Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
bewarethetides · 31/10/2022 17:42

I'd rather see teens trick or treating than causing other mischief.

I especially like teens taking out their younger siblings on the night; very nice of them.

SusanPerbCallMeSue · 31/10/2022 17:42

I don't mind as long as they take the millions of sweets I've bought so I don't scoff them all.

Having had big hairy lads that could have been mistaken for older teens before they were even teenagers I don't judge. As long as they are polite.

I've had one lot round so far. The sweets are calling to me. Hurry up trick or treaters!

LocalHobo · 31/10/2022 17:44

Jesus, such fun sponges here. I'm thrilled that my middle one is now old enough to go out without parental supervision...he's going round with a group of school friends while the parents hang out at one house with some adult beverages...adulthood is long, let them be kids as long as they can.

Agree with this. My DC stopped at 14, I felt a bit sorry for DS as he was over 6ft by then, so always had to dress up as Lurch as he towered over his chums.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Events & celebrations
TheHauntedPencilCase · 31/10/2022 17:45

I think under 16 is OK. I have just had a few early teens knocking. Tbh I don't care what age as long as they just take one thing. Only had 4 kids so far and I've started handing out the treats myself as everyone has taken a handful! Not sure when that became a thing, I bought the aldi lollies so won't last long if kids take more than 1!

Badhairday101 · 31/10/2022 17:47

I think teenagers are fine to go, it doesn’t bother me and nice that they’re having fun.

caringcarer · 31/10/2022 17:49

10 or 11. I give to little kids not teens.

giggly · 31/10/2022 17:52

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

Since when did kids do something horrible if a house refuses to open their door? Never heard of that at all.

excelledyourself · 31/10/2022 17:53

Think my DS last went out in 2018, at almost 14. Might even have been 2019, so almost 15. But he hadn't actually been out many years before that, just a couple at his grans when he was maybe 6/7 and I took him. Our own neighbourhood just wasn't that type.

I definitely went out at 14.

seaweedhead · 31/10/2022 17:56

I think teenagers are fine as long as they've made some effort to dress up and are polite.

Onesailwait · 31/10/2022 17:57

My 16yr old will be going with a big bunch of friends. I love to see the teens out having fun. They also make it fun for my younger kids making them jump. I buy full size candy bars for the teenagers👻

Abraxan · 31/10/2022 17:57

Any age if polite and say thank you - oh, and only take one sweet.

I hate it when it is large groups of teens, 13/14ish, being loud and boisterous, grabbing handfuls.

I do like it when it is the little ones though :D

Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 31/10/2022 17:58

I've had everything from toddlers to teenagers tonight so far! All very sweet and only taken one each despite encouragement! It's fun. And harmless.

Let them do it til they feel they're too old. Unless you know your teen is a ratbag. Then don't!

SirChenjins · 31/10/2022 17:59

Ours did their last Halloweens when they were 14 - that seems to be the norm around here

Lucyjess · 31/10/2022 18:01

Awww, of course he should go. Kids have had a pretty rotten time the last few years. Let him have some fun.

Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 31/10/2022 18:01

And nobody ever tricks. You knock if there's a pumpkin or decorations. If nobody answers they move on.

It's not "life lesson night". Its Halloween. Loosen your collars. 🤣

SirChenjins · 31/10/2022 18:03

giggly · 31/10/2022 17:52

Since when did kids do something horrible if a house refuses to open their door? Never heard of that at all.

Show quote history

That’s the trick part of trick or treat - en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating

Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 31/10/2022 18:07

SirChenjins · 31/10/2022 18:03

That’s the trick part of trick or treat - en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating

Show quote history

But nobody ever actually does it. In all the years of my childhood and with my own kids and just being alive, nobody has tricked round here. Ever. And I'm 44!

GoodnightGentleBoris · 31/10/2022 18:10

giggly · 31/10/2022 17:52

Since when did kids do something horrible if a house refuses to open their door? Never heard of that at all.

Show quote history

What do you think the “trick” part of trick or treat means?

Oblomov22 · 31/10/2022 18:11

Young teens are fine

CoffeeWithCheese · 31/10/2022 18:21

My 10 year old went out tonight with some of her friends, their older siblings on "big brother" duty and a bunch of the younger siblings - so a real mixed age group. She came back pretty sharpish cos it was a bit cold and wet so I think we're nearing the point it'll naturally die off in a year or so anyway for her - I'm not going to force the issue though since kids have lost the last couple of years of it for the pandemic and they have a collection of younger siblings with them.

Blueeyedgirl21 · 31/10/2022 18:26

I think up to about year 8 is fine
older is actually fine if not a massive gaggle in their trackies with no costume except a fake knife, swearing their heads off, and not saying thanks for the sweets like a few groups we have round here. if a child is even older but is obviously polite and in a costume especially if they’re with younger kids then it’s fine

pumpkinpink · 31/10/2022 18:31

I'm happy for any child under 16, as long as they are polite and just take one I can't see the harm. There are many years of adulthood ahead of them, let them enjoy something for as long as possible.

MysteryBelle · 31/10/2022 18:33

MingoDringo · 31/10/2022 17:34

My mum just had a couple with a baby who was asleep knock her door. They said trick or treat and said they didn't want sweets, just money. Ffs.

Awful!

Athenen0ctua · 31/10/2022 18:34

I'd say four to 13 is fine, 14 or older if in charge of young children.

familyissues12345 · 31/10/2022 18:35

As long as they are polite then I don't really mind. Unfortunately we've had some really rude ones rock up later in the evening which has put me off, so I tend to switch the lights off at about 7.30

Swipe left for the next trending thread