OrganicJen Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 At what age do you think children should no longer be allowed to trick or treat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janeway Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 Not past 95 yrs old. Well, unless someone is with them to make sure they don’t fall. 45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 Not past 95 yrs old. Well, unless someone is with them to make sure they don’t fall. LOL I agree 100%. I am in no rush to push kids to adulthood. If they want to keep trick or treating and are doing it "right" with costumes and saying thank you then I see it as harmless fun for teens. At some point, maybe 16 or so, I might suggest they find someone younger to escort. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof1 Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 It starts with pumpkin patches and trick or treat. Then it goes to parties, scary movies and haunted houses. Kids will let you know what stage there in. IMO. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicJen Posted October 7, 2017 Author Share Posted October 7, 2017 LOL I agree 100%. I am in no rush to push kids to adulthood. If they want to keep trick or treating and are doing it "right" with costumes and saying thank you then I see it as harmless fun for teens. At some point, maybe 16 or so, I might suggest they find someone younger to escort. I like the idea of having them escort someone younger once they are getting a bit on the too old side. We are in a weird stage right now where the child who still wants to go is almost 6 feet tall and his little brother is too young to go yet, so he can't just take his little bro as an excuse. I suggested he help pick out what we buy and he can hand out the candy and keep some for himself so that he still gets candy but I still can't decide if I should let him go or not. He's almost 16 but he's so tall he looks adult height already and without his younger brother I feel people may not like having a kid his size come to their door trick or treating. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 (edited) 20? College? I don't mind seeing teens out trick or treating. Edited October 7, 2017 by Garga 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicJen Posted October 7, 2017 Author Share Posted October 7, 2017 How old is his little brother? Not 2 yet...never has eaten candy and won't for some time...would be in bed too early to go anyway...and would be freaked out with so many people around him trick or treating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frugalmamatx Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 Last year we had people refusing to give my dd's friend {12, but looks about 16} candy, saying it was "for the kids". I was VERY irritated at that tbh. Her costume was understated though - a lot of bruises / etc. This year said 13yo doesn't want to go. I wonder why.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicJen Posted October 7, 2017 Author Share Posted October 7, 2017 20? College? I don't mind seeing teens out trick or treating. I don't mind if teens come to our door either...that's why I was curious what other people thought too...as I tend to be more laid back about some things than other people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 I like the idea of having them escort someone younger once they are getting a bit on the too old side. We are in a weird stage right now where the child who still wants to go is almost 6 feet tall and his little brother is too young to go yet, so he can't just take his little bro as an excuse. I suggested he help pick out what we buy and he can hand out the candy and keep some for himself so that he still gets candy but I still can't decide if I should let him go or not. He's almost 16 but he's so tall he looks adult height already and without his younger brother I feel people may not like having a kid his size come to their door trick or treating. I think 15 year olds are fine for trick or treating, regardless of height, but I also think that there's not such a thing as "too young" unless you feel they are too young to leave the house at all. I love it when people bring little babies around. They look so cute in their costumes! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicJen Posted October 7, 2017 Author Share Posted October 7, 2017 Last year we had people refusing to give my dd's friend {12, but looks about 16} candy, saying it was "for the kids". I was VERY irritated at that tbh. Her costume was understated though - a lot of bruises / etc. This year said 13yo doesn't want to go. I wonder why.... Yeah that's what I have heard happen sometimes with kids who are older or look older or taller...poor kid that's sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 When going to Halloween parties is more cool than going ToTing. I have a cognitively delayed 14yo who is so very excited about it this year. I'm not going to stop him from going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nixpix5 Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 There's a cut off? :) In our area teens go all of the time and nobody withholds candy. My boys went until 16yo. I would happily give candy to teens. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 I stopped when I was 13 and so did my older son. My younger son stopped when he was 8 or 9. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEm Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 The last year I went was when I was a junior in high school. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 I don't mind teens coming if they are dressed up and decently behaved. The ones who are vulgar, demanding, and destructive ruin it for the teens who are just out having fun. We've had groups of teens kick over our pumpkins, try to push into the house to grab the whole candy basket, and act super aggressive towards the candy giver. That can be scary and make people fear big kids. That's too bad because most are polite and just having good, clean fun. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 At the end of the night I leave my bowl of candy put, hoping some older kids come by and take what's left. Sometimes they do, but sometimes they only take a little bit, which is polite, but I want be rid of it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 (edited) I say through middle school. My reasoning: 1) High schoolers tend to group with friends and while certainly not all high schoolers make bad choices, I think the bad choices that get made that night (destroying jackolanterns and other neighborhood mischief) is done by that age group. 