how old is too old for trick or treating

[estellacruella]

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

18 is probably the cut off for most people? Having said that, we get dozens of mid teens coming around and it makes my day, I'd rather them be doing something harmless like this than huffing bottle bags on the cricket field.

I think its ok but definitely the last year. The end of primary is def the norm here.

This is my sons last year, he's 10 and in year 6. High school kids are too old and teenagers in groups are scary to some.

I remember being bored one Halloween at my friends house so we dressed up for a bit of fun at about 15 years old and got some comments “aren’t you a bit old for trick or treating?” at some houses so I’m going to go with perhaps 12 or maybe 13 at most cut off to what is socially acceptable. I don’t think I’d bat an eye lid at a 12 or 13 year old trick or treating at my door to be honest.

Wow, I have a different opinion. I think 11 is totally fine and I think teenagers in high school are totally fine too. I think it’s sad kids are considered too old when really they’re still kids, very young. Children grow up too fast as it is, teens doing grown up things or things that are not for their best interest like going to clubs etc. Which has been happening for a long time. Even when I was a teen, I feel like I grew up too fast. Going on dates at 15, began working at 16 after school and had my own car that I paid down payment on, and the payments (my parents did sign loan but I paid) drove myself to school and did whatever I wanted after work, moved out at 17.

I understand the concern that teens who are tall may seem threatening because of the seemingly more dangerous world we live in, but it’s a shame.

My son is a young 17, I guess. No, he’s not trick or treating and hasn’t for a while, but I wouldn’t see anything wrong with him and his friends dressing up and just walking around our neighborhood enjoying the atmosphere of the houses decorated and the bustle of kids trick or treating, we gets lots of trick or treaters in our neighborhood. My teen’s school had a dress up haunted night and he had a great time as batman, a costume he made most of and worked on for several weeks. He hasn’t started dating yet, or driving. There is a girl he likes but they are just talking right now. He is not in a hurry to grow up like I was and I think that’s fine.

The cutoff around here is 8th grade, so about 14.

Don't be a fun sponge. 11 is still very young.

I think it's nice that's kids still want to do kid things rather than just being glued to phones and computers. There's so much pressure on kids to be more grown up these days. I'd say he's too old when he decides he is.

11 is still really young so fine.

11 is still little. He's absolutely fine to go.

I think once you're a teenager that's around the time to stop.

18!? That would be absolutely ridiculous. Far too old.

Any age if they have made an effort and are polite.

Any rudeness will be called out and they will be sent away with instructions to come back when they have found the good manners they seem to have lost on the way! I have actually had some come back a few minutes later having found those manners 😀

I'm not letting my 12 year old go even tho a few of his friends are . The sarky funny jokes they tell , silly boy humour . It's not cute and endearing . He's staying home much to his annoyance.

We always get lots of teens. Never thought of it as a problem.

My 15 year old is going tonight. She's taking her 11 year old sister and her 12 year old cousin.

They're all very polite and only go to decorated houses.

He is not anywhere close to too old. Let your child be a child. It’s harmless, innocent fun.

even teenagers should trick or treat as long as they are respectful of the younger kids.

Interesting to hear responses! My DC and pals have loved going trick-or-treating every year (first with us parents in tow, then from about 9 on their own) but this year, at age 13, they've decided they're too old. I'm kind of sad, it's the end of an era! But probably the right age to stop. Previous years I've found groups of strapping teens at my door a bit intimidating.

However my 13-year-old has loved carving the pumpkins and this year will be handing out the sweeties at the door!

Nope he's totally fine! He'll be ok for another couple of years if he doesn't go mob handed and minds his manners!

🎃 👻 🍭

Sorry didn't mean to quote your OP.

My 12 year old dd is going with her friend, my 15 year old dd and her friend.
they’re all really excited.

let your ds enjoy it, still kids

My 12 year old is going out with friends, he's said this is the last year of doing it though. It'll be Halloween night at ours next year for the kids

My 13 year old is going. I think this will be his last year. It will be him and 2 friends and they are going early. If he wants to dress up next year, I'll encourage him to take his younger brother (will be 10) with one of his brother's friends and not go up for sweets.
Part of me thinks if they are still young enough to get excited about dressing up and collecting sweets, they're young enough to still trick or treat. But another part thinks that a group of 16 year olds trick or treating is ridiculous.

Same here. I tried to get sugar free sweet (fellow diabetic) but alas couldn’t find any that were cheap. Kids during the pandemic lost two years of their lives. I think we are expecting too much of them in this moment of time. The world is still recovering.

I'm more than happy for teenagers to knock on mine, as long as they're polite. TBF the teens often have better manners than the little ones 🤣

not letting my 12 year old go even tho a few of his friends are . The sarky funny jokes they tell , silly boy humour . It's not cute and endearing . He's staying home much to his annoyance

How sad for him. Although not quite as sad as the way you talk about him with such disdain.

My 12 year old is going out with friends, locally, to trick or treat. He's excited about getting a big bag of sweets...because he's still a child. Not too old at all imo.

Aw no I'd love to see kids being kids! Don't care what age up to 18 welcome aslong as they're dressed up