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Outdoor Halloween Pranks for Trick-or-Treaters

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4. Out Of Season Treats

It's so traditional to give out shrunken portions of packaged, brand-name candy for Halloween that everyone expects it without a second thought. It's time to change it up! This trick requires long-term planning. This Easter, or Christmas, or both, buy a little extra holiday-themed candy. When Halloween arrives, give out marshmallow peeps, Cadbury eggs, candy canes, and chocolate Santas.

This will make an especially great trick if you dress up as either Santa or the Easter Bunny for Halloween. Or, dress up as the Tooth Fairy and give out quarters. Since this trick is confusing, rather than scary, you don't have to censor yourself when young children come by.

5. Ask or Barter for Candy

Who says kids should get all the candy, with none left for you? Still, you don't want to be a total miser, so offer the trick-or-treaters a deal: you will give them two pieces of candy if they give you one. You won't run out of candy at a slower rate, but you will end up with a really varied candy bowl.

For added effect, dress up as a traditionally greedy, familiar sort of figure, like Scrooge, a pirate, or a Disney villain. Yell "Trick or Treat!" before the children do as they approach your doorway, and ask for candy. If the children protest (as they probably will, while giggling), make a two-for-one deal with them.

Let the children choose which candy to give you, and which candy to take from your bowl. It might be interesting to see what's popular. Like trick number four, an added plus to this trick is that it isn’t very scary, so it can be played on any child old enough to understand simple math.

There's nothing wrong with asking for some entertainment in exchange for all the sugar you're passing out to the neighborhood this Halloween, especially when it'll help to liven up the trick-or-treating stories of every kid to come near. Any one of these tricks can bring back the sense of scariness to Halloween, and on top of that, should give you a well-deserved chuckle or two.