4ofus Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 For families with kids that trick or treat...when to age-out? My 7th grader wants to go this year with his 6th grade brother. I think that's fine, b/c I remember middle school years being some fun trick or treat times :). But, I wonder, is it common for ms kids to t-o-t? I think I still see them around our n'hood...but I can't say I've paid much attention. I'm usually cooing over the cute little tots. I think, when I was a kid, I decided on my own one year that I was done, but I think it was maybe my freshman year of hs?? I'm not 100% certain. I might've gone that year with some younger friends. Maybe that was my last year. Hmm. The memories are kind of running together. What do you think is common, either in your family or in your area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Here, it's normal to see high schoolers out. They're in costume, having fun and not out causing trouble so it's fine by me. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 The fall restivals/trunk or treats seem to stop at about 6th grade, but I still see teens out here, and I like seeing them. Let them be kids a little longer :) 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 Oh, QueenCat, that's great to hear!! There's never been any t-o-t trouble around here, so I'm encouraged that there are families that don't mind the older kids out & about :). One really neat thing I like about our n'hood at halloween...there is a pizza kick-off at one house. All families are invited to pay a bit & meet for pizza for about 45 mins, snap a group pic, then "ready, set, go" the kids. Even if you don't do the pizza party, you know it's useless to t-o-t until it's over b/c very few folks are home. AND everyone knows that it ends about an hour later. It's awesome to have a rough start/stop time for the night. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Around here, if they are in costume, no one cares how old they are. I've also noticed big siblings taking little siblings around often get double candy! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Given our town culture, teens still dress up and trick or trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 6th grade. Once my older kids hit junior high, they only went along for TnT as chaperones for youngest DD. They still got plenty of candy because most people thought it was cute they were escorting their little sister around the neighborhood. DD14 is planning on having a halloween party with her friends this year - either here or at someone else's house. Movies, popcorn and passing out candy to kids that come to the door. Lots of fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Never age out. There reached a point at which I was done with carting them all over creation TO t-o-t, but it had nothing to do with their age. If they are willing to dress up and be respectful of people, it doesn't matter to me how old they are. One of my kids best Halloween memories ever was when they dressed up with around 10 of their teen friends (ages 12-18) and roamed our neighborhood t-o-ting. They were respectful, watched out for little ones, and didn't cause trouble. No one seemed to mind. We did have a few parents walk around with them, just in case someone tried to give them a hard time, but it really was never an issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Whenever they want. I think judgement toward older kids wanting to trick or treat is pretty lame. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Whenever they feel like they're done. It's not uncommon here to see teens trick or treating. They usually show up a bit later after most of the small kids are done and I don't mind giving them candy. As for my own, I let him stop when he was ready. I think this was shared last year or the year before. With a few changes, it could just as easily apply to teenage girls. http://www.davisenterprise.com/forum/opinion-columns/what-you-need-to-know-about-6-foot-tirck-or-treaters/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Well... in my area the teens come out late, and dressed like teens, and sometimes complain about the goods, and sometimes engage in small acts of vandalism and/or petty theft, so... not a fan after about age 12. Actually, since I've lived here I've come to despise Halloween because it's not a fun kid thing but a hassle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebcoola Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 As long as they are in costume and polite no need to age out it seems like a lot stop around 12 to go to parties instead. Around here many of our neighbors are retirees so they always to much candy they often offer it to the parents so I am sure they don't mind polite teens. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 My 13 year old is going. We get less than half a dozen tot-ers here, so he will really only be going around to the few houses on our street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 We live in a neighborhood that sees. conservatively, over 500 trick or treaters each year. It's kind of our thing. I am totally fine with teens, but I do think they should be in costume. We had a group of non-costumed teens come by one year and when I gave them (friendly) grief about it, they told me that they were the Backstreet Boys. So I told them they had to perform for their candy. They did, and it was hysterical. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 my older kids went into the tween years. and were happy to take dudeling trick or treating when he was really little. (that way they had an excuse into their teens and twenties) ;) I probably forced dudeling to t o t because "it's expected" kids will go and he had activities that were Halloween related. he wanted the candy - he hated walking to people's houses. the joys of aspergers . . . he'd look over the candy, and refuse to have any if he didn't like their offerings. (there were a lot of annoyed adults.) I don't know how many times I said "you receive what you are given - and say thank you!" (and take it home and bribe your brother with it. :001_tt2:) he says he doesn't want to go this year - and I'm glad I didn't buy the costume he said he wanted. . . . he's 10. I'm done "encouraging" him. ​ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 My 11 and 15 year olds are planning to go together. The 11 year old is now taller than the 15 year old, so looks like a high schooler. I've told them they are welcome to go, BUT