2) It's expensive here. We have a great neighborhood which I love, but I have to have candy for hundreds of people. I need them to age out! If I lived in an area where I'm lucky to get 20 trick or treaters I would be happy to see the teenagers. 3) Teen trick-or-treaters can be scary to moms home alone passing out candy. I have felt intimidated by people taller than me in scary costumes at my door. I have also felt uncomfortable leaving my 14 year old to pass out candy while I was out with her sister. I never refuse a teen trick or treater and I certainly welcome them if they're out with younger siblings. But in general I think they should move on to something else in high school. And I don't mean alcohol or drugs--I don't think trick or treating is the magic to keep them away from that path. ETA: And I would set the minimum age at 3. Edited October 8, 2017 by Ali in OR 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 In both towns we lived in teenagers were welcome to trick or treat. For the most part, they were really well behaved and they often had the most creative costumes (I still remember the kid with the big cardboard horseshoe magnet covered with little plush easter basket chick toys, he was a real "chick magnet" ha ha). However, last year the PTA decided to hold a 'trunk or treat" in the parking lot. (There had been no trouble on Halloween night or reason like that so I have no idea why they thought this was a good idea). Half the town went there instead! It was awful how such a wonderful community occasion, getting to know your neighbors and their kids, was ruined. So many of the traditional trick or treating houses were terribly disappointed by the low turnout! One of my kids decided he was done with trick or treating even though his teen friends went. The other is just on the cusp of doing so. It probably depends on what her friends do as she only likes two kinds of candy anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Not 2 yet...never has eaten candy and won't for some time...would be in bed too early to go anyway...and would be freaked out with so many people around him trick or treating. Could you do the Switch Witch thing? Where he goes trick or treating and then trades what he gets for something of interest to him, like a small toy? Around here, there are trick or treating opportunities in the day time, at strip malls or the zoo, plus people start around 5:00 or 6:00. It might not be what your older kid is imagining, but it could be a good compromise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 There's a cut off? :) In our area teens go all of the time and nobody withholds candy. My boys went until 16yo. I would happily give candy to teens. Same here. In fact, someone asked about this on our city Facebook page and I was pleasantly shocked that it was pretty unanimous that we would all rather see teens trick or treating than getting into mischief. No one here minds teens trick or treating :) SaveSave 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 To get candy at my house, you have to bob for an apple. Candy if you try; double candy (plus the apple you chomped) if you win. Any teenager game enough to stick their head in a tub of water deserves candy. The parents who try their luck get homemade soul cakes. And a towel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Both of mine chose to stop trick or treating before they turned 13. They enjoyed handing out candy to little kids more than going around asking for it themselves. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 (edited) I kind of feel like Ali in OR about it. BUT that is based on my experience - most older teens here dress up in hoodies and jeans (so original, eh?), are kinda rude, come around too late (after 9pm sometimes), and cause mischief. One year someone teepeed the trees and house of our sweet neighbor - an 86-year-old widow. She was beside herself till some of us went and took it all down for her. The miscreants were obviously people from outside the neighborhood because no one who knew the lady would do such a thing to her. The year before that I had put a lantern out on our steps because they are kinda dark - someone stole it. Of course I never said anything to older kids, but gave out candy with a smile. I was always happy on the rare occasion older teens showed up in costume though. Edited October 8, 2017 by marbel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMommy Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 My town has a cut-off...you have to be in the eighth grade or younger (there are exemptions for children with special needs) to go trick-or-treating. We don't do Halloween, so I don't really care, but I know a lot of people here get riled up about it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicJen Posted October 8, 2017 Author Share Posted October 8, 2017 My town has a cut-off...you have to be in the eighth grade or younger (there are exemptions for children with special needs) to go trick-or-treating. We don't do Halloween, so I don't really care, but I know a lot of people here get riled up about it. Wow that's interesting I haven't heard of a town having a cut-off age before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 My 15 y.o. will be going but with her younger siblings and in full costume Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicJen Posted October 8, 2017 Author Share Posted October 8, 2017 Well, my 15 year old is special needs (but you can't tell just by meeting him) and extrememly sweet and polite. He would just be going with one of us and not in a group of teens or anything like that. So, it sounds like the majority of people wouldn't mind a kid his age or height coming to their door to trick or treat as long as he made the effort to dress up etc. and was polite which he always is. Right now he thinks he isn't going so I may let him go depending on his behavior closer to Halloween, since it sounds like most people wouldn't find it a problem. