slo’s SUNDAY poll - Trick or Treating

[slo]

Ok..be honest…what is your opinion of older teenagers trick or treating?
When I say older teenagers, I’m referring to high school kids.

This is not a debate
This is not meant to change people’s minds
Everyone has a right to express their own opinion
Thank you!


For Me……I’m not someone that likes high schoolers trick or treating, and I’m probably in the minority when it comes to this. When my girls were little, I didn‘t appreciate how they would try and beat the young kids to the door, how they would run across people‘s yards, how they would use profanity (I used to tell these kids all the time to watch their language) and more.
I know that all teenagers don’t behave this way. When my kids were in high school (my DD18 is currently a senior) the trick or treating stopped for them and they were perfectly ok with it - they know how many of their peers behaved, and they didn’t want to be a part of it. Plus, they are both athletes and all the extra candy was not something they wanted to be eating anyway.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We don’t have many trick or treaters here, almost none, ever. If a respectful teenager came, I definitely would treat them!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Depends on their behavior. I fine if they are 'civil'. I've never seen any that really weren't. Some even seem quite polite, laughing, having a fun time.

 

[Figment of Speech]

It depends on their behavior. Not all teens are the same.

If they're in costume and seem in it for the Halloween spirit, then good for them! It would be nice if no one ever lost that. I'd happily give candy to 35-year-olds doing that, with or without kids.

If they're just wearing regular clothes and are leaving every house with their candy, giggling to each other for taking advantage of another old fart, then I'll be annoyed, but it's not going to ruin my night. In about 15 years, they'll be in my shoes and will be embarrassed for having done that.

If they're raising a ruckus, then the problem is not their age, it's their conduct.

 

[HeatherC]

If a teenager comes, I actually give them more than I normally would. I figure they are still engaging in good clean fun and I can definitely support that.

 

[evilmommie]

Most of the teenagers, I've ever had come to my door during Halloween are taking around their younger siblings...They get loaded up with candy just like the little ones.

We LOVE Halloween in our neighborhood. There is a parade and pizza dinner for our littles in our neighborhood park...and then they all hit the houses for candy. Looks like everyone is all decorated this year. So fun!

 

[Kitty 34]

As a Middle School and High school substitute teacher for many many years I loved when my older students would come by. It never bothered me at all. Heck when I attended Concordia College near Chicago we Trick or Treated around the college and didn't think twice about it. People who handed us candy never seemed phased either.

Happy Halloween to ALL ages!!

 

[NAB]

Better they be tricker treating than smashing pumpkins etc around the neighbour hood.

Really when parents come with babies who do you think eats that candy….lol

My kids used to give me all the candy they didn’t like , than the school started collecting it to give to some charities.

 

[tvguy]

If they drive to your house, they are too old to trick or treat.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I LOVE high schoolers trick or treating...giving them an outlet on Halloween that's fun and wholesome vs some of the outlets they'd find for themselves, it's a can't lose.

ANYONE who shows up at my door in costume and says Trick or Treat, be they 2 months or 102, gets candy at my door and always will...

And my kids trick or treat through high school...as did I...

Funny enough, I changed my spouse's mind on this, since he only trick or treated through age 13...he's now a huge proponent of teen trick or treaters, too, as long as they "follow the rules" of costumes and time (we have a set neighborhood time for trick or treat)...

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I had to vote other because we don't get teenage kids knocking on doors for candy on Halloween, only little ones. The teenagers come out the night before, Mischief Night as it's known, and generally mess up the neighborhood with eggs. It's not that they're bad kids, but there's nothing to do around here for them and so they make their own "fun."

 

[DuskKodesh]

You never know who had a terrible or abusive childhood and is trying to reclaim those years. I've given full adults at my house candy.

I have a rule. If they come to my house during the right time they get candy (or toys). If they're nonverbal or too shy to speak I give them candy. If they're old, I give them candy, if they don't have a costume maybe they couldn't afford one, I was poor as a kid too I still give them candy.

 

[design_mom]

I voted "Depends on the kids and their conduct."

1) If they're in an obvious costume, no problem! Have fun and have a great night.
2) If they're not in a costume, I'll still give them candy (I've never denied anyone) but I'll think to myself "c'mon kid. If you want to participate, then participate." And, I honestly think there's not much of an excuse for not having some sort of costume. There are plenty of things that you can "be" using regular clothes or household items to make it obvious you are "participating." It doesn't have to be a good costume, just obvious that you put some effort in.)

The only time I've ever said something to the kids was when the same group of teens came to my door for the third time on the same night. The first time, totally fine. The second time, hmmm, I think they forgot where they've been. The third time..."Hey, guys, I'm glad you're having fun but this is the third time you've been here. Last time, OK?"

 

[WDWEPCOT]

They HAVE to be in costumes - you would be surprised at number who don’t - no costume I will instruct you to go home and put some effort into your actions and come back
You have to be well mannered - not pushy or rude - if you are - I will not give you candy
For the most part I receive a lot of Teens and they are well mannered - they converse tell jokes and say Thank You
I receive well over 200 kids and rarely run into a rude child
The thing I don’t like is an adult trick or treating an infant - seriously we all know who the candy is for - in those cases I say No go buy your own candy - a three month old can’t eat candy

 

[TwoMisfits]

They HAVE to be in costumes - you would be surprised at number who don’t - no costume I will instruct you to go home and put some effort into your actions and come back
You have to be well mannered - not pushy or rude - if you are - I will not give you candy
For the most part I receive a lot of Teens and they are well mannered - they converse tell jokes and say Thank You
I receive well over 200 kids and rarely run into a rude child
The thing I don’t like is an adult trick or treating an infant - seriously we all know who the candy is for - in those cases I say No go buy your own candy - a three month old can’t eat candy

Having lived with the worst baby ever for my 1st, (who is now the most wonderful person ever), I give those parents with the baby plenty of candy, too. For the 1st 3 months of my kids' life, I 1st lived with feeding a failure to thrive kid for 2 hours every 3 hours (yup that's 1 hour of sleep at a time) who then transitioned to colic and scream crying for hours and hours every evening which led to 2am drives to finally get her to conk out in a carseat.

So, any parent with babies who comes by, I'm gonna give them a ton of candy and warm smiles to the baby, b/c it may be the best day they've had since birth...and if it only takes a piece of candy or two to make that parents' day, I'm all for it...plus babies are adorable, and I'm happy to see them at my door anytime...

 

[DuskKodesh]

Sidenote: I when I was 22 went with my 13 year old nephew trick or treating so he wasn't alone. Now this kid was HUGE. He could have played professional football. I dressed as a bat, he was Michael Myers. SO MANY people refused to give him candy... while plopping a handful in my bag. I looked young and at one point was cuter than a sack of buttons (Boy that's changed!) Afterwards I shared half my candy with him but it was sadly the last year he ever tried to trick or treat.

 

[bjscheel]

I don't get trick or treaters out here in the country but I've helped my mom and any teens were generally dressed up and behaving fine. So I don't mind it. I know DDs went out when they were in 8th and 10th grade, as Anna and Elsa with a 9th grade Kristoff. They looked pretty good and little kids got excited to see them. I don't remember if they went any years after that.

Youngest DD was asked by an old woman once if she wasn't getting a little big for this. She was 9 and small for her age

 

[mamamary]

We don’t get many older trick or treaters (that I know of) but whenever I have it’s fine with me!!

 

[loves to dive]

Depends on the teenager. When my son got to about 12 he wasn't interested any more since it was just easier to eat the left over candy at our house. If they make an effort with their costumes I'm o.k. with it. If they only put on some old jeans and called themselves a hobo, no, I don't like it. I give them one piece of candy in that while I tend to give the little ones more. Ain't no one getting nothin at my house past 8:30 or 9. I blow out all the candles, bring in all the stuff on the porch and turn off the light cause I'm old and stay off my grass.

 

[Meriweather]

I don't mind them coming if they are behaving well.....and prefer they are dressed up.
We don't turn anyone away, even offer treats to parents