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Is there an age limit on Trick or Treating?

17 years ago

No, I'm not gonna dress up. Two people have told me that if you're over 11-12 you're not supposed to TOT. Who said this, the TOT police? I just wondered if anyone has heard anything similar. Maybe it's my crazy sister who has bats in her head and I'm sorta serious about the sister.

Carla

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Comments (11)

debrazone9socal
17 years ago
I wear a costume every Halloween that I get the opportunity, including this year. Always have, always will. I do not TOT, because a) I don't need any candy and b) it's a kid's opportunity, not an adult's opportunity.

I wear the costume if I'm taking my daughter out, and also for answering the door purposes.

The last time I actually went around trick or treating and got candy I was in my mid-teens, but I recall feeling a bit too old for it. We get lots and lots of kids at our house, and the older ones are generally in their young teens, maybe 13 or 14, tops. But if a kid who looked old enough to drive came by, I'd still give them a piece of candy. It's hard to say goodbye to some parts of childhood.

As for your sister, join the crowd!! LOL!!!
morz8 - Washington Coast
17 years ago
I don't think there is any real rule, seems to me that most children start to lose interest about the 'tween' years...around 12 to 13. (I can remember going with my girlfriends in 7th grade, but it was more to be out and be silly than really collecting candy)

We have somewhere around 125 children at the door unless it's really stormy - then it's fewer. Some are so cute, I love the really little ones who don't know what Halloween is about, they just know they're having fun and being treated to stuff their Moms don't give them. And I try to keep a supply of M&M's for those, just can't bring myself to hand a candy bar to a 2 yr old.

And each year there is the group or two of high school aged boys (sometimes girls but usually boys)...then DH grumbles that they are taller than him and need a shave, and he usually gives them a bad time which they don't take seriously.
DH LOVES Halloween and really enjoys the kids...making up for a 'deprived' childhood I think, being one of 10 and raised on a farm, there weren't neighbors close enough for trick or treating.
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Not too sure about this zep, but here goes. Hope I'm not giving away any family secrets. 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How old do you think is too old to trick or treat?
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Comments (18)
This year was sort of sad for us, and it seems like the economy has taken the fun out of Halloween too. My daughter's neighborhood is one of the only subdivisions in a semi rural area. Until recent years, they'd get a good 800 - 1000 kids easy and everyone was dressed in cool cosutmes. Several houses had parties and almost every house would give out candy. We like to go every year to help and enjoy the experience, but last year we noticed a sharp decline in traffic and only got about 600 people. This year we were lucky to get even half of that. Alot of the homes weren't participating at all, no parties, a lot of the teens weren't dressed and they were so rude (no thank you, no response when my daughter would wish them happy halloween, nothing). There were families of young kids not dressed too which I've never seen before. It was obvious some of them didn't seem comfortable trick or treating without a costume but the parents waiting at the end of the drive didn't seem to mind. I know the economy is bad, but couldn't they have shown some interest in their kids and come up with something for them to wear? There were other kids dressed in costumes that were made from stuff the parents already had and they looked great. And the kids looked so happy and excited. I just felt bad that the kids without costumes were missing out on that part of the experience. Personally, I think that trick or treating is for all ages young and old, but manners should be manditory and costumes are supposed to be part of the fun.
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Trick or treating question: when
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Comments (42)
Its Sunday here. It would be hard to change everything. If it were me with only a few kids every year, I would just put a bowl out on the porch. It would be sad for those few if everyone turned their lights off. I don't mind teenagers coming at all! Why can't they have fun too? 12 and under is ridiculous IMO. My thoughts-the towns that change it and announce it thru the schools are not getting the word out to everyone. Not everyone has kids at home. Why change it at all? Trick or treating winds down by 9 (I stay 'open' till 10) and people can bring their kids home earlier if they want them to bed earlier. One thing that really bugs me to death-the people carting kids around in cars from house to house. No problem at all if a child in the group is handicapped or if their is a great distance between houses, but here in a subdivision it is LAZY, GREEDY, and UNSAFE (extra cars on the road).
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Trick or Treat! or not?
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Comments (63)
If students can go to school, if they can play at the play ground, if they can ride their bikes around their neighborhoods they can SAFELY go trick or treating. Bagging treats and putting them at the end of the driveway adds another layer of contact which some are concerned about. That is illogical!! If you FEAR the virus, cannot wrap your mind around the SCIENCE, if you think it is going to jump out of a kid through their covid mask through their costume onto you has you toss a piece of candy in their outstretched arms into their bag then LOCK YOUR DOOR AND TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS. It's as easy as that. FEAR rules you--I get that so just live it and leave the kids who will be safe and the people who will give out candy safely to their fun. The advise is both masked, 3-6ft away, not longer than 10 minutes.
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tandaina
17 years ago
Bah, we went out until we graduated high school. There is no "rule". I'm being a grinch this year though and not handing out candy. We get literally HUNDREDS of kids (I live in town). I can spend $100 on candy and still run out half way through. A few kids I wouldn't mind but they bus the little monsters in. The lights stay off this year. *sigh* I'm such a humbug.
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
17 years ago
I still get dressed up and go out. Instead of a bag, I bring an empty 6-pack carton.
diane_nj 6b/7a
17 years ago
People throw candy at me because I'm scary all of the time...
AnneCecilia z5 MI
17 years ago
I remember being 13 and going out with a friend "one last time." We were both tall girls, 5'8" by that age and I remember being mortified by the person who answered the door and told us we were "too old to be out trickortreating, now shoo!" That did it for me. I went home in spite of my friend's pleading.

