How old is too old for trick or treating?

[Clairenlea]

If there is a ‘too old’. Just your opinion please.

I personally said once they reached secondary school it wasn't really appropriate. I wouldn't mind if they made a proper effort with costumes etc but last year we had a group of lads in hoodies and purge masks ringing the video doorbell and staring into it, without knowing whose house it was. We didn't mind even though it was creepy but an elderly or vunerable person might have!

Once they hit double figures

I love Halloween but I think as soon as they are old enough to be going without parents then they are too old.

DS went with friends at 9, too old, seriously?

Anything past 10 is ridiculous! Although mine have never been trick or treating at 7 and 5...

Exactly
My children do not go out begging

I really don’t care. If you’re happy to get a mini Mars bar and a Hallowe’en pencil you’re welcome at ours.

Oh Jesus

‘Will someone just think of the poor elderly who didn’t have hallowe’en in their day/ can’t understand that they don’t have to open the door / and clearly all teenagers are scary and intimidating twats’

Any age can trick or treat. Kids. Teens. Adults. Pensioners. Whoever would like to. It’s fun, you don’t have to be involved in it if you don’t want to be.

Can everyone just calm down?

Trick or treating is great fun round here, the deal is if you have a pumpkin out you're happy to have trick or treaters. I've done it since we moved in even though I didn't have any kids at the time and all our visitors were in costume and very polite. I've already had a few neighbours ask if DSs is going this year and how cute he'll be in costume.

In my village if you don't want to be "pestered', you don't put out a pumpkin. A pumpkin shows that you are taking part and don't mind people knocking. It's a great evening and most people get involved. There are some amazing decorations and costumes!

We're in Scotland so it's guising. DD is 13 and she's in the cusp of being too old. I think it it hadn't been for Covid ruining the past couple of years I'd have said too old.

Although saying that last year we made up 150 bags as we always get a lot of guisers. 6.30 is unofficial start time. I came home at 6.40 to a driveway full of kids and DH had already given out 50 bags, so was panicking that we would run out.

It's such a lovely community event here,

And FFS. It is NOT begging if people are freely giving out sweets. If the house has no pumpkins or decorations you don't bother them.

@ouch321 how the hell am I entitled? You sound like a right misery guts. I was explaining how you can avoid the trick or treaters coming to your door if people are as miserable as you. If you don’t decorate your house, chances are you will not be bothered. Some people enjoy it, why don’t you leave others alone to enjoy it!

We get mostly quite little kids around here, all dressed up and excited. I did once have two thumping great boys knocking, just wearing masks, and it was the day before Halloween! When I said come back on the night, they said, ‘Can’t, we’re going to a party.’
Tough! They got nowt.

I don’t think anyone knocks around here unless there’s a pumpkin or some sort of decoration. I know there are several houses where they probably don’t even answer the door.

@Clairenlea

any age

You are never too old for Trick or Treating!

I love it and I am on the wrong side of 40.

That said, there are some rules:

• if you are 13+, you either need to find a child to supervise or have enough Halloween spirit to seem sweet and innocent enough to trick or treat.

If you can’t do that, then:

• Stay at home, put a pumpkin outside and have fun handing out treats to everyone else
• Host a Halloween costume party
• Attend a Halloween costume party

The rules have always been:

• only go to decorated houses!!!
• remember your manners, say please and thank you
• make an effort with your costume
• don’t be greedy

Primary school. Don’t open the door to squads of teens. They’re not cute and far too old for begging

The pumpkin code is strong here too so no one who doesn't want to take part is ever bothered. It's fun hunting for the houses taking part and sharing tips on where there's a "good" stop with other trick or treaters (a few houses make up party bags of treats for each child!).

We have a few houses go all out. One neighbour spent an evening dressed as a vampire in a home made coffin in his garden. Last year there was a house playing a recording in the garden of children singing ring a ring of roses and dry ice machine. Even I was a little spooked!!

I've been telling DS1 who is 12 he is to old this year and he is disappointed. Maybe I'll let him take his younger brother and share the sweets.

Aww I don’t mind teens coming to the door. Perhaps because I have two of my own! They’re still kids and just because they’re gangly and slightly awkward and bit louder doesn’t mean they don’t still get excited about things like Halloween.
Kids seem to follow the rules quite strictly around here too, no decorations - no knock.

But people don’t always stick to the “only if there is a pumpkin” rule. My Mum and her elderly neighbour have been intimidated by a group of older teens. She offered apples and crisps and was told, no, money, and at least £1 each. She gave them £5 and no longer opens the door to anyone when she is not expecting a visitor. Her neighbour was very upset and shaken by the visit.

I’m with you I hate begging strangers for sweets with children. Have done it twice. You only knock if they have a lit pumpkin outside/ other Halloween decorations though. We have a Halloween disco on the Friday, party on Saturday and spooky stories/crafts Sunday afternoon. I feel that’s enough.

Primary unless with younger siblings I'd say.

Also not after 6.30/7pm, we live in a large village and I remember the doorbell going off a few times whilst I was trying to get DD to bed.

Vile behaviour.

Oh lord there are some strange people aren't there!

However Maybe the ...never it's dreadul to disturb people begging for sweets crowd have been disturbed.
I hold my hands up the first time ever we did it ,i did disturb others.

I would never dream of doing that now, we only Knock at dressed up house's.

But buying sweets, dressing up the house then having no one knock is also dispiriting!

Op I think when older goes with young siblings it's fine. I personally don't like "gang's" of older teens dressed in slasher gear knocking!

But an older siblings with younger of course it's fine.

I can't wait to dresses up the house soon!