How old is too old for trick or treating?

[Scotishscotus292]

I think once you're in secondary school you're too old.

I’ve only once had much bigger kids knocking - two hulking great boys of at least 16. Not dressed up, just masks - and it wasn’t even Halloween!

I told them to come back on the day.

‘But we’re going to a party on Halloween!’
‘Tough!’

The thing is for those who’s children went out 5-10 years ago it’s different now because it’s got so much bigger in the last 5 years.
Round here lots of houses really go to an effort and want lots of kids coming. They dress their whole house up inside and out like it’s Christmas and have Halloween displays in the front garden.
Some houses have music and animatronics and light shows.
Some have huge banners and crime scene tape and whole trees and buses decorated with cobwebs
Some have kids or adults fully dressed up outside and one house has kids who stay in character (ie the clown from it with a helium balloon) standing outside all evening!
So year 8 kids don’t look strange and in fact are actively encouraged!
It’s a sight just to go and view them

When they're old enough to go without parents they're too old to trick or treat, unless they're with younger siblings.

I'm a fit and healthy 20-something but I find a group of masked teenagers knocking my door very intimidating so I can't imagine how more vulnerable people feel.

In our village Halloween has always been a big thing. All of the houses take part and are decorated - including the elderly residents. DD1 who is in yr7 will be going with friends and DD2 will be going with DH and a group of friends. In reality what will happen is the younger kids will go one way wound the village and the older kids will go the other way round. It’s lovely to see and I think DD1 will still tag along when she’s too ‘old’ to go with friends.

DS 14 doesn't do it because he doesn't want to, but he could if he wanted to. I think when they don't want to.

I think as long as they want to do it, and know the rules, then they should be able to.

People complain all the time about teenagers. This is harmless fun, let them have fun ffs.

I guess it depends where you live. My parents are in their 70s and still dress up and give out candy. I still trick or treat, and I'm in my 40s though I do have kids at home who come with me.

You're never too old in my book.

My kids didn’t want to dress up anymore once they were about 9/10. They still liked the younger kids coming to the door and handing out sweets though.
Once they didn’t want to do it anymore we used to have party food at home and watch a film which they enjoyed.
Now they’re teens, they’re not interested so it’s just me and my partner answering the door to the little kids. Our dogs go crazy everytime the door goes so I’m always tempted to not get involved, but I think of all the people that gave our kids sweets when they were younger and feel like we need to take our turn. 😂 I love seeing the kids all dressed up and excited. 🎃

Why does their need to be a limit on doing something fun? I much prefer kids to be kids a bit longer and do innocent activities like this.

My eldest is 15 and has special needs. He would get upset every year when people made comments about his age.

Teenage boys can get a very negative reaction, showing up on people’s doorsteps at night. Here in S London.

My 15 year old is going with a group of friends and the dressing up has taken a lot of planning. They are all going as Mario characters and we are currently constructing a Bowser outfit.

We live in a village and they are nice polite kids so no-one minds what age trick or treaters are.

My eldest is 13 and she adores halloween, it's her favourite day of the year. We talked about trick or treating and she was devastated she might have to stop, so we've agreed she can go. She has a Wednesday Addams costume which suits her to a tee and she's very polite and not in the least bit intimidating.

Round where I live, there is a very active trick-or-treating ‘scene’ as it were. The tacitly agreed setup seems to be that between about 6-7pm, it’s the younger primary school kids with a parent in tow. (A few keenies might start showing up from about 5.30 onwards especially if they have tiny kids). Towards the end of the 6-7 hour, you might see groups of older primary kids on their own. After 7pm, groups of teens up to about age 14 will come round and hoover up any remaining sweets. It’s a very efficient system!

That said, I gave my 12yo the option this year of going or not, seeing as it was cancelled last year and he actually missed 2019 as well because we were away. But he declined. I think it’s the dressing up which he feels embarrassed by now, although he absolutely loved it when he was younger. He’s happy to go on a Halloween trail around the village where his dad lives and just look at people’s decorations though.

DSD last went second year of secondary school when she realised she was far older than everyone else and her friends were no longer interested. Now she dresses up and gives out the sweets when kids knock at the door.

In our estate secondary school kids escorting younger kids is acceptable but taking sweets/trick or treating themselves is frowned upon (due to the large numbers of kids that come it costs a fortune in sweets for the younger kids as it is).

If a 19 year old man knocked on my door as per pp, dressed up ‘trick or treating’, to be honest I’d feel quite uncomfortable. I feel that’s inappropriate.

Round here they go all through secondary school. As long as they are polite and respectful you can come to mine any age! I decorate every year and all sorts of people come to the door.

No age is too old!

Mh towns great. Secondary kids taking primary kids, whole families including grandparents out and about.

Sometimes groups of teens dressed up. There's a well known group that "trick or treat" from local secondary school each year but they actually collect foods for the food bank that runs from the community centre attached to their school.

I find people are so suspicious nowadays of everyone. Most people just want innocent fun!

I remember when I was about 11 I went trick or treating and at a few houses I was refused sweets because I was too old. I never bothered going again!

My 12 year old wants to do it but won’t dress up so I’ve said no!👻

11/12 years old

11 and in secondary school I don’t think anyone older should be going unless they are with younger siblings

I don't think it's appropriate for anyone over 11 or 12, but fine for an older teenager escorting small children.

12/13. I'd be at a 19 year old man knocking for sweets, intimidating and ridiculous.

No age limit, I don't care if they're 9, 19 or 90 🎃

I'm happy to see teens if they're dressed up