their costumes must be well-done this year. They've skated by on wimpy things in the past, and to point that is okay. But if they're going to be the older kids out in the neighborhood, they best be decked out. DS is going to be Gru, and some of the girls on his dance team are going to join him TOT-ing as minions. I hope they can pull it off. DD... she's a challenge. I think she should go as a wood-elf. We have a long gown she can use and she has a really neat wooden bow that she can sling on her shoulder- all she needs is a cloak and maybe a quiver and she'll be good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 A few years ago I discovered that my husband's 85 year old autistic uncle had never been trick-or-treating. (He was mostly hidden away as a child, then packed off to a group home at around 11.) I asked if he wanted to come TOTing with us, and he asked if he could be the Lone Ranger. He was SO excited, and at every house he yelled Trick or Treat and told people that this was his first time TOTing. People were incredibly kind to him and gave him extra candy and a few people took photos of him and the kids. :001_wub: 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 By high school I expect the focus shifts to Halloween parties and chaperoning or giving out candy instead of roving around for it oneself. That was pretty typical where I grew up and here, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Usually? I don't know. Rebecca is 12 and in 7th and fully expects to participate this year. Both girls are going as "sleepover girls," and we always TOT at a mall. As long as they're dressed up, well-behaved, and careful of little kids, I don't see why I would stop them. In the interest of full disclosure, we went TOT'ing the year after I graduated high school. Very fun. :D 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocolateReignRemix Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 A few years ago I discovered that my husband's 85 year old autistic uncle had never been trick-or-treating. (He was mostly hidden away as a child, then packed off to a group home at around 11.) I asked if he wanted to come TOTing with us, and he asked if he could be the Lone Ranger. He was SO excited, and at every house he yelled Trick or Treat and told people that this was his first time TOTing. People were incredibly kind to him and gave him extra candy and a few people took photos of him and the kids. :001_wub: :001_wub: :001_wub: :001_wub: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyacinth Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 I'm with the if-in-costume-and-polite-then-go-for-it crew. FWIW, my boys (12 and 14) seemed less than enthusiastic about figuring out a costume this year. I told them that if they didn't want to dress up and ToT, I'd take them to Target the next day to pick out some candy. They love this idea and are really looking forward to handing out candy at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckens Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 This essay may me tear up last year, and again this year when searching for it to post here.What You Need to Know About 6-Foot Trick-or-Treaters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 For our house, they trick or treat through middle school which is 13. I will give candy to older teens, but I do think ToT is best left to younger kids. My reasons: --high schoolers can look pretty intimidating--I'm not so comfortable with some who approach my door when I'm home alone passing out candy, and last year it was my 14 yo home alone passing out candy for part of the time. We're short--groups of 6' tall men, some in scary costumes, bother me. --they stay out a lot later when the neighborhood is "done" and pretty much out of candy. --they knock on doors with lights out (the sign that they aren't participating or they're out of candy). --we've had minor (jack o lantern related) vandalism done late, after I blow out the candle, so I'm pretty sure it's high schoolers. --it gets expensive. We had more than 300 (that's $30 in candy) ToT'ers in our popular neighborhood last year. It would be a more affordable holiday if limited to younger kids. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 A few years ago I discovered that my husband's 85 year old autistic uncle had never been trick-or-treating. (He was mostly hidden away as a child, then packed off to a group home at around 11.) I asked if he wanted to come TOTing with us, and he asked if he could be the Lone Ranger. He was SO excited, and at every house he yelled Trick or Treat and told people that this was his first time TOTing. People were incredibly kind to him and gave him extra candy and a few people took photos of him and the kids. :001_wub: That is, quite possibly, the sweetest story I have ever read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 College age maybe? Let them be kids! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 DD debated whether to go last year at age 13 and did because friends were. It's still common here for kids to go through the end of middle school. I remember going in high school, but a club was trick or treating for canned good donations for the food pantry. They still gave us candy at almost every house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 13 as they are still in middle school and often have younger siblings and friends who want to. I don't see nearly as many high schoolers out. I wouldn't limit my children in this by age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Around here, 5th-graders TOT, and I think most 6th-graders. 7th- and 8th-graders start dropping out unless bringing younger siblings, and high-schoolers stay home and hand out candy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJosMom Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 A few years ago I discovered that my husband's 85 year old autistic uncle had never been trick-or-treating. (He was mostly hidden away as a child, then packed off to a group home at around 11.) I asked if he wanted to come TOTing with us, and he asked if he could be the Lone Ranger. He was SO excited, and at every house he yelled Trick or Treat and told people that this was his first time TOTing. People were incredibly kind to him and gave him extra candy and a few people took photos of him and the kids. :001_wub: Awww, that's wonderful!! Good for you for thinking of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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