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 We get groups of teens in our neighborhood, usually after the littles have come and gone. Anyone who comes to my door in a costume gets candy if they want it. :) The teens are so polite and like to tell me about their costumes. My boys (12, 14, 16) have friends come over to t-or-t every year. The guys have a great time, they are respectful and have great costumes, and have a candy-trading tradition with very complicated rules. They were horrified last year that I thought that probably they'd like to watch something besides the Great Pumpkin since they might feel too old. Apparently no one is too old for Charlie Brown. :D 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Yes, all the teens that have come here are polite and friendly, sometimes a bit sheepish. But never pushy or rude. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 My oldest went last year, at 14. She dressed up in full costume and went with the rest of us as a family. I'm so darned glad we encouraged her to go with us. Because twelve hours later, the cascade of drama began with DH getting hurt. I'm so very glad we have that happy family memory. (She's planning her costume for this year.) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 (edited) I used to be annoyed by teenage trick or treaters and to think that my kids would never do it. I would impose a cut-off at some not-yet determined age. I remember reading this article a few years ago: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marion-franck/what-you-need-to-know-about-6-foot-trick-or-treaters_b_6030982.html and thinking it sounded sweet and kind of gave me the other side of the story. Now as the Mom of an almost 14 year old who is tall and muscular and who looks older than he is...I’m ok if he wants to trick or treat. I feel like so much of his life now as a high schooler is being pushed to grow up. Taking on more responsibility, harder work, bigger worries. He’s doing a great job and occasionally I see little pockets of him just wanting to be a kid again. He stopped in the middle of doing his work the other day to make slime with his siblings. And had more fun than they did. I don’t know if he will go this year (probably depends on friends) but if he does, I hope people are nice to him. Edited October 8, 2017 by Alice 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 I used to be annoyed by teenage trick or treaters and to think that my kids would never do it. I would impose a cut-off at some not-yet determined age. I remember reading this article a few years ago: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marion-franck/what-you-need-to-know-about-6-foot-trick-or-treaters_b_6030982.html and thinking it sounded sweet and kind of gave me the other side of the story. Now as the Mom of an almost 14 year old who is tall and muscular and who looks older than he is...I’m ok if he wants to trick or treat. I feel like so much of his life now as a high schooler is being pushed to grow up. Taking on more responsibility, harder work, bigger worries. He’s doing a great job and occasionally I see little pockets of him just wanting to be a kid again. He stopped in the middle of doing his work the other day to make slime with his siblings. And had more fun than they did. I don’t know if he will go this year (probably depends on friends) but if he does, I hope people are nice to him. Yeah. I hear you there. My teen has especially had to take on a lot more this past year, but even without all of that, being 14-16 is so hard. Everyone expects that you're practically a young adult, so you get more responsibility and more work and less grace and everything. But you're not a young adult, not even close to that yet. You don't get the adult privileges that come with so much responsibility, and if you're the oldest of a large family, especially, there's often stuff the family can't do for a variety of reasons (expensive for so many, not feasible with little ones, whatever). Adults can buy candy if they want it. Little kids get to trick or treat. Teenagers like candy too, but they can't drive to buy it, and they may not even be able to make the money to buy it themselves. And there's not a lot to do in my area. I'd much rather my teenager be trick or treating, especially since she's always happy to go with us, than sit at home by herself or be drinking or something with friends. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceseeker Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 I am cutting my kids off at 13. I feel like we already got a lot of looks last year at 12 because one is on the tall side. We do see teens out trick or treating in our area, but usually nothing full costumes and sometimes being wild. I just feel like we are aging out around here. If she had younger siblings she would enjoy taking them but we don't. My daughter is more interested in costume parties and dances anyways, as long as I still get her candy. My son will be 12 and I told him he could go this year if he wants but he is on the fence. He is in such a hurry to be one of the big kids too. I am kind of sad that it is over but we had so many great years and it feels like it is time to transition to new teen traditions now. If my house wasn't so small I would start throwing a teen costume party every year or something. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 We actually stopped giving out candy on Halloween when our oldest dc were quite small, precisely because of the teen trick-or-treaters. Not that they were rude or anything - most were very polite - but because of the detailed gruesomeness of their costumes. The little kids dressed up like princesses and ghosts and wild animals and pirates, but the big kids had axes through their heads and bloody, dangling eyeballs and other creepy things I just didn't want to have in my brain or my dc's brains. I remember trick-or-treating as a teen and having a ton of fun, but we were never gory. It's changed a lot since then. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 I don't mind the older kids, but I do mind kids of any age coming after about 9pm (unless it falls on a Friday night, then I understand later). Typically it's the older ones that are late arrivals. