How