How old is too old for trick or treating?

[Clairenlea]

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

I never allowed my kids to go trick or treating because I don't like the concept of going begging and disturbing people. We did used to carve pumpkins and put them out, but stopped that when some thugs decided to kick them all to pieces and up end them on top of my husband's van.

We also would get sweets in, in case of any small children calling, but had to stop that too because it was all older kids and teenagers, who would greedily grab as much as they can, or demand money. Now we just turn off the lights and don't answer the door.

But the people who's doors are knocked are LITERALLY asking for it

I've never asked for it, never dressed my house in any way to signify I celebrate Halloween, and still get doorknocked by rude overgrown children who turn their nose up at whatever I manage to find to give them. By the looks of them, they don't need any more treats.

As a child in of the 80s we only ever knocked the doors of the people we knew - ie our friends parents and the odd older neighbour, who knew your friends, around 10-12 houses.

It really wasn't a thing to knock on strangers doors. And that's the bit I hate kids knocking on doors of people they don't know. It's so cheeky driving to go to a different area instead of making the effort in your own area.

So if a family carves pumpkins with their children and decorate the house for a party with your family and friends, does this 'invite' uninvited hoardes of kids to knock on their door asking for treats or money?

@SleepingStandingUp

How are they asking for it?!

I know plenty of people who get kids/teenagers knocking on their door who absolutely hate it. Including my elderly parents, and Immigrants from other countries who don't understand the concept and are upset and confused by it.

It's just not on to allow your kids to intrude on strangers and expect to be given things.

Especially car loads of kids being driven by their parents to a more 'affluent' community?!

Gosh how mean of you. I don’t mind what child knocks my door to be honest.
Maybe having hordes of teens spurning your sweetie offerings and demanding money might change your tune?

@Johnnysgirl

If I had that I wouldn’t decorate my house and wouldn’t get involved. I get that, but that’s not what I was referring too.

The point I was making was IF you’re going to decorate your house which will entice kids to knock I’m not going to begrudge any kid that isn’t strictly from my area.

@Dalaidramailama good for you if you don't mind giving sweets to circa 100 kids. The vast majority of whom you don't know.

We know their isn't anywhere near that number of children in the estate. So they must be kids getting dropped off from other areas.

It's really cheeky to be doing that. Decorate your own house for the local children.

As a child I never knocked doors I didn't know (or my friends didn't know) I really think it's cheeky to go round estates you don't know.

@Dinoteeth

Yeah I don’t mind to be honest. There’s definitely a few kids who I don’t recognise and I don’t find it cheeky! And it’s definitely not a 100 kids that i am opening my door too.

Well that may well be the difference. Once you've given out to that many kids then you can comment on how cheeky it is.

A lot of the kids in my estate are hitting secondary age so I'm sure the numbers decorating and taking part will drop. And so will the numbers who think that this estate is one for rich pickings.

And it’s definitely not a 100 kids that i am opening my door too.
This is clearly where the difference lies. Some people really are talking about that many.
You'd feel differently if you were too.

11 and starting senior school (although i hate trick or treating at any age)

My kids dress up and open the door to trick or treaters but the last 2 years have been terrified by the costumes the local teenagers are wearing, they go way over the top with fake blood and scary costumes, they also tend to only start knocking once the little ones have finished and at 8pm im done with halloween.

That said the teenagers round my mums way are different and dont go for the terrifying gory costumes and are out the same time as the little ones

Decorate your own house for the local children.

Or just decorate the house for yourself and your own family. Why does carving a pumpkin with your own family necessarily have to 'invite' strangers begging for sweets?

You decorate the outside is the sign that you are willing to take part in giving out sweets. Keep your pumpkin 🎃 inside or in your back garden if you don't.

But not taking part is a bit mean to the local kids and its really not in the spirit of Halloween esp if your kids are trick or treating / guising in the area and you don't take part.

@Dinoteeth @Johnnysgirl

You do know there’s no obligation to answer your door repeatedly?

Once our sweets run out I remove the lit pumpkin and no one knocks my door for the rest of the evening. I don’t have an endless supply.

Therefore I’m not going to get worked up over a child knocking my door from another area for a sweet. Shall I start questioning them beforehand on the street they live on? Some people are giving this far too much thought. One Halloween I was busy with work so I didn’t participate and my door did not knock once. It’s an optional activity in my area.

@Dalaidramailama
So if your supply is gone and you've switched of the lights.
What about the kids you know and are expecting, and whos parents will give to yours but haven't come round yet?

Thats why people end up giving to so many kids. I wouldn't turn a kid away but I hate the numbers of effectively strangers to rock up at my door.

@Dinoteeth

I don’t care. There’s usually a mixture of kids from my area and some from others. It’s no big deal.

Even worse was my then 2 year old tried to follow neighbours kids while I gave out sweets. I went out to grab him back in while a hoard of people I didn't know all walked towards my wide open front door. It was a really horrible feeling and left me feeling very vulnerable.

😂
You've gone from "I don't mind what kids knock on my door, you're all so mean!" to " I only answer the door to the first few kids, if they're not the ones I know and who's doors my kids are knocking on, tough shit".
🤣🤣🤣

@Johnnysgirl

No, not sure how you have came to that conclusion. I said withholding sweets based on what area the kid is from is mean. When my door knocks I open it…. Like I said I get a mixture of kids from my local area and some I don’t recognise. Once the sweets are gone they’re gone. It’s no big deal. Some of you are giving this WAY too much thought.

I haven’t gave it too much thought, because I’m not mean 😉.

Who said I withhold sweets?

I make up 100 or so bags but it doesn't mean I'm happy to give to kids I do know or even recognise. All the kids in the estate are at the same bus stop in the morning. I know roughly how many are in the estate. And it's nowhere near the 100 odd bags that get given out.

You obviously don't live in an area that's seen as rich pickings and have a much lower threshold on how many bags you give out.

@Dalaidramailama did you got to strangers doors as a kid or only doors you or your friends knew?

@Dinoteeth

Jesus you’re keeping tabs on those bags 😂.

What I did years ago is irrelevant as it’s 2022 not 1982. Times and traditions move forward.

I cannot get worked up about children knocking my door for sweets that aren’t necessarily from my area, in an activity I am happy to participate in.