. Vogel suggests offering less “tricky” treats such as high protein, low-carbohydrate snacks like raisins, cashews, almonds, popcorn, assorted cheeses, apple juice, or apples, which are in peak season at Halloween-time.— Santa Cruz Sentinel, 1982 

Halloween Spirits Filled Evenings with Happiness and Fun in the Early 1900’s 

Jollity was the motif of the party enjoyed last evening by the Christian Endeavor society members of the First Congregational church when they were entertained with Hallowe’en high jinks at the home of the Misses Grace and Florence Polkinghorn on South Lime street. 

The hostesses were assisted in entertaining by Miss Marguerite Holland. All the games and stunts of the season were introduced for the pleasure of the guests and of special interest was the fortune teller’s booth, presided over by Miss Norene Moore. After an hour of instrumental and vocal music, refreshments were served by the hostess. - Riverside Daily Press, 1917

 🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Halloween Manners and Safety

Ring the doorbell only once, followed at an appropriate interval by a knock, then leave if there is no answer.

Halloween Tips

Halloween is a festive time for children, but sometimes fun can turn to cruel tricks like when people tamper with treats. That is the criminal act which will generate most of the news stories next Nov. 1, but lots of other dangers will also be around and about that night. A caring parent or guardian can do much to lessen the chances that their child will become a statistic. Let common sense prevail. There is a big difference between fun and vandalism, but to the innocent victim of either, the end result might be traumatic. 

Don’t be pushy or grabby when trick-or-treating, and open and close your visit to each home or business with a greeting and a thank you. Many persons on fixed incomes can’t afford the money it takes to buy the extras needed for the evening. Those persons, often the elderly, need not be embarrassed. Such people should keep their front porch light off. Children and their chaperones will understand. Here are a few tips and hints about costumes, the home, adults accompanying groups of children, where groups should venture, when they should visit and perhaps most important what to do with treats before they are consumed. 

COSTUMES

• Wear a costume that fits, one that makes it easy for you to walk unhindered, and one in which you can see and be seen. 
• Don’t wear billowing or flammable costumes. 
• Use reflective tape on your costume so that people driving cars can see you. 
• Wear everyday shoes, not poorly fitting “costume” shoes. 
• A face mask has many hidden dangers. Use makeup if at all possible. If you “must” wear a mask, take it off when crossing a street so as to get a clear view of traffic. 
• Don’t use flowing, flammable false-hair wigs which can burst into fire. 
• Stay away from jack-o-lantern candles. 
• Don’t carry real or make-believe weapons, even if one is appropriate for the attire worn (i.e. pirate with a dagger). 

MANNERS

• Be quiet and cautious around dogs, even your own pets.
• Walk on clearly-marked paths or driveways, not on lawns or flower beds. 
• Ring the doorbell only once, followed at an appropriate interval by a knock, then leave if there is no answer. 

YOUR HOUSE

• Leave your porch light on as a welcome, and there is no need to be “over” generous in giving out treats. One per child is enough. 
• Have a party for neighborhood children if you feel so inclined. 
• Remove porch obstacles from the path of children, or merely to protect against vandals. 
• If you made a homemade treat to be given out, place it inside a small bag and attach your name. It’s a safety net for the parents of the children, but it will also give those same parents a chance to drop you a “thank you” note. 

COMPANIONS

• The safest way to go trick-or-treating is with an adult, or a responsible teenager, such as a brother or sister of one of the youngsters. 
• Know which friends your children will be accompanying on their rounds, and know the path that they are taking in case of an urgent need to contact them. 

WHERE

• The best place to go trick-or-treating is in a neighborhood that you know. 
• Travel only on well-lighted streets and, preferably, during daylight hours.
• Use sidewalks when available, but at other times walk on the left side of the road facing cars. 
• When crossing the street, do so only at corners, look both ways and observe all signal lights and/or signs. Be alert for cars turning. 
• Don’t enter a street from between parked cars. 
• Never enter the home of a stranger. 

TREATS

• Collect your treats in a light-colored bag appropriate for the size of the child. The bag should have a “reflectorized” design. 
• DON‘T eat any treat until returning home and having it checked for suspicious signs. Throw away candy not wrapped, or with the wrappers partially opened. 
• Wash all fruit before eating, and discard all loose popcorn. 

