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Original poster

how old is too old for trick or treating

159 replies

estellacruella · 31/10/2022 14:09

My 11 year old son wants to go trick or treating tonight he loves halloween and has his costume all ready. if he does go this would be his last year as i feel he is getting too old for it. my husband thinks he is too old since he started high school in august
Do you think 11 is too old to go out round the doors or should it be ok for him too go tonight
TIA

OP posts:
comedycentral · 31/10/2022 14:11

11-year-olds are still children, I am more than happy for any child under 16 to knock on my door for treats on Halloween. If having harmless fun with friends is how they want to spend their evenings then I welcome it!

IntrovertedPenguin · 31/10/2022 14:12

11 is fine. I may raise my eyebrow to a 16 year old though! Grin

rainbowandglitter · 31/10/2022 14:13

Ds is 12 and going tonight with his cousin and friends who are all 12/13.

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falllakes · 31/10/2022 14:14

Kids wanting to be kids should be encouraged in my view.
I'm quite happy to dish out sweets to anyone who has made the effort to dress up and go guising.

lechatnoir · 31/10/2022 14:16

Ds 13 is going tonight but it will be his last year. Whilst he still looks and sounds young, some of his friends don't so they've been told to go early, be respectful and take off masks if anyone voices concern!

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 31/10/2022 14:17

My 14 year old and friends are going tonight.

GoodnightGentleBoris · 31/10/2022 14:18

I think any age is ok that is young enough to be accompanied by parents who can keep them in check and only go to houses with pumpkins in the window

i find groups of teenagers (even young teens like 13) going around a bit intimidating tbh and don’t think it’s appropriate for the houses or very safe for them to be knocking on doors unaccompanied

however I also really dislike trick or treating, I don’t think it’s a great message to send children that they should dress up and ask for sweets and if someone refuses they should do something horrible

Halloweenpumpkinfyi · 31/10/2022 14:19

My 12 and 14 year old will be home and were last year too … I’ve got them sweets and a Halloween movie .. they are just too tall to be going round knocking on strangers doors asking for sweets and are past the dressing up stage

SleepingStandingUp · 31/10/2022 14:19

I wouldn't want him going out alone, who's he put with? 12 the same age all in scary plastic masks or him and a sibling / mate etc in a more moderate costume?

TokyoSushi · 31/10/2022 14:19

Oh maybe I'm overly harsh then, it finishes here when you finish Primary!

NancyJoan · 31/10/2022 14:20

My cut off was the move to Year 7, so make this one a good one! I love all the mini ghosts knocking at 5pm, but the bigger, later kids who could get served in a pub should stay at home.

Original poster
estellacruella · 31/10/2022 14:21

GoodnightGentleBoris · 31/10/2022 14:18

I think any age is ok that is young enough to be accompanied by parents who can keep them in check and only go to houses with pumpkins in the window

i find groups of teenagers (even young teens like 13) going around a bit intimidating tbh and don’t think it’s appropriate for the houses or very safe for them to be knocking on doors unaccompanied

however I also really dislike trick or treating, I don’t think it’s a great message to send children that they should dress up and ask for sweets and if someone refuses they should do something horrible

i would be accompanying him around and he definitely wouldnt be doing anything horrible if refused sweets we know to only knock on doors in the street that are actively taking part. ie. decorated, pumpking outside.ect...

OP posts:
AmberGer · 31/10/2022 14:22

My son year 6 will be going for the last time tonight.

FuckabethFuckor · 31/10/2022 14:23

TokyoSushi · 31/10/2022 14:19

Oh maybe I'm overly harsh then, it finishes here when you finish Primary!

That was how it was when I was growing up. Teenagers trick-or-treating was unusual (or if it happened, it was the troublemakers who just wanted to egg people's cars and smash stuff).

PAFMO · 31/10/2022 14:25

No age is either too old or too young as long as they aren't in intimidating groups being nasty to people.

SallyWD · 31/10/2022 14:26

My daughter's 12 and looks about 17 as she's very tall. She's so excited to be going tonight. There's no way I'd stop her being a kid.

SunflowerSmith · 31/10/2022 14:28

I was going to say 10.

Last year there were a lot of groups of 5 or 6 young teens going around together and it was quite intimidating for the little ones plus they cleared out buckets of sweets left for people to take one.

I think they get to an age where it's more about messing around with your friends than the fun of getting dressed up and being given a sweet.

Original poster
estellacruella · 31/10/2022 14:28

for context he is a small 11 year old and i would be accompanying him round the street he knows if he goes this year its his last year. he doesnt look his age and would be very respectful and we only go to doors in our street that are actively taking part.

OP posts:
Saisong · 31/10/2022 14:29

My 13yo is going tonight with a school friend who has never been allowed to trick or treat before - his excitement is adorable. DS admitted dressing up at his age is a bit 'cringe' but he is willing to do it for his friend. They are just doing the local Halloween friendly streets, they're going at 7pm - hopefully to let the littlest have a decent stab first, but not too late to annoy anyone. They know the rules about pumpkins, being polite and only taking one sweet at a time.
This will be his last time though.

ShirleyPhallus · 31/10/2022 14:29

SallyWD · 31/10/2022 14:26

My daughter's 12 and looks about 17 as she's very tall. She's so excited to be going tonight. There's no way I'd stop her being a kid.

People who choose not to let their children trick or treating are not “stopping them being chikdren” 🙄

Jobsagoodun1 · 31/10/2022 14:29

We had two men trick or treat pre-COVID. It was pretty creepy and put me off opening the door for anyone.

Jobsagoodun1 · 31/10/2022 14:30

...anyone else that night.

Original poster
estellacruella · 31/10/2022 14:30

Jobsagoodun1 · 31/10/2022 14:29

We had two men trick or treat pre-COVID. It was pretty creepy and put me off opening the door for anyone.

omg!!! really thats out of line. why would 2 men be trick or treating thats not on! no wonder you dont want to participate. thats shocking

OP posts:
VladmirsPoutine · 31/10/2022 14:31

I think above 12 is pushing it tbh.

cctvrec · 31/10/2022 14:40

My daughter (A) text me today laughing that Halloween was being discussed in her PE class and the teens (high school second years) were talking about my house. "A's mum's hoose is always awfy guid! Are you's gan there the night?"

I love Halloween and all ages are welcome. I've been known to do special treat bags for my grown up friends taking their kids round that includes a wee a miniature bottle of gin.

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