How old is too old for trick-or-treating?

[Misty Cato]

I'm not talking about accompanying a young sibling or chaperoning. I mean getting together with a group of kids your age and trying to collect the loot. When do you look at a kid/adult and think "you're too old for this?"

 

[Leila]

I said 14-18, but I think it all depends on how willing you are to put the effort into a costume. If we got trick or treaters at all, I'd be unlikely to give anything to an older teen/early 20something unless they were in costume.

ETA: When my sister started trick or treating, I was in high school (she's almost 10 years younger). My parents made it clear to me and my older siblings that if we escorted the Rat that we were not to ask for/expect candy since we were doing the "adult" job. So it's ingrained in me to not give candy to escorts either.

 

[Nettio]

I voted high school age but I think even middle school is kind of pushing it. 6th grade was really the last time I went trick or treating for me. In 7th grade I went because we had just moved to a new neighborhood and my youngest sister was only in 2nd grade at the time so I went along with her. But I definitely felt like I was too old for the whole thing at that point.

My issue with the older kids, is at least in the neighborhood I grew up in, they're usually older boys who are just wanting to race through and get as much candy as possible. They're running around in the dark with all these little kids around and it's just dangerous. Or they sometimes scare the little kids and I just don't think that's right. I probably wouldn't be too bothered if a well-behaved and costumed highschooler came to the door but in my experience if they're well behaved, they also know they're too old to trick or treat.

 

[jannylynn]

My neighbor's adult child came to my house! He graduated from high school last year! WAY TOO OLD! He at least had a costume on. But sheesh! Go buy your own candy! And he asked if his girlfriend could use the bathroom when his house is two doors down.

And I had two come in no costumes just carrying a pillowcase. They were probably high school age.

I had better things to do on Halloween at that age.

 

[jannylynn]

oh, and I was thinking about this earlier tonight after three girls that were in jr. high came to my door. Really even junior high kids shouldn't be walking around alone in the dark these days without a chaparone. There's too many sick-o's out there!

 

[Traci Reed]

DH and I were just talking about this tonight and I think you're never too old. We were dressed up with the kids and having fun with them. Not that we went up to the doors for candy.

It makes me sad that no one around here does the Halloween thing anymore much and I think telling highschoolers they're too old for Halloween is part of it. We want our high schoolers to act "young" in certain ways like not being s*e*x*ually active, not drinking, no drugs, etc. but we tell them they're too old for other things like this. Very confusing I think and it makes them stuck in a weird spot in life. I say if they want to put a costume on and parade around the neighborhood then let them..pretty soon they really will be too old and will have their own kids to drag around the block

 

[Julie Billingsley]

All the high school kids that I saw were looking like tramps and hookers Very suggestive little bo peep outfits and such. given that, I'd say they are too old for trick-or-treating. I didn't even want my 6 year old to see them!

 

[Shawna Clingerman]

awww come on! don't be old boogity-woogity-s! I say that trickortreaters should be out there until they are 18!
seriously though, i'm with traci, i really think we should let um be kids as long as possible, and it can be a healthy way to spend halloween night (better than a lot of alternitives for sure!) I'm always happy when i see well behaved kids out there dressed up as middleschoolers/highschoolers, and I'm happy to give them our candy - we go out with the boys for the earlier part of the eve, so by the time we are home and handing out candy it is usually the older crew and seriously that is fine by me!

 

[alien21xx]

I agree with Traci. My younger sister, 14 years old (OK, that's still young, but she's a college coed already) still went trick or treating and I thought it was cute! I bought her Miss Muffet costume, and it was really a Victorian style little girl's dress. Next year, I'm hnding down some of my funky goth costumes for her to try on Halloween (provided she gains at least 20lbs to fill them out LOL)

That said, I really hate seeing teenaged kids in trampy costumes.

 

[MamaBee]

Oh, it annoys me to no end that high schoolers trick-treat... most of them don't even put any effort into a costume ... maybe put on heavier make-up! I live in the neighborhoods with 2 high schools... so I don't hand out candy, but will make up bags for the little ones around us and deliver them to their house...

 

[MissKim]

My 15 y.o. son would die of embarrassment at the suggestion he go trick or treating. No way.

My 13 y.o. dd took her 9 y.o. sister out. If someone offered her something, I'm pretty sure she took it and turned around and gave it to her sister. We didn't have many in our neighborhood tonight, so she said people were just throwing the candy in Chesney's bucket....

 

[Jennilyn]

I think I was 12-13 when I stopped doing it, so anything older than that is too old I believe.

 

[Stacey42]

I think as long as you put some effort into a costume you are entitled to candy, whether you are 6 or sixty. Just walking around with a blue wig on does not qualify, you need a whole outfit.

We do trunk or treat at the local high school and kids of all ages are there. It's really well organized with hundred of kids coming & everyone in line and the line so long you are highly unlikely to get more than one shot through the parking lot, maybe 2 if you are lucky. Some of the teens are part of the various mazes and activities, some are just hanging out, just about all of them are in costume. The people handing out candy only give it to people in costume. Some adults come home with a bag. It's a lot of fun

 

[ajf9597]

I don't think as many people would mind high schoolers trick or treating if they did put an effort into their costume. I saw 2 high school girls dressed as mario and luigi and you could tell they made their costumes and took the time to do it. Then there were others that just threw a wig on.

 

[DawnMarch]

I really don't have any problem with older kids trick-or-treating, so long as they behave themselves and don't scare the little ones.

 

[junebug]

DH and I were just talking about this tonight and I think you're never too old. We were dressed up with the kids and having fun with them. Not that we went up to the doors for candy.

It makes me sad that no one around here does the Halloween thing anymore much and I think telling highschoolers they're too old for Halloween is part of it. We want our high schoolers to act "young" in certain ways like not being s*e*x*ually active, not drinking, no drugs, etc. but we tell them they're too old for other things like this. Very confusing I think and it makes them stuck in a weird spot in life. I say if they want to put a costume on and parade around the neighborhood then let them..pretty soon they really will be too old and will have their own kids to drag around the block

very good point! if they are in costume and being respectful and not running around like idiots scaring the little kids and causing problems then i still think under 18 is fine. i went when i was a teenager. i dressed up last night for fun and saw a few other parents at the mall as well.

 

[lovely1m]

I agree with Julie and Traci. If they put in the effort to wear a costume, then they are never too old! Let them be kids while they can. I did see some suggestive outfits on kids that were way too young, but that an issue with the parents allowing things like that.

 

[emmasmommy]

I also agree with Traci and Julie. As long as you are enjoying yourself and not looking like a hoooker, I don't care!

 

[jessica31876]

well my daughter is 2 weeks off of being 18 and went this year but has not went since she turned 13. She said she wanted to go one last time because the last few years she either went to her friends halloween party or went to one her school held. So while I think beyond middle school is to old I also understand soemtimes the older kids are doing it as sorta a goodbye to childhood traditions like my daughter did this year.

 

[Sharon Kay]

Well we don't do trick or treating in our neighborhood...we don't know the houses we would go to...so how do you know that the treats aren't tampered with? Generally through middle school we went to the local strip mall (grocery store, quilting store, beauty salon) that sponsored trick or treating...they had a band playing and gave out hot cider to everyone...so it was all well lit and the treats should be safe.

Last year we went to my sister's house (out of town) and there were all ages TOT...if they are actually dressed up in costume...they got treats...there were a lot of kids but no running or anything...it was fun. My middle schooler and high schooler went out...because it was accepted in that area without any problem.

This year, however, we were at robotics competition on Halloween...we decided to stay the night in a hotel...so no TOT for us...we did go out to a steak place for dinner... and I thought to myself...boy they let their employees dress anyway they want! Then it dawned on me it was Halloween! lol Well our waiter wasn't dressed up...and a few others were...but it wasn't a costume lik I think of costumes...I was just thinking the guy was a little weird in his choice of clothing and accessories. lol

 

[mabyluna]

The last time that I went trick or treating was Senior year in High School. I was 17 at the time and I remember it was myself and 2 of my friends that got together to go. We dressed up as clowns and we had the FULL make up and outfit to match and just had a blast

I still remember that Halloween - every year when it comes to this time and I have some great memories. I think after high school you are too old to trick or treat - but not too old to dress up!

I do agree though, that a mask, or a wig does not equal a costume and you're just out to see how much candy you get. Those kids that obviously didn't really want to dress up get VERY little candy LOL

 

[newfiemountiewife]

I absolutely agree with Traci too. As long as they dress up, I don't care! And I know we had some older teens here last night, but they had on costumes. If they aren't scaring the little kids or beating them up and stealing their candy, I really don't care how old they are. You're only young once in your life! I think you should enjoy it while you can!

We also had teens out and about last night, with reflective vests on, keeping an eye on the trick or treaters. I really liked that.

I went for the last time when I was 13.

 

[Emmy]

As long as they are actually in a costume and not in a hoochie mama outfit I'm fine with high schoolers trick or treating. Better that than out drinking somewhere, right?

 

[d2vasquez]

lol I just saw this thread and do have a 13 year old girl who went out with a group of her friends last night and they had a blast. My dd was not going to go out originally but at the last minute decided she wanted "one more time out with her little sister." And in all honesty, watching her have to say good-bye to so many things because she is supposedly too old - I am ok with this. Her group were very respectful at the doors and always let the little ones go first. Finding a costume that I would was ok with and that her Dad would not have a heart attack was definitely not easy - they sooooooo don't make those for girls to go out trick or treating! Not sure what the intentions are but my kid is a kid and I prefer her not to look like anything else but a kid.

 

[krystalhartley]

I think it depends on your perspective. I am actually happy each year that Avery decides she wants to continue (she's 14). The past few years, it's been more about her contributing to happy memories for my nephew (he's 3), but she still goes full costume and sets a good example for her younger brother and nephew with good manners and such.

I'm in the "you're only a kid for so long" camp...plenty of time to be grown up and take the world on your shoulders later. Enjoy this time while you can.

 

[rach3975]

I voted that high school was too old, but it's really because of the costumes and behavior. I'd have no problem with a costumed and well behaved group of high schoolers, but I tend not to see that. We don't get too many TOTers, and most of the ones we get are probably 2-10 years old.

In the town I grew up in there wasn't much to do, so we TOTed most of the way through high school. In retrospect, we probably should have stopped earlier, but we were having fun and the alternative was a regular night at home doing homework.

 

[tuneskids]

as long as there is some creativity to the costumes, I don't care what age they are. Around here, you don't the older ones going around until the majority of the little ones are already home and getting ready for bed.