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Last year we had people refusing to give my dd's friend {12, but looks about 16} candy, saying it was "for the kids". I was VERY irritated at that tbh. Her costume was understated though - a lot of bruises / etc. This year said 13yo doesn't want to go. I wonder why.... dislike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 In our community, kids start to feel too old around 12, but then suddenly feel like it's okay again around 15. :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 My 16 year old has a small group of similar age friends (Dude Friend is 16; Gal Friend is 18) to trick-or-treat with her and her little brothers. I have zero problem with teens -- or adults -- trick or treating. I live in a subdivision that really "gets into" Halloween, and we get a lot of trick or treaters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceyobu Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 I used to be annoyed with teenagers coming. Especially teenagers who don't dress up. Then, someone wiser than me pointed out that teenagers still love candy. They are, in a lot of ways, still kids. And, they feel pressure to look cool in front of their friends and not necessarily wear a dumb costume. Now that I have a 12 year old who sometimes wants to be 25 and sometimes wants to play at the park, I have a lot more sympathy for these big kids. If you ring my doorbell on Halloween, I'll give you candy. Heck, I sneak it out of the kids' buckets, and I am much too old for such silliness. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopskipjump Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Never too old!!! I love seeing teenagers at our door on Halloween. Some dress up, some don't ... and I don't even care (although I make a huge fuss out of the ones who are dressed up). They're young, having fun with friends, and enjoying the last scraps of their youth. Kudos to them. (We've only had "rude" teenagers once. I gave them each enormous handfuls of candy and one kid's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He hung back from his friends, looked over his shoulder, and said "Thank you very much, ma'am" and smiled at me before trotting off to his friends.) Teens are in an awkward spot in life - and for some, it's an even more precarious balance. I'll give the kids some candy and be perfectly happy about it. We get adult ToT'ers as well. THEY usually dress up full tilt. They also get lots of candy (now that I think about it, I think I ration the little bitty kids more than the big ones!). :laugh: Life's short and there really aren't enough occasions to get dressed up and go out somewhere and have fun. (and with all that said, my kids "aged" themselves out of ToT'ing when they each hit about 12/13. :( IF they happen to be home on Halloween night they'll dress up and hand out candy... They'll dress up for a Halloween/costume party, but not for ToT'ing) 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 I get a lump in my throat and sweaty eyes every year when this topic comes up because every year someone in my family has decided they've aged out. We're down to two from seven and it feels like just last year I had five or six ducklings trailing behind me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamakelly Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 I love having older teens come tot! No age limit!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Teens ToT here. I'm fine with it. We haven't had any problems with them being rowdy or obnoxious. Often they have younger siblings with them, but not always. Sometimes it's just a group of friends dressed up and having good, clean fun. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 When they stop dressing up and are just looking for handouts. Even a sheet can work for a ghost. I'm fine with any age, I just want them to do their share too for the holiday/fun aspect. We've had high school exchange students who have had a blast Trick or Treating for the first time. Only one family muttered, "Aren't you a little old for T&T?" We then stopped to explain that they were exchange students and we were introducing them to a typical American event. They not only apologized rather obviously feeling bad about what they had said, they gave the kids extra... ;) 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Older two don't anymore. They have been been going to a Halloween Party for a few years. Youngest still goes, but with friends now. He is 13 now, not sure about this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 I don't like seeing newborns, dogs, or lack of effort. Beyond that, I don't care. My oldest stopped gradually - he would play the games when the only thing available was a trunk-or-treat. Then it was that he would rather wait for the day after sales and grab a bag of his favorites, hanging out to watch movies at home while we took the little one (classic horror films). Then he started dressing up to go hang out with friends and hit up businesses around town for their Halloween specials. Now, do you want to talk minimum age? I dislike the Candy Grab. If you're driving your child around a neighborhood to maximize their candy, they're too young. If you're taking your oldest in a stroller, they're too young. Make them work for it. Our rule has always been you can have as much candy as you can get to yourself. The first year that's about 3 houses. By age 6 it's a good two blocks. Kids don't need more than they put the effort into. If you drive to a neighborhood, park. The rest of us don't want you inattentively almost mowing down a 4yo in a reflective costume. That 4yo's parents will not be amused, and after it happens twice in 20 minutes, for the rest of his trick or treat years they will act as his bodyguards and dress up in wicked cool costumes that include weaponry to come after you with. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 (edited) Sometime in high school my friends and I started doing halloween parties at our houses instead of trick or treating. It was usually less than 15 of us but we had a lot of fun overdosing on sugar, dressing up, playing games, listening to music and watching scary movies. It was a lot of fun because it was so social. Edited October 8, 2017 by Mama Geek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 I'm always in the minority when this question crops up, but in my house, the year you are 13 is the last year. My youngest is 12 and will not be 13 yet on Halloween, but he already told me he would rather have a party than ToT. He thinks ToT is "too juvenile" (his words). We always have to import to a neighborhood because we don't live in one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth86 Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Im being honest here. I adore seeing kids being childlike as long as possible. If they are comfortable trick or treating I would be happy to give out candy. I do hate seeing young girls wear *sexy* costumes. Yuck. I saw that a few time last year. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.