How old is too old to trick or treat?

[chisnpeke]

I was 14 and in the eigth grade the last time I went.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I have to chuckle at the people on a disney board saying someone is "too old", haven't there been threads fighting the misconception Disney is only for kids? Why should Halloween be only for kids?!

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[imabrat]

Wait a minute. This is not a teen bashing thread. That was not my intent. I was just curious to know when kids usually stopped trick or treating. All of the teens that trick or treated in my neighborhood were very polite and in costume.

I'm not intending for it to be a teen bashing thread, I'm expressing my displeasure with a common stereotype. As a teen, I hate that we're lumped into one group because of a few bad eggs. There are good kids out there, but we're overlooked, as made obvious by some posts here. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[TwinsinCA]

I was 12 the last year I went trick or treating. I would have gone the next year but was sick. 14 was too old IMO.

If teenagers come to my door I still give them candy and it doesn't really bother me. Better that than the parents who use their *infants* to go trick or treating. Now that irks me. I didn't let my kids trick or treat until they were old enough to actually eat the candy, say "trick or treat" and thank you, and understand what they were doing. I understand dressing the little ones up and taking them out when there are older siblings. But to actually hold out a bag for the baby? C'mon. Of course, I still give the candy. But they get a big eye roll after I shut the door.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

My DD is 12 (7th Grade) and this is the first year she won't be trick or treating. This was her decision and she's looking forward to handing out candy this year.

 

[Skywalker]

Better that than the parents who use their *infants* to go trick or treating. Now that irks me. I didn't let my kids trick or treat until they were old enough to actually eat the candy, say "trick or treat" and thank you, and understand what they were doing. I understand dressing the little ones up and taking them out when there are older siblings. But to actually hold out a bag for the baby? C'mon. Of course, I still give the candy. But they get a big eye roll after I shut the door.

I thought my sister in law was the only who did that! I could not believe it when she told me her and her husband dress up and walk their 9 month old around the neighbourhood to trick or treat. Their neighbours must love them.

When I was a kid, I'm pretty sure the last year I went out was when I was 13

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I thought my sister in law was the only who did that! I could not believe it when she told me her and her husband dress up and walk their 9 month old around the neighbourhood to trick or treat. Their neighbours must love them.

When I was a kid, I'm pretty sure the last year I went out was when I was 13

easy way around that is to get some small jars of baby food!

for a baby? have a jar!

leftovers can go to the food drive for thanksgiving!

 

[NotAmused]

I do give candy to everyone because it was just 10 years ago when I was trick or treating as a 5'8 eleven year old and people used to make rude comments to me like "aren't you a little old to be trick or treating?" when I went with my little brother. I know my height made me look older, but it really made me feel bad then, so now I'm careful not to assume.

I give candy to everyone, but people who are in costume and actually speak do get more candy.

 

[The Orchid]

I love to see people have fun! Child, baby, teenager, adult, senior citizen...if dressing up and trick or treating makes them happy, then I am all for it.

 

[Crystal0608]

The last time I went, I was 16 with a vanload of friends. I was a baby that year, but some houses were not friendly. We just wanted to have fun...

My kids can go as long as they want to. I don't see the harm, as long as they were a costume. Even I usually do that every year.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I was 12 the last year I went trick or treating. I would have gone the next year but was sick. 14 was too old IMO.

If teenagers come to my door I still give them candy and it doesn't really bother me. Better that than the parents who use their *infants* to go trick or treating. Now that irks me. I didn't let my kids trick or treat until they were old enough to actually eat the candy, say "trick or treat" and thank you, and understand what they were doing. I understand dressing the little ones up and taking them out when there are older siblings. But to actually hold out a bag for the baby? C'mon. Of course, I still give the candy. But they get a big eye roll after I shut the door.

We never took the baby ToTing when my oldest was a baby. Just in costume to the grandparents house...and yes, they did give us jars of baby food to put in his treat sack . Now...I did take my youngest ToTing as a baby, but it is b/c I also was taking his 6 yr old brother.

I do like the idea of baby food, though.....interesting....

 

[maslex]

My boys are definately going out trick or treating tonight. I have a 12 yr old that is dressing up as a hippie (complete with afro and all) and my 6ft 14 year old is also going out as a hot dog. They go around the neighborhood with my DH while I stay home to hand out the candy. I've seen it all (as I'm sure you all have LOL) but I really don't care who comes to my door. If I do get those older teens with no costume and they just push their bag foward and say nothing.....I jokingly say something like "yes?, would you like something?" Then they look into the HUGE bowl of chocolate bars and will say trick or treat. LOL It's all in fun. Would it be nicer if they could put some effort into it? Sure....but I just roll with it. Life is too stressed out without having to deal with whether or not someone has a costume on and if you're going to give them candy. So ENJOY!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well my oldest dd is a freshman in college and that is too old.

Most kids trick or treat in HS and that is fine with me. It is fun to see all of their inventive costumes.

 

[JoanGirardi]

Where I come from the cutoff age was 13. My sons trick or treated through high school, as will my daughter, I'm sure. It seems to be the norm in our neighborhood, so I've gone with the flow. My only rule is that they go in costume and make sure they are mindful of the little kids.

 

[golfgal]

Anyone who wants to dress up and get in the spirit of Halloween gets candy - there is no age limit.

Same here. The funny thing is in a few days there will be a thread here about kids growing up too fast .

Our DD14 is going out with her friends, the boys are going to Halloween Parties. I would rather have the kids trick or treating then out egging and smashing pumpkins. I don't remember having anyone show up at our door not in some kind of a costume. I say let them have fun while they want. If your 14 year old wants to T or T, what is the issue???

 

[aprilgail2]

. Better that than the parents who use their *infants* to go trick or treating. Now that irks me. I didn't let my kids trick or treat until they were old enough to actually eat the candy, say "trick or treat" and thank you, and understand what they were doing. I understand dressing the little ones up and taking them out when there are older siblings. But to actually hold out a bag for the baby? C'mon. Of course, I still give the candy. But they get a big eye roll after I shut the door.

I love when the parent bring the infants by to trick or treat--I don't care if the kid is eating the candy or not..I think it is cute. Four of my neighbors all have kids that are just turning 1- I know they will all be out trick or treating with them and I bought them all things for their age and put them in little gift bags, like board books, small toys etc. I will give the parents candy and the four 1 year olds the gift bags.

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Sorry but at 16 he's a young adult and should start acting like one but I was good and kept quiet.

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Yes--lets make them all grow up and stop acting like kids..I think that maybe by 10 they should be thinking about getting married and starting a family and a career path---no sense waiting- get them right out of childhood and into adult hood-why wait?

 

[Magic Mom]

Same here. The funny thing is in a few days there will be a thread here about kids growing up too fast .

That's what I'm thinking too. What's the rush in expecting them to grow up. I would much rather they dress up in costumes and ask for candy than get a six pack and head off to the Field of Screams.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I was 15 the last year I went. Honestly, I wish I could still go...too bad dogs can't go trick or treating

 

[pipersmom]

I know in our town there used to be an ordinance that kids could not ToT unless they were 13 and under. I don't know for sure if it still exists, but I would assume it does, because I really haven't seen many older teens when I take my daughter out. I'm not sure what made it come about, unless it was for financial reasons..our town is relatively small, and most kids hit one of three different neighborhoods..I always feel bad for the folks on those streets..lol.

 

[Acklander]

In our town the kids usually stop around high school, but that's because they town puts on an awesome Halloween dance for the kids in high school and they'd rather dress up and go to that. One of the local clubs closes down for the evening and donates it for the party, so they get to go out in a fun club atmosphere, with a DJ and everything.