It’s that spooky time of year again! With Halloween around the corner, we have just the map you need to get the best possible trick-or-treat route in your neighbourhood: Nextdoor’s Treat Map is back by popular demand! 🎃
The Treat Map shows how your neighbours are celebrating Halloween. Whether it’s handing out treats or decorating their home, check the map to plot your best route. In addition, we’ve added a unique allergy-free treat pin for neighbours giving out allergy-free treats.
Add your home to the Treat Map to let neighbours know how you will be celebrating this October:
- Select the sweet pin for treats: If you are filling your cauldron and handing out treats, mark your home with the sweet icon so trick-or-treaters can be sure to stop by.
- Select the decorating outside pin for a decked-out home: If your home will be decked out as a haunted house in ghoulish adornments, tap the haunted decor icon to attract fright seekers as they pass through the neighbourhood.
- Select the giving out allergy-free treats: If you are giving out goodies for those with allergies.
Safety tips to help parents and children have a spooky but safe Halloween in their neighbourhoods:
- Plan ahead
Enjoy the ghoulish occasion in your local community and stick to the well-lit areas you know best. A great way to see what houses are taking part in Halloween this year is Nextdoor’s Treat Map. Not only does it show all houses that are giving out treats or are decorated in your neighbourhood, but it also pinpoints any houses in your area that are not participating in Halloween!
- Don’t go out alone
All young trick-or-treaters should be accompanied by an adult, and if older groups of children are planning on going out, make sure that they have a planned, safe route to follow and warn them of the consequences of becoming involved in antisocial behaviour.
- Keep costumes bright!
With many children (and parents) planning on dressing up as witches this Halloween, remember it (and many other costumes) can be dark in colour, making it hard for you to be spotted by traffic.
When trick-or-treating, take a torch with you (or carefully shine your phone light), and if possible, add reflective strips to your costume to make sure you can be seen. If you are driving, be mindful of trick-and-treaters in your area and reduce your speed.
- No pumpkins or decorations means no trick-or-treating
While a fun occasion for some, Halloween can also be a holiday that some of your local community may not want to take part in. In particular, the elderly or vulnerable may be distressed by strangers knocking at their door after dark.
As a general rule, do not approach houses that don’t have lit pumpkins outdoors or Halloween decorations up. Be sure to avoid any house that has a ‘Sorry… No trick or treat this Halloween poster up, or those who haven’t marked themselves as participating on the Nextdoor Treat Map.
- Ensure costumes are safe
Remember to check the label of any bought costumes for the occasion and ensure it’s flame-resistant and be sure to give lit pumpkins a wide berth. And with any fun accessories like masks or headbands, make sure they don’t obscure your vision; you don’t want to stumble into the road or another trick-or-treater.
- Fun tricks only
Although it’s called trick-or-treating, be considerate. Don’t ‘trick’ anyone who is choosing not to take part in Halloween and try to make any ‘boos’ enjoyable.
To add your home or to plot your route this Halloween, people can find the Treat Map in the ‘Discover’ section of Nextdoor. When adding your home to the Map it also creates a post in the Nextdoor Newsfeed under #Halloween so others can join in on all the spooky events. To sign up to Nextdoor or to find out more, visit www.nextdoor.co.uk.
To connect with your neighbourhood, please log in at www.nextdoor.co.uk.
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