What age is too old to go trick or treating

[MushyMushy]

Poll coming.

In my town, kids over the age 12 or so aren't supposed to participate in trick or treating. IMO, it's sad really because they enjoy it too and they're just getting to be old enough to go out on their own with their friends. FTR, our ToT is always on the Thursday before Halloween during the hours of 4-6, so it's not like they're out roaming around after dark.

Just wanted to know what your opinion is.

 

[aprilgail2]

First of all I think it is nuts that some towns move halloween and set hours! Thats like moving Thanksgiving to the monday prior so no reason what so ever.....
I don't care who trick or treats, little ones, teenagers- its all good fun and cutting them off at 12 seems mean.
Trick or treat here is anyone who wants to go and you go ON halloween Monday, Tuesday, Saturday- whatever day halloween falls on! You go as soon as you get home from school and keep going until you are tired- usually by 9:00 the kids stop coming. And when it falls on the weekends-well those are the years we lived for as trick or treaters LOL- you started around noon and kept on going and going and going LOL- you usually stopped around 9 then to but it was about a 9 hour long trick or treat night!! Those are the fun time I still remember, not some government regulated time, age and date switched holiday!

 

[Mermaid02]

I don't think there is a set age- but I'm hoping my 11 year old decides that 11 is too old. Most of the time he can't wait to get home and pass out the candy- no idea why we have to get a costume and traipse around the neighborhood for a half hour....

 

[ckay87]

I said mid teens because I think it's a perfectly fine, healthy activity for teenagers. But you know, I guess they're not as cute as the little ones so people don't want them at their door. I'll tell you this, though, I get more thank you's from the older kids than I do from the little ones by FAR.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

no set age as long as you are in costume and polite!!!!!

we went trick or treating in college!

ETA; thankfully they don't move the date here either!!!!

 

[MushyMushy]

Don't even get me started on these set hours. Especially where I live in this low income area, they make it extremely hard on working parents (they're penalized either way by having to leave work early or have their kids miss out), but people on welfare come out in droves. NOTHING against welfare, I'm not one of those who raises their eyebrow at the store or any of that nonsense, but there's so much set up in my town that caters to the low-income like that, it does tend to wear on you once in a while.

But anyway, yes, it does seem mean to me that the older kids can't trick or treat. People sit out on their porches handing out candy, so it's not like there's a fear of mischief. Ckay, you hit the nail on the head with the fact that they're not as cute as the little ones. It's ridiculous. You'll see plenty of grown adults collecting candy for infants in strollers, but a 12 year old gets sneered at?

 

[clgwli]

I admit I like set hours. 6-8 here. Gives us chance to eat and get set before kids come. As long as kids are dressed we don't care the age. We see many highschool aged and they can be the most creative.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

My daughter is going on 13...but a very young 13... and I wouldnt' want to take that away from her yet...
She is debating on staying home tho to pass out the candy!!!
I say 14....15... thats pushin it, unles they are taking younger siblings.. I went at 16 with a friend...and an elderly lady refused us candy.

 

[java]

My 14 year old is working on his costume already with a friend. First idea was "naked man" with a box covering his lower half. I nixed that one.
Then they came up with naked bananas- but again I suggested they keep trying.

I can't wait to see what they finally come up with. Oh and this friend of his is into it because he came here last year and one house gave them $5 each for Trick or Treating! (that poor woman has opened the floodgates)

I say in a costume I don't care how old you are you get candy!
Thankfully the 14 year old is the only one that wants to always Make a costume(which means Mom makes the costume) my other 3 children are store bought costume kind of kids.

 

[ckay87]

My 14 year old is working on his costume already with a friend. First idea was "naked man" with a box covering his lower half. I nixed that one.
Then they came up with naked bananas- but again I suggested they keep trying.

I can't wait to see what they finally come up with. Oh and this friend of his is into it because he came here last year and one house gave them $5 each for Trick or Treating! (that poor woman has opened the floodgates)

I say in a costume I don't care how old you are you get candy!
Thankfully the 14 year old is the only one that wants to always Make a costume(which means Mom makes the costume) my other 3 children are store bought costume kind of kids.

Another good point....older kids come up with fantastic costumes! I mean, it's nice to see something different from the princesses and spidermen.

