Trick-or-treating age cutoff?

[SilverLace]

How old it too old to go trick-or-treating?

I think once you are out of elementary school you are too old to go. We are approaching that age and I think we should tell our kids where the cut off is and I'm curious what other families are doing.

[mooshersmama]

Growing up, I'm pretty sure we went through middle school, although I really can't remember for certain.

[Ornery]

I think last year will be it for my oldest DS(just turned 15). I think every region is different but typically around here it is once they hit high school. This year he will be helping at a few harvest carnivals and then hanging with a few friends watching scary movies.

[4evermom]

I think it depends on the neighborhood. Take a look at who comes to your house this year. Personally, I don't care if teenagers come around. I'm glad they are going door to door rather than mugging younger kids (which happened to my brothers when they were younger). I think kids can push any perceived age limits by taking around younger siblings. Also, they can just go to friends houses as they get older. I think 9th grade was the last year I went...

[NiteNicole]

I can't imagine discouraging a child who still wants to go. Here, we get a huge age range - from teeny babies who are asleep in mom's arms to teenagers. As long as everyone is polite, I am fine with it. Who doesn't like free candy?

[Mama Mko]

I'm also fine with teenagers going. I don't see the problem and am happy to give candy to anyone who knocks and says trick-or-treat.

[Chamomile Girl]

I went until I was 24 . But in fairness the town I lived in had a huge deal for Halloween, and this was not uncommon.\\

[Alyantavid]

I think it's up to the kid. My 8 year old waffled a bit on whether he wanted to go or not until we got to the Halloween store. I'd have no problem with a teenager dressed up trick or treating.

[DisplacedYooper]

I trick-or-treated until my freshman or sophomore year in high school, as did lots of kids in my town. After that, it was more fun to dress up and stay at home to hand out candy.

[Marissamom]

The last time I went Trick-Or-Treating I was 17. I would go with my two younger sisters. Mostly it was because I was in charge of taking them the last two years, and if I was going to go anyway, why not put on a costume and get candy. my youngest sister is 7 years younger than I am, and we could have passed as triplets. My mom's rule was that if you were going Trick-Or-Treating, you had to go with your sisters, and you had to wear a good costume. (my last year I was a black cat, with ears, tail, and a painted nose). and you had to be well behaved. my mom couldn't stand the teenagers who would go in their street clothes and were aggressive and rude.

[2xy]

Lots of teenagers TOT around here. I grew up on the other end of the country and we TOTed into high school, as well. I do recall TOTing for Unicef rather than for candy those last couple of years.

As long as kids aren't rude and actually fashion some sort of costume, I don't care how old they are.

[ChristyMarie]

I feel that as long as you are in costume you are good to go.

We have a lot of teenagers TOT in our neighborhood. They are all in costume and having fun.

[limabean]

Originally Posted by SilverLace

How old it too old to go trick-or-treating?

I think once you are out of elementary school you are too old to go. We are approaching that age and I think we should tell our kids where the cut off is and I'm curious what other families are doing.

That seems really young. Lots of elementary schools only go through 5th grade. My DS will only be 10 years old at the beginning of 6th grade -- I can't imagine telling a 10-year-old he's too old to go trick-or-treating.

[philomom]

I don't mind the teenagers if they are dressed up in costume and still ask nicely.


Now, when they wear all black and demand I dump my candy into their pillowcase.. I get annoyed.

[crunchy_mommy]

I went TOT'ing until I started high school??? I think??? Don't remember. I know I was one of the older ones but my friends & I loved going together. We did have a few people tell us they weren't giving us candy, we were too old for that -- it was slightly embarrassing (and ironic because I really was going just for fun, I didn't even eat the candy, I gave it away!) but most people were fine with it. So if they want to go, I'd let them, but I'd warn them that some people might not be OK with it (just so they're prepared for the occasional rude remark).

[eclipse]

My mom wanted me to stop when I hit 12 or 13. So I told her I did, and then went with friends . It was fun and we didn't cause trouble, and half the time I gave most of the candy away to little kids I thought were cute or saved it for my niece. We even thwarted a bag snatching one year.

There were a couple of time that I went with my niece, and a lot of people didn't give me candy. I was a very, um, mature looking young tean ager, and I think people though I was her mom or something. But I was never rude enough to say "hey! I want candy, too!"

[hermionesmum]

I'm in the UK where trick or treating is still fairly novel, especially to our older people. I've warned my almost nine year old this will be her last year, unless she's taking the little ones round.

[laura-belle]

Originally Posted by philomom

I don't mind the teenagers if they are dressed up in costume and still ask nicely.

Now, when they wear all black and demand I dump my candy into their pillowcase.. I get annoyed.

I am 13 years older than my youngest sibling and she really preferred to have someone along with her; as a result of this, I trick-or-treated well into my 20s. (I didn't go all the way up to the door, but about half of the people would ask if I wanted candy--probably because I was always in full costume of some sort.)

[Kristine233]

My oldest is 11 and wants to go, but only for a little bit. She feels like she's too old. So this will probably be her last year. I think junior high is pushing it (at least in our area). BUT if they take younger kids, act respectfully and aren't demanding I have no problem giving them treats. If they are rude and demanding I tell them to move along.

Really, once they hit 12 its almost more about just hanging out with friends and "doing something". Next year I'll probably suggest a halloween party sleepover for DD and her friends instead of TOTing.

[Evergreen]

I went until my freshman year of highschool but I was the oldest in our little group that year (my brother was two years younger and my best friend was a year younger) that year it just didn't feel right anymore so I stopped after.

I don't have any problems with teens ToTing now that I am an adult though, especially if they're in costume or helping younger siblings/neighbors.