Why parents say Halloween is a real nightmare

ONE in three parents would be happy if Halloween did not exist – due to rowdy behaviour, feasting on sweets and commercialism.

And one in six actively hate the October 31 celebration, which sees more and more children ‘trick or treating’.

The idea of having an egg thrown at the window and young children walking around in the dark are causes for concern.

And the general horror theme with scary costumes marketed to youngsters also feeds the anxiety felt by parents.

Spending this Halloween is expected to top £300million, six times greater than Bonfire Night, and second only to Christmas in terms of high street sales.

Fears over the explosion of ‘trick or treating’ have been identified in a survey by parenting website Mumsnet. It found 65 per cent do not like their kids wandering around in the dark.

And 57 per cent hate children stuffing themselves with mountains of sweets. Some 31 per cent would be happy if the event did not exist and 16 per cent downright hate it.

Meanwhile 27 per cent did not like being ‘tricked’, while 12 per cent said organising costumes was too much hassle. One in five adults even turn lights off and close curtains to avoid strangers. Mumsnet chief executive Justine Roberts said: ‘With killer clowns sweeping the nation, parents seem somewhat alienated by Halloween references to horror memes, anxious about trick-ortreating, and concerned about the sheer quantity of sugar involved.’

Despite the issues, the survey found that three in four parents said their family does take part to keep their children happy.

But in another survey, 48 per cent say some costumes are ‘too frightening’ for children. One in seven think Halloween is getting more sinister while a third say costumes no longer have traditional Halloween themes but are chosen simply to scare.

The ChannelMum.com poll identified costumes such as killer clowns for children under ten as a particular problem.

Parents also criticised a ‘roadkill pet’ outfit for children as young as seven sold by the Party Pieces website – which is owned by the parents of the Duchess of Cambridge.

Halloween is now a high street bonanza, with spending six times greater than for Bonfire Night. Analysts Mintel predict that UK spending this year will rise by 5 per cent to £310 million.

Campaigners warn that more than 100,000 children will risk their lives in ‘death trap’ costumes this Halloween.

More than half of trick-or-treaters’ outfits do not meet higher fire safety standards, they say.

In 2014, Strictly Come Dancing co-host Claudia Winkleman’s daughter Matilda, eight, suffered horrendous burns when her witch’s dress went up in flames.

And in the same year, 21 British children were hospitalised due to clothes burning.

The Government vowed to introduce tougher laws, but campaigners say nothing has been done.

Jayne Reid, who is supporting a petition to change the current law, said: ‘This cannot be allowed to continue.

‘How many children will dress up in these death trap outfits and suffer horrific burns before this law is finally changed?’

‘Sinister costumes’