how old is too old to go trick or treating?

irmanator · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 03:43 PM

My feeling is that if they look to be in high school I think that they are too old..... I am not refering to ones escorting lil bro out, they are doing a service but the large groups of kids that are likely seniors????

disneysteve · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 04:13 PM

I'd say high school is the limit, so 18.

Joan.of.the.Arch · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 04:51 PM

Ah, I never knew until the internet that a lot of people think Halloween is only for very young children. That surprises me even though I remember how hurt I felt when, at age eleven, a number of people asked me, "Aren't you a little too old for this?" Next day at school, I listened to everyone tell what their Halloween had been like. Everyone went trick-or-treating, and no one else mentioned having heard suggestions that they were too old. So I thought I probably just looked older than 11, which I liked, but I was still hurt.

So, partly in reaction to my own experience ,I don't let myself feel grumpy about anyone's age. In fact, I quite like it when older kids --high school age!-- can still enjoy a little innocent trick-or-treating, most especially if they even make the effort to have half a costume. It is true, though that older kids are more likely to be rude or demanding, but that doesn't happen too often.

disneysteve · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

In fact, I quite like it when older kids --high school age!-- can still enjoy a little innocent trick-or-treating, most especially if they even make the effort to have half a costume.

Yes! I don't mind older kids coming around but I hate when they are just in regular street clothes, not even any hint of a costume. That doesn't deserve candy IMO.

MonkeyMama · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 06:33 PM

I'd vote 18. Full costume is nice, teens walking around just to get free candy isn't as fun. But the teens (that dress up) often have the best costumes.

I remember Trick or Treating until 16-ish.

ETA: we had friendly neighbors - they never cared. I don't remember if we went to a lot of stranger's houses in high school. But I wouldn't have gone out without a real costume either. Culturally, quite accepted in our neighborhood. I think in a neighborhood filled with young kids, it may be less accepted. Not the case for me - my neighborhood was filled with teens. Which maybe changes things a bit. Our neighborhood right now, is filled with wee ones. But I don't mind the teens, personally. They are polite and their costumes are a crack up.

disneysteve · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 06:44 PM

I got really ticked off tonight. The bell rang about 7:30. DD answered it and it was a group of kids her age (14) who had already come by earlier in the evening. I opened the door and held out the bowl and said, "Weren't you guys here already?" They said yes as two of the kids reached in and took a huge handful of candy, nearly emptying the bowl. Bad enough they were coming back for the 2nd time but being rude and greedy about it was totally over the edge, so I said that was enough and pulled the bowl back and shut the door. One of the other kids, who was talking on his cell phone, complained that he didn't get any, so I just told him to get his friends to share since they had taken so much and then I closed the house door. I waited a minute and then locked up and turned off the lights so nobody else would come by. I had had enough.

jasonnoguchi · #7 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 07:15 PM

130.

irmanator · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 07:55 PM

well we only had about 7 kids this year..... someone told me the flu was probably the reason....

Ok what do you think of telling them or putting a sign up --no costume =no candy

I guess i am just tired of kids that don't even try to dress up and are rude...

mommyof4 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 09:05 PM

Well, my 18 year old daughter went out this year, so I'd say....21!

We live in a small town, and there is not a lot for teens and young adults to do. I honestly don't have a problem with anyone of any age coming to trick or treat, as long as they are polite and friendly.

irmanator · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 09:14 PM

I guess i am outnumbered

maat55 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 09:32 PM

It must have been 12 for me. My neighbor across the street told me I was too old and to not come back next year.

zakity · #12 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 11:21 PM

My oldest is 13 and this is his last year. We had told him that last year was his last and then I found out that all his friends were going this year so we let him go one more year. Next year, he will have a choice of sitting at home or walking around with us.

cschin4 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 03:57 AM

I think 13 is about the limit. I really don't see the point of teenagers going around to get a candy bar. My 12 yr old didn't want to go this year so that seems to be the retirement age around here! I do think that communities should have something for the teens to do like a school Halloween dance, church event, etc where the older kids could get dressed up and have some fun as well.

moneybags · #14 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmanator

My feeling is that if they look to be in high school I think that they are too old..... I am not refering to ones escorting lil bro out, they are doing a service but the large groups of kids that are likely seniors????

I agree. When my daughter got to high school, I told her no more trick or treating.

Broken Arrow · #15 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:05 AM

This is only a personal opinion, but I'm more in the 13 years old cut-off category. After that, and I think it's more fun to just hang out with your friends. That's what I did growing up anyway.

JustDave · #16 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:10 AM

Once you get a cell phone, driver's license or facial hair, you're too old to be trick or treating.

FrugalFish · #17 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:22 AM

I'm of the mindset that trick or treating should stop around age 12 or 13.

We took DD (3) to a large social function, and then to a friend's house afterward. I was surprised at how many older kids were coming around to their place, so maybe that's the trend these days. When DH and I left our friend's house, we saw a couple of high school girls in very skimpy costumes being followed by the angriest looking Dad we'd ever seen, LOL. Lots of skimpy costumes on the under 18 crowd this year too...

disneysteve · #18 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDave

Once you get a cell phone, driver's license or facial hair, you're too old to be trick or treating.

You've just knocked out half the elementary school kids since cell phones generally start around 8 or 9 today. Our daughter got hers at 11.

creditcardfree · #19 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 08:41 AM

My daughter is 12. She wasn't planning to go out this year. Then she heard her friends were going! She went in a last minute costume. I would probably let her go another year if she wanted, but I do tend to think junior high/middle school is a good cut off.

Goldy1 · #20 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 09:15 AM

I am on a much stricter budget this year so I only gave one and sometimes 2 pieces per kid. Not a lot of people giving on my street. I thought it was unfortunate.

I thought I was ok with big kids coming but I didn't like it too much. The older kids all said thank you though. I hated it when groups of 10 kids came at once. IT made me feel like "why am I doing this?" lol

Kids at 13 can look 18 so you never know.

Chocolate candy was pricey this year so I bought licorice. I used to give out chez it packages from sam's but no one seemed to like that.