Halloween can be a magical time for young children. Dressing up, spotting pumpkins, making decorations, reading spooky stories and, of course, the excitement of trick-or-treating can all become wonderful childhood memories.

But if you’re a parent who has never taken a young child trick-or-treating before, you might find yourself wondering:

When are children old enough? Which houses should we visit? What should they say? How many sweets is too many? And is trick-or-treating actually safe for toddlers?

There isn't one right way to celebrate Halloween, and every family will have their own approach. But a few simple etiquette and safety tips can make your first trick-or-treating experience enjoyable for everyone.

When are children old enough to go trick-or-treating?

There isn't a magic age at which children suddenly become ready for trick-or-treating.

For babies and very young toddlers, there's obviously no need to go door-to-door. They can still enjoy Halloween through dressing up, pumpkin-themed activities, books and simple sensory play at home.

For toddlers and preschoolers, trick-or-treating can be a lovely experience when accompanied closely by a parent or another responsible adult.

At this age, the experience is much more about dressing up, seeing the decorations, saying hello to neighbours and experiencing the excitement than collecting as many sweets as possible.

Older children may eventually be ready to take part more independently, but that depends on the child, the area you live in and your own family's boundaries.

The important thing is not to feel pressured because other children are doing something. Halloween should be fun, not another milestone that parents feel they have to rush.

Which houses should you trick-or-treat at?

This was something I didn't really understand when I was younger: you don't necessarily knock on every single door!

A good rule of thumb is to look for houses where the residents have made it clear that they are happy to welcome trick-or-treaters.

That might mean:

• A pumpkin outside the front door

• Halloween decorations

• Lights or other Halloween displays

• A bowl of sweets visible near the entrance

• Other obvious signs that the household is taking part

If a house is completely undecorated and dark, it's generally best to leave it alone.

Some people simply don't celebrate Halloween, while others may have babies, elderly relatives, pets or other reasons for not wanting visitors knocking on the door.

No decorations? No problem - just move on to the next house.

This simple approach makes Halloween much more pleasant for both families who are participating and those who aren't.

Teach children some simple trick-or-treating manners

For younger children, Halloween is a great opportunity to practise a few simple social skills.

Before you head out, explain that they should:

Knock or ring the doorbell once.

There's no need to repeatedly bang on the door or ring the bell over and over.

Wait patiently.

The person answering the door might need a moment to get there.

Say “trick or treat!”

It can be exciting for little ones to practise this beforehand - particularly if they're shy.

Remember to say thank you.

Even if they don't like the sweet they're given, it's still important to say thank you.

Don't take sweets without permission.

A bowl of sweets left outside doesn't necessarily mean children should take handfuls. Let the adult accompanying them explain what they can take.

And perhaps most importantly:

Never demand a particular sweet.

Trick-or-treating is a small act of generosity from the people answering their doors. A polite “thank you” goes a long way.

How can you keep young children safe?

Halloween usually means darkness, excited children, costumes and more people walking around the neighbourhood - so it's worth taking a few extra precautions.

Keep little ones close

Young children should stay with a responsible adult rather than going door-to-door alone.

For toddlers and preschoolers, there's no need to rush. Stay together and enjoy the experience.

Be careful around roads

Halloween costumes can sometimes make children less visible, particularly if they are dark in colour.

Stick to pavements where possible, use pedestrian crossings and take extra care when crossing roads.

A torch or reflective detail can also be useful when you're out after dark.

Check costumes

Make sure costumes fit properly and aren't so long that your child could trip over them.

Avoid anything that significantly restricts their vision, particularly masks that make it difficult to see what's around them.

If your child is using face paint or makeup, choose products suitable for children's skin and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Watch out for candles

Pumpkins and Halloween decorations can look wonderful, but candles and open flames need to be kept well away from children.

Battery-powered lights are a simple alternative for family pumpkin decorating.

Check their treats

Once you're home, it's worth checking through your child's treats before they eat them.

For younger children, remember that some sweets and small confectionery items may also present a choking risk.

And if your child has an allergy or dietary restriction, it's particularly important to check ingredients rather than assuming a treat is suitable.

How many houses should you visit?

There really isn't a magic number.

With toddlers, a handful of houses may be plenty.

In fact, the first few doors may be the most exciting part of the whole evening. After that, tiredness, darkness and an increasingly heavy bucket of sweets can quickly take over!

You don't need to turn Halloween into a challenge to collect the biggest haul.

For younger children especially, think of trick-or-treating as one small part of the Halloween experience, rather than the main event.

What about children who don't want to trick-or-treat?

That's completely fine too.

Some children love dressing up but don't enjoy knocking on unfamiliar doors. Others may find the noise, darkness or excitement overwhelming.

There is absolutely no requirement to go trick-or-treating.

You can have a wonderful Halloween at home instead.

And this is where Halloween can become a brilliant opportunity for screen-free family fun.

Screen-free Halloween ideas for young children

You don't need a television, tablet or phone to make Halloween exciting.

Try creating your own little Halloween adventure at home.

Make a Halloween reading basket

Choose a few Halloween, autumn or animal-themed books and put them somewhere your child can easily reach.

Let them choose the story you read together.

For babies and toddlers, the experience doesn't have to be scary at all. Pumpkins, friendly animals, autumn colours and gentle nighttime stories can all capture the atmosphere of the season.

Go pumpkin spotting

Take a walk around your neighbourhood and see how many pumpkins and Halloween decorations you can find.

For younger children, turn it into a simple counting game:

“How many pumpkins can we spot?”

You could even look for different colours, shapes and sizes.

It's a wonderfully simple way to get outside without needing a screen.

Make Halloween decorations

You don't need expensive craft kits.

Try making:

• Paper pumpkins

• Cardboard bats

• Ghosts from old sheets or paper

• Halloween pictures

• Leaf pictures using autumn leaves

• A homemade Halloween bunting

Let young children do as much of the creating as they can themselves - even if the finished result isn't Pinterest-perfect!

Create a Halloween sensory tray

For toddlers who enjoy sensory play, you could create a simple themed tray using safe, age-appropriate household or play materials.

Think autumn colours, toy animals, pumpkins and objects with different textures.

Always supervise young children closely and avoid small objects that could present a choking risk.

Have a Halloween dance party

Put on some music, turn off the main lights and let everyone dance around in their costumes.

No complicated setup required.

For young children, sometimes the simplest activities create the biggest excitement.

Read a story before bed

After all the excitement, bring the evening back down with a cosy story.

Turn off the bright lights, get comfortable and choose a favourite book.

It can be a lovely way to finish Halloween without immediately reaching for a screen.

Halloween doesn't have to be complicated

For young children, Halloween isn't really about having the biggest costume, visiting the most houses or collecting the most sweets.

It's about the experience.

Walking around the neighbourhood together.

Spotting pumpkins.

Saying “trick or treat”.

Waving to neighbours.

Coming home with a little bag of treats.

Reading a story in pyjamas.

And creating those small childhood memories that they'll remember long after the sweets have disappeared.

Whether your family goes trick-or-treating, celebrates at home or does a little bit of both, there's no need to make Halloween complicated.

Keep it age-appropriate, keep it safe, be considerate of your neighbours - and most importantly, have fun.

And if you're looking for more ways to make childhood a little more screen-free this autumn, explore our collection of thoughtfully chosen books for babies and toddlers at Discover Books.