How To Trick-Or-Treat In Apartment Buildings, Because Everyone Deserves Candy

Living in an apartment complex sure has its perks — no lawn to mow, no repairs to personally make, no snow-shoveling to be responsible for — it's a pretty sweet deal. But the one time of year that it can be a serious disadvantage is Halloween, as traditionally most people's nostalgic images of the holiday involve prancing down a sidewalk and up inviting porch after inviting porch. Some families opt for driving their kids out into suburban neighborhoods to do their candy-begging, but not everyone can or wants to. So how do you trick-or-treat in apartment buildings? I mean, we are talking about free candy here.

According to Apartment Guide, trick-or-treating in an apartment building actually has tons of advantages over going traditional-style. First, let's take a moment to appreciate the most obvious perk: no braving the elements necessary. Regardless of rain or what's going on outdoors, apartment trick-or-treating is never affected by weather. Bonus points for not having big coats and scarves cramp your cool costume style, right? Apartment Guide also pointed out that you don't have to worry about your kids getting lost in big crowds or running into the street. Suddenly, rather than looking like a second-rate option, I'm thinking maybe apartment living during Halloween may be the way to go.

Of course, sending your kids carousing door to door has risks anywhere, and apartment complexes are no different. The Spruce reminded apartment-dwelling parents to supervise young children at all times during trick-or-treating, as tempting as it might be to assume they'll be safe in a setting they know so well. It's always better to be safe than sorry. The same goes for preteens, who undoubtedly will not be keen on you trailing along behind them. But giving them a phone to take, strict instructions not to enter anyone's unit, and an appointed time to be home should set the boundaries necessary to keep them safe.

On the other side of the coin, many people who live in an apartment complex would like to be inviting to little trick-or-treaters, but assume they can't because of where they live. Luckily, that's not true. Apartments.com listed a few ideas for residents who want to ring in the Halloween cheer and build community spirit at the same time. Make sure your lights are on ("the universal sign for 'no candy' is a dark house"), decorate your doorway if permitted by management, and hang out with your door open or in a chair outside the door (dressed in your own costume for the fullest effect, of course). But the website's best advice for guaranteeing a flow of tiny monster traffic to your door? Get the good candy. Word spreads, man.

One New York City mom, Jacqueline Shaulis, tells Romper, "In New York City, trick-or-treating is quite different because so many people live in apartment buildings. In our building, there once was a couple that organized all the kids to go costumed to each 'home' and get a bit of the experience. Now, people primarily leave a candy dish by their door for the kids (or a note that they don't have candy). Also, our neighborhood businesses give away goodies for our apartment-dwelling offspring to experience actual trick-or-treating."

There's no reason for apartment living to keep you from a fun-filled night of watching your kids trip over their tails and get stomachaches from too many mini Snickers. The safety precautions to consider will be different, and you may have to work a little harder to drum up enthusiasm in your neighbors (depending on the nature of your complex), but apartment trick-or-treating can be a community building event for everyone. After all, nothing says "neighbor" like accidentally making someone's kid burst into inconsolable tears at the very sight of you.

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