 

[VMK_MagicalLadee]

So you guys would think it absurd for a 16-year old to go trick or treating this year?

 

[ckay87]

So you guys would think it absurd for a 16-year old to go trick or treating this year?

No, I don't think any of us, at least, actually said that. I'd enjoy seeing a 16 year old trick or treating.

 

[VMK_MagicalLadee]

Fabulous! I spent alot of money on my costume.. People think I'm crazy for going out, but I just like showing people how hard I worked on my costume

I've won my school dance costume contest for 2 years in a row ^_^

I intend to try and hold my record, haha!

 

[MoniqueU]

I welcome kids of all ages to come get a treat. I have found the older kids to actually be incredibly polite.

I did pick mid teens though because that is when the girls costumes start to get slutty. I can't believe what some of the girls have shown up in. And you know what pretty much that is all the costume places have to choose from in their size. I have a tall and thin 11 year old and she is now in womens sizes and her costume is a little too much even for me. I told her she will be wearing leggings.

 

[shortbun]

When a child gets too lazy to get a good costume together, that's when they are too old to trick or treat. I'll give a college age child candy if they are in costume. It's the spirit, not the age.

 

[Par8hed]

I have relatives that moved to PA. I'll never forget the time they called me and said that the kids would be trick or treating in their town on Tuesday from 5-7. (and the next town over was Monday 4-6)
I was like "but Halloween's not Tuesday, it's Friday????"

To this day I don't get it. Very, very strange. Why would you celebrate Halloween on a day other than Halloween?

 

[NMAmy]

Any age is fine with me. In fact, in my neighborhood, I hardly see any little kids at all anymore. If it weren't for the teens, I wouldn't get any trick or treaters at all. I've seen them wear some great costumes and they've all been very polite.

 

[Disney Doll]

I don't really have a problem with any age T or T-ing, as long as they are polite and in costume.

I will admit that I get aggravated sometimes at the kids I see get driven to my neighborhood who I know aren't neighborhood kids, mainly because I know all the neighborhood kids. To me, T or T-ing is a neighborhood activity...I don't think you should be living in another town and get driven to my neighborhood. If you have friends in my neighborhood and you decide to walk around with them, that's fine. But I have heard kids say "Where do we go now?" and the parents answer "I don't know, I'm not familiar with the area". Not to mention that you're having your kid take candy from people you don't even know!!! How do you know someone isn't a nut if you don't live in the neighborhood where you're T or T-ing??????

I also don't like when a bigger kid rings my bell and are standing there in their regular clothes. If you are going to beg for candy, at least put some effort into it. I give out all my candy till it's gone, and I would never refuse any kid candy, but sometimes I'm like .

And as far as parents T or T-ing...I am also . If you want to dress up to walk around with your kid, I think that's great and a lot of fun. But don't come to my door with a candy bag looking for a handout. Go buy your own candy...you work just like I do.

When we were kids, we T or T-ed in our neighborhood, went to the houses of all the people we knew, they pretended to be scared of us and then pretended to be surprised when they "figured out" who we were, they complimented our costumes and life was good. Today it seems like even T or T has been turned into "Let's try and get as much for free from as many people as we can".

 

[Mel6197]

Is if your in a costume, I will Gladly give out candy..

My daughter is 11 and HUGE!! Im talking 5'6 in womens shoe size 9 1\2..

Last year there were a group of 4 teens, the boys were dressed as cheerleaders and girls were dressed as football players.. Now that was funnny, and was more fun to see than the kids..

And TONS of Dogs Dressed up.. Including my dog as a clown..

We tricked or treated for 2 hours 2 kids, and got I weighed it.. 15 POUNDS of Candy..

 

[mickeyfan9194]

There's just something about "begging" for candy from strangers that's always borthered me. I'd much rather throw a Halloween "party" for my kids and their friends, than to have them go door-to-door. I haven't allowed my kids to go Trick or Treating since they were 12. When my husband is handing out the candy, he gives the little kids a handful apiece, but the older kids just get one piece. Maybe it also wears on my nerves, because at least where we live, BUSES (I kid you not) pull up to our neighborhood and there are hundreds of kids we've never seen before.