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

[kath]

My 16-year-old daughter is very upset that I've told her she is too old to go trick-or-treating this year. When I was a kid, we stopped doing it sometime in junior high. I think my last year was probably 7th or 8th grade; 9th grade at the VERY latest. I know a see a fair number of older kids going door-to-door recently, and even some **adults**. ACK!! I loved Halloween as a kid, and still do, and trick-or-treating is a blast, but still - there ought to be a limit somewhere, no?

I let her go last year, even though I thought she was too old then, by rationalizing that she was still a 9th-grader then (she has a late summer birthday). But this year I've drawn the line. Am I a terrible witch of a mother?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. College.

I went all through HS and so did most of the kids I went to school with. I'm 23 now. My sister went trick-or-treating last year (her senior year in HS).

So, basically, yes you are a terrible witch of a mother.

[kath]

2. Oops, guess I need to rush off and find my pointy black hat then.

:-)

[Ariana Celeste]

3. I went last year

we went with our neighbor's little kid, and we dressed up and went door to door, too! And I'm 21! It was a fun time and we got to feel like little kids again.

[kath]

7. But did you hold out a bag (or pillowcase) and expect to be given candy

just like the little ones? That's what I have an issue with. Dressing up and having fun -- I'm all for it!

I'd love to be invited to a Halloween party. (and maybe we should host one for our daughters and their friend next year.) I've even thought of making a costume to wear to our wonderful local medieval fair that we go to each year.

[Ariana Celeste]

11. Hell yeah I did! :)

We walked home with a ton of candy last year. More than half the houses we went to, when my SO knocked on the door, they ran to get their husbands or wives because they thought my SO's costume was so funny. We also saw others our age and teens trick or treating. Maybe it's just my neighborhood, but no one seems to care. It's just a fun time is all, :7.

On edit I was in costume, too. ;)

[Left Is Write]

4. I don't care how old the trick-or-treaters are...

as long as they come in costume and get into the spirit of things.

[bleedingheart]

5. when you need a walker to go trick or treating...you are too old

otherwise...I give candy to all that come dressed for the holiday.

My neighbor up the street gives out small cups of beer to the fathers as they are walking their kids around....

[kath]

8. what about the older teenagers (or adults) who don't even bother to wear

a costume, but just want candy? Do you give them some?

I'm no scrooge - I usually give out *full-sized* candy bars, in a neighborhood where a fair number of people just give out one little piece of hard candy, if they even have their lights on at all. But to give a big hunk of candy to someone not even dressed up...

[bleedingheart]

10. yes I do...cuz I view them as victims of peer pressure...

they are caught at that "in between stage"...where they want to grow up...they think it is silly or are afraid of being made fun of if they wear costumes...but they still wanna get some candy and have fun...

plus they won't TP my house...

[kath]

12. It *is* hard being at that stage, Not a kid, yet not grown up yet either.

WIth my daughter, who has an *enormous* sweet tooth, I think a large part of it is not wanting to miss out on the candy. I've told her that I will reserve some candy for her tonight, and will go get some on sale for her tomorrow. Plus I came home from running an errand today with two Heath Bars for her - her favorite.

[Kali]

6. Never.

You can't ever be too old for trickrtreating. It is self limiting. Now beware, when I was that age I was probably just looking for any excuse to go hang out unsupervised with my friends (read: boys)

[johnnie]

9. 10 or 11

I don't pass out candy because there are so many "kids" that are 13-16 out there. WTF? Get a friggin job and buy some candy.

16? Hell, the only reason I would have gone to houses then was to get some candy to stop the munchies.

[Momgonepostal]

13. The last year I went was when I was 12

I went with another couple of 12 year olds, all tall for our age. People kept asking us how old we were and acted like we were lying. I decided the free candy wasn't worth the harrassment, so never went again.

I think it's up the the family, but IMO 16 is too old. I've never not given out candy to the older kids, though. We get so few of any age, so as long as they're in costume, it's OK with me.

[kath]

14. I also give out candy to everyone who comes by, but I kind of resent it

with the adults and older kids not in costume.

[sbj405]

15. For me, in middle school, it became uncool

Though I think I just had some TT'ers drive up, so apparently not everyone thinks that. :eyes:

[Whoa_Nelly]

16. My ex says, if they're too old to TorT

Then give them walnuts in the shell

I agree with you, kath. She's old enough to drive. She's too old to be a kid Trick or Treating door-to-door. At her age, a Halloween party would be more appropriate. She could plan one for next year.