Nowadays I think as long as the kid is costumed and having fun (and being polite about it) I don't care if they're 8 or 18. Of course, we don't get mobs of kids here "on the hill" - our record was 26 about 10 years back. Last year there were 8.

Anne
sammy zone 7 Tulsa
17 years ago
We get far too many kids. We live in a housing addition in the suburbs, and kids from the city come out here all the time.

If someone is over about 10 or 12, dresses up, and wants candy, I give it to him/her, but wonder why they would do something designed for the kids.

This is a big time of year for vandalism, so I don't want to make the kids mad. Also my 16 year old students who talk about TOT are often up to no good. I try to avoid the door so they won't know where I live.

The people in our neighborhood get together and walk as a group. Many of the parents and teenagers dress up, and supervise the younger kids. This is a lot of fun, and I think it is great. What I don't like are car loads of kids that wear a mask, and come to the door wanting candy. I know they are ready to vandalize if they get mad. If I had an older child going out after the time that the little kids were out, I would be afraid that he/she would be falsely accused of keying a car, TP a house, or destroying decorations or flowers.

Just my opinion!

Sammy
mjsee
17 years ago
Hey--I don't believe in an age limit for trick-or-treating. BUT--you've got to wear a costume. And a good one, at that.

Both my boys went trick or treating Freshman year of HS...ELder Son went as a Spanish Inquisitor (NO ONE expects the Spanish Inquisition!) Can't remember what The Boy's last trick-or-treating costume was. He was Alice in Wonderland on Franklin Street last year. This year he's going as Hermes--and Elder Son is going to be The Dread Pirate Roberts from "The Princess Bride."

melanie
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
17 years ago
"Cardinal Biggles, read the charges." Oh Melanie, its great to know others enjoy such sick humor. I might just put you in the comfy chair and poke you with fluffy pillows.

It has finally reached the point where teenagers drive into your driveway with no costume, not even a mask. I saw people complaining about that on the news this morning. Yup, many are afraid to turn them away.
tandaina
17 years ago
I didn't hand out ANY candy this year. I live in town, in the only town/city of any size in the county in a nice quiet little neighborhood. So where do you think ALL the kids in the whole dang county get dropped off to go ToTing? You guessed it.

It gets worse every year. Last year I handed out $100 worth of candy and still ran out half way through. You literally just stand at the door and the kids file by in an assembly line. Yes the little ones are cute, even the bigger ones in costume are cute but I'm sorry, I'm not a candy factory.

So I left the lights off, and curled up in front of the computer with a pizza and some fall candles burning and skipped the whole mess this year. How refreshing. I noticed a number of houses on my street were dark as well, I'm wondering if I'm not the only person sick and tired of the hordes. If the hordes catch on and leave I'll go back to it. If it were just our neighborhood kids I wouldn't mind.
iowa_jade
17 years ago
I had one uncostumed 50+ year old drunk who was escorting a group of teenagers. He talked in a high squeeky voice. I gave him a candy bar & a laugh.

We had a very nice holloween. Two families who had moved from our neighborhood, brought their kids over to cover our area. Everyone was outside and we had a grand party. It was good to see how much all the kids had grown. The adults had lost weight, looking healthy, and were doing well in their jobs. They missed DW but she had to teach her class.

It was a fun evening. I hope yours was enjoyable also.

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