How old is TOO old to go trick-or-treating?

[stubbornhubby]

that's it really, how old is too old?

24. Does that alter your plans for Sunday? My VHO is that nobody in the UK should be doing this. Bloody american imports.

if they dont need an adult with them ,i class it as too old.
my dh goes with ds whos 6 and ds 12,usually about 7ish ,
we set a time limit
i dont open the door to anyone after 8.30 .

When you'd really frighten people. Under 10 ok, over not ok.

olderones come round here and it's fine
I'd say over 15 too old

Most of the ones that come round to us areyoung children (say 4 up to 10) with their parents. We then get the odd group of teenagers who I don't mind if they're good natured, but on the whole, I would say by 14ish it is getting a bit much (and could be a bit intimidating for people alone/elderley/vulnerable I would have thought). I don't like anyone coming if they're not in costume though, they have to make an effort.

D

Puberty

Primary age - yes.

High school - no.

bloody hell it's like teenagers have no right to exist or have any fun

I'd say if they put in the effort to dress up then any age is ok

I would say 10 is the limit, maybe 11. If you want a more definitive cut off, I'd make the rule that once you're at secondary school, you're too old to go.

But I also think it's a pointless tradition that's creeping over here. Not to mention the fact that every other day of the year, we teach children not to speak to strangers but then one night of the year we encourage them to go up to random houses and ask for sweets? Doesn't sit right with me tbh.

DD is going with her friends this year, she is almost 13yo. BUT she is a young 13yo, and most of her friends have only turned 12yo in July or August. They are all dressing up and are really excited about it. Are they really too old for it? Should they be hanging around the local park getting drunk instead? I would rather they went trick-or-treating tbh.

I had a couple of groups of teenagers come around last year. They were all really giggly and I think they knew they were a bit old for it but I thought I'd let them have this one last year and it was quite late anyway so I gave them the last of my sweets.

Then another group of younger kids turned up just as the teenagers were leaving and I had nothing to give them so the teens turned over half their sweets to the younger kids. :)

I don't feel intimidated by the teens but there were a few gangs groups of unsupervised 10-11 year olds that were very cheeky/rude and stole one of my pumpkins

11/12 unless older child accompanying younger child.

Yeah 'creeping in' - it's not like I was doing it 30 years ago.

29

13 or 14 definitely getting too old. I had some six footers come to the door in masks a while ago and I was a bit wary tbh.

Primary/early high school, i'm getting excited already. We get quite a few, despite being semi rural, and all make an effort and are polite. Its a fun night and DS loves handing out the sweets and decorating the house.

12

I'd say 12 - but older is fine if they've put effort in.

We usually only get 4-8ish though.

They'd better not come knocking on my door. [hsmile]
dd at 14 wants to go with her friends but as she's never been in 14 years, she isn't starting now.

I do not know if there is a rule per say but as a foreigner, the first time my next door neighbour (adult that I did not recognise asat all) knocked on my door dressed as a skeleton I nearly fainted with fear

Have since got more familiar with the Halloween routine I do think arround here do stop trick or treating at high school age.

We went trick or treating over 30 years ago.

Mum used to carve turnips rather than pumpkins - that bit was traditional apparently.

It's not exactly new, basically.

Ummm, how old? As long as they've made an effort, I don't mind. I think it's funny that normally too-cool-for-school, swaggery teens will make arses of themselves for a few sweets.

As long as they are dressed up they are welcome at my door [hsmile]
The RSPCA turned up one year (not dressed up though but still accepted a sweet!) [hgrin]

Get plenty of teens around here, some have a token 'child' with them. I don't mind, DD loves to open the door to trick or treaters, she was very dissapointed last year when we only got a couple becuase we had been out too late in the afternoon.

I hate trick or treating. I will not take DD ever and I think anyone without an adult with them should not do it. Bigger children do nastier things and expect money I think. I'm glad I live where kids won't trick or treat.

bah humbug :o

BTW - Our local shops won't sell eggs or flour to anyone under the age of 18 at the moment.