Play it safe this Halloween. Follow these tips, and this special day will be one remembered as a fun time by everyone. — By Floyd Tidwell, Sheriff, SB County, in the Lucerne Valley Leader, 1984

 🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Praising Halloween Etiquette

1950's ‘Trick or Treaters’ – If children will be saying “trick or treat” make sure they also say, “please” and “thank you.”
And how does one manage kids with sensory issues at Halloween? The best way to prepare a child who is on the spectrum (ASD) for Halloween is to first ask them if they want to do it. They may not want to ‘trick or treat’ but they may want to still be involved in having a costume and being there to receive ‘trick or treaters’ as opposed to door knocking. Make sure you purchase a costume ahead of time to ensure that they get used to the feeling of the fabric and walking in the costume. Also consider buy a costume with a mask so if they decide they don’t want to get into costume they may still decide to wear a mask. If they decide they do want to ‘trick or treat’ then there are a couple of things you can do to help ensure they are properly supported. Social stories are a great way to begin and you can either write your own or at least support the idea of ‘trick or treat’ in reality by planning a route on paper together and then pacing it out before the big night. -  tips from BrisbaneKids.com.au

Word of Praise

Dear Editor: A word of praise for the smaller children is, in my opinion, never out of place; in fact, praise would be given anyone should he or she merit it. Therefore, I think the children who took part in the Halloween Art Contest sponsored by the Healdsburg Rotary Club and the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce, should be commended and praised for their good manners and behavior during the contest. 

I was with them a great part of the time, so I know they were great. On Halloween night there were well over 100 children that stopped at our house for “trick or treat.” Each one said “thank you” as they left. So I for one have nothing but a word of praise for Healdsburg's well behaved children. They deserve it. –R.L. Whitwell to the Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar, 1955

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Scottish Halloween Customs

"To get the real zest of this merrymaking it must be held in the countryside. The old Scottish rites and superstitions on Hallowe'en are the best known the world over because a great poet rose from the ranks of the Scotch peasantry who has immortalized their beliefs, customs and manners." 

On Hallowe'en – "The passion of prying into futurity," said Robert Burns, "makes a striking part of the history of human nature in its rude stage in all ages and nations." Even in our twentieth century civilization with its growing skepticism there remains enough of this passion to give piquancy to "trying fortunes" on Hallowe'en; and no other entertainment can bring quite so enjoyable a thrill to the young folks as an old-fashioned Hallowe'en party where — 

"Wi merry sangs and friendly cracks, I wat, they didna weary; And unco tales and funny jokes, Their sports were cheap and cheery." 

To get the real zest of this merrymaking it must be held in the countryside. The old Scottish rites and superstitions on Hallowe'en are the best known the world over because a great poet rose from the ranks of the Scotch peasantry who has immortalized their beliefs, customs and manners. In York State during the first part of this century, a youth or maiden goes alone to a clear spring where the stars are reflected and dipping the right hand into the water earnestly desires a glimpse of the future wife or husband; when, if there is to be any, the features of said party will be seen in the water beneath the person's shadow. 

There was also a difference in the looking-glass charm. The person trying this goes down the cellar steps backward with a looking-glass in one hand and a lighted candle in the other and with his or her eyes fixed intently upon the surface of the mirror, where the shadowy outlines of the desired face will be seen as though looking over the person's shoulder; unless the party is doomed to celibacy. 

Another charm popular with the Hallowe'en parties in York State at that time was roasting eggs in the ashes of the open fire, one for each unmarried person present. Just before the party broke up, the yolks were removed from the hard-cooked eggs and the cavity filled with salt when the salted egg was eaten shell and all and not a drop of water or other liquid taken afterward. In the night the person becomes exceeding thirsty and the future matrimonial partner comes in his or her dreams bringing a cup of water.

An old Scottish superstition which we commend to boys who find pleasure in taking off gates, changing signs, and other annoying and rude tricks, is to go three times around the town or the farm buildings astride a broomstick. The third time, according to the superstition, they will see the devil. – M. R. J., Pacific Rural Press 31 October 1908

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor of the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Community Etiquette at Hallowe'en

"Etiquette is all human social behavior. If you're a hermit on a mountain, you don't have to worry about etiquette; if somebody comes up the mountain, then you've got a problem. It matters because we want to live in reasonably harmonious communities." – Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners

Hallowe'en Pranks Went Beyond Common Decency

Some of the holiday pranks perpetrated to Red Bluff last night were not pranks at all—they are libelous and disgraceful demonstrations of vicious minds, and the perpetrators of these so-called jokes ought to be apprehended and prosecuted. The fact that we support a custom permitting people to go forth annually and make damphools of themselves doesn't justify the defacing of business fronts, the scratching of plate glass windows, insults to respectable and law abiding colored citizens, and other acts too disgraceful to enumerate. All these things happened in Red Bluff last night, and today many business men are suffering as a result of it. Even an old established, but insane, custom like Hallowe’en does not justify a community in forgetting its good manners. – Red Bluff Daily News, 1919

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia