Would you take just one DC trick or treating?

[Felixstowe33]

I have one DD, who is 11. She started secondary school in September and is struggling to find her friendship group - she's at a different school from most of her primary school friends and they seem to have completely fallen away.

She's gone trick or treating every year, usually with one other friend (who is now not in contact) and is desperate to go trick or treating again this year. I'm happy to take her but I just worry in case she runs into a group of her secondary school peers and is with her mum, or if people answering the door to trick or treaters will find it odd to see an older, single trick or treater?

So have you ever taken an older child trick or treating by themselves? Was it ok? I know these are my issues and she's just very excited about it all 👻

No problem at all. I'd more likely raise an eyebrow at a group of teens than a child with their mum. 11 is still little.

Could you put a mask on and dress up then if anyone sees her they won’t know who she is with?!

Thank you both! I know it is definitely my issue as I'm worried about her building friendships whereas she doesn't seem remotely bothered 🤣 so it's reassuring to hear it's ok - and I like the mask idea @ThePoshUns so may have to look into that!

Oh she's still so young I wouldn't worry at all. I love that she still wants to go with you. Both dress up and have a fab time xx

No problem at all, my DD and her friend (10 & 11, year 6) want to go trick and treating and I will be going with them to hover in the background, because I think they’re a bit young to be out alone after dark.
So wouldn’t think it was strange at all for one 11 year old to be with her mum

Mine is just turned 12.
Just started high school like yours.
I am absolutely taking her.
Although she is a bit below her age height so you could mistake her for an older primary school kid I guess.
But I still don't think first year of high school is too old.

I will reassess next year. (Although someone I know is letting their kid who's in 2nd year of high school go this year)

And yes it's just me and my child going.

Thank you all so much! I'm the first in my family/friendship group to have an 11 year old and I often find myself second guessing and overthinking things 😱 So I really appreciate the reassurance.

ive never given this a second thought, we get all age groups but they all have some sort of responsible adult who keeps slightly back but is definitely there.

I love the idea of you dressing up. Brilliant.

She's not so young she won't be aware of who else is out and I think your concern about her running into a group from her school when out on her own, but supervised by mum is valid.

Other kids won't be as forgiving as mums who think 11 is still young/little/basically still primary school.

I’d take her and probably dress up myself too!

When I’ve been in this position,
I’ve gone to town with decorating the outside of the house, got in the treats and let DD man the door and sort out all the trick or treaters that come round !!

Just wanted to update the thread - we split the evening between decorating our house and handing out sweets for the trick or treaters (where we saw loads of parents with one child) and then went out trick or treating ourselves. As we went a bit later we didn't run into anyone from school - and the bonus for DD was that every house she knocked at was desperate to get rid of their sweets by that point so she ended up with loads! Thank you all so much for your ideas and kind words, it meant a lot when I was panicking 😂

What time did you go out?

About 7, so not super late but apparently towards the end of trick or treating here!

Ah glad you both had a lovely evening.