Stop Trick or treating--what age?

[disneychrista]

I think this may be the last year.

MY oldest DD13 didn't go last year, she wanted to give out candy instead.

My youngest DD11 wasn't sure about going this year but last night said she wanted to.

I can remember going the last time in 8th grade, 13yo. I got the "aren't you too old" thing from people. I also remember wanting to go Senior Year in HS but my friends veto'ed that and we ended up at a Party instead.

 

[VALDAN]

I stopped in the 9th grade. My DD is 13 and she is still going around with her friends. They will be wearing very mild costumes- socccer uniform. I don't mind teenagers coming to the door as long as they aren't rude. I actully like the ones that come around about 8:00 at night, so I can get rid of the candy my kids came home with.

 

[Kallison]

I"m not telling them to quit until they want to. Last year my 7th grader said he didn't want to go, I made him go with his two best friends and they had a blast. This year he said he is definitely going. Why is everyone in such a rush to make their kids grow up. I don't care if high schoolers come to my door, as long as they have on a costume!

 

[Mel6197]

I hope this doesnt get me in trouble.. But here goes..

I personally feel that I could care less what the age is of the kid trick or treating, as long as they are dressed for the holiday.. (now Im not talking babies and such if the costume annoys them) but if your a teenager and you want to celebrate the holiday, then I say Celebrate it and Dress up...

Okay.. Thats my opinion..Hope you all still love me...

 

[Virgo10]

My son and a few of his friends went T or T two years ago when they were 27!!!!! Instead of going to get candy, they bought some and gave it out! He said they got a lot of laughs from the houses they visited.

Last year I had many parents show up with their kids and they were dressed up too. I thought that was really cool.

I'd let him go until he doesn't enjoy it any more. And add me to the list of those who don't care how old you are as long as you dress up.

Roberta

 

[Barb D]

13yo DS trick-or-treated for the first and last time last year. We'd never lived in a good trick-or-treating neighborhood before and we always had harvest parties to go to. Now we live in a great neighborhood with lots of kids and lots of older folks who love to see the little ones go out. DS was pushing it age-wise and size-wise last year, but he went anyway (dressed as Linus!). This year he's almost 6' tall and really feels too old, so he's going to pass out candy. His choice.

11 yoDD wants to go out with her 4yo sister.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm almost 44 and I still go. As a matter of fact, it's basically why I had children--so I'd have an excuse to go.

Seriously, though, I don't have a problem with teen trick-or-treaters as long as they dress up somehow and say "trick or treat" and "thank you".

My 3rd child is 11yo and I bet he'll be trick or treating. My oldest one stopped when she started going to parties instead and my second when he was probably 12yo. My 4yo will be collecting me candy for quite a few years.

T&B

 

[TalkisCheap]

My parents didn't put a limit on me...I'm 13 and me and my friend are taking her little sister...and candy bags for ourselves We're wearing costumes...ketchup and mustard bottles My parents don't care if teens come...but they won't give candy to rude or costumeless teens. I don't blame them...they annoy me to!

I still remember going Trick-or-treating one year when I was 5 or 6, and a woman refused to give my sister candy...then 9 or 10, because she was too big! My sister was never big for her age, so apparently that women thinks 9 or 10 is too old!

 

[aprilgail2]

Why would anyone stop their kids before the kids were ready to stop?? If she wants to trick or treat at 16 more power to her LOL. I remember stopping about 12 and then starting again at 14 and 15 when we were hanging out on halloween after dark, a group of us would all go house to house getting candy. We would all get together and go out around 6 or so until 10 when my dad would drive over my friends house and pick me up since they lived on the other side of town.

 

[damo]

We usually have about 180 little kids coming to our house for halloween. If the teens were all coming as well, it would just be too much.

 

[tiggerlover]

I never thought about this before, I just assumed that kids outgrew trick or treating. My DS is 8 and nowhere near wanting to stop, so I think that I will let him trick or treat until he decides he doesn't want to go anymore.

 

[disykat]

I seem to be one of the few with the unpopular notion that trick or treating is for children - so let me explain my position. My 11 year old has no interest in trick or treating this year and didn't last year either. I never told him he had to stop. My 9 year old will probably trick or treat for longer - however I won't be taking him past elementary. If he wants more Halloween fun, we'll have a party. Trick or treating just isn't that big of a deal here. Teenagers and adults tend to go to parties or help little ones celebrate at carnivals and such. I've never had an adult come to my door and hold out a bag for candy - around here it is only children.

Every year we go to two Halloween carnivals, one at school and one at church. This year my 11 year old is helping right beside me. We are doing cotton candy at school and running the cupcake walk at church. It was his choice to be a helper rather than participate and he is looking forward to it. I think it is a natural progression and would find it very strange if he continued to just want to participate. Past elementary I would strongly encourage him to be a helper and simply wouldn't take him to be a participant. When I was a teen it was the same - we helped at the carnivals and some years went "trick or treating" for unicef or canned food.

For us, it is the same with all the holidays. This is the first year at my house that "Santa" isn't the only one filling the stockings. My kids are helping me be Santa for their father. Last year was my oldest's last Easter Egg hunt. At our hunt (several families) the rule is that anyone older than 10 hides the eggs and the younger kids hunt them. From an early age, being involved in the holidays has meant helping to make the magic for others - not just receiving. I had some friends who have gone through the whole "holiday blues" thing when they realized that they had to make some of their own magic - the transition was much easier for me and I hope it will be the same for my kids.

 

[littleclover]

I'm 36 and I still go!!! My best friend (38) and I have made it a point to always dress up and take the kids. Our kids, hers and mine, ask every year how are we dressing up. They think it's a blast and her oldest is soon to be 16.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Originally posted by VampHeartless
NEVERRRRRRR!!!!!

Really...I never understood parents who made their kids quit celebrating the holidays.

Let them do it until they don't want to anymore!

Enjoy the memories while they last!

i agree--i went in junior or sophomore year with a big group of friends..we all got dressed up and had a blast!

 

[caitycaity]

as long as people are respectful, i don't care how old they are. i don't understand why parents would ever want to stop their kids from doing something as innocent and fun as trick-or-treating. if the kid doesn't want to go that's one thing, but actively telling your child he can't go seems a little strange. it seems like people decrykids growing up too fast these days but then turn around and do things that reinforce that.

to answer your question, i trick ro treated well into college. the embassies hand out candy on halloween here in dc and college kids from all the dc school dress up and go. it's a lot of fun and you get to meet people from all over the world.

 

[Amberle3]

I don't like it when the kids at the door are old enough to be taller than I am.

I don't so much mind it if they're dressed up and properly respectful. It's a shame to see the little kids scared of the rowdy bigger kids. And every so often we get some of the bigger ones that frighten me too. But I don't the older kids that don't dress up at all and just show up at the door demanding candy.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Never stopped them, they just did it till they got tired of it. They were having a ball into their mid, maybe upper teens.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Last time I did, I was 17.

 

[AZKathy]

Last Halloween when DS was 13, I told him to enjoy this trick or treating time because it is the last year he will trick or treat. He is cool about that this year.

 

[Serena]

I don't care how old they are. But they are teenagers, they had better be in costume or have a good act. I've made some sing for their candy. lol

I've go with my girls, they insist I dress up. If no one's going to be home, I'll have bags of candy and pass it out to the kids we come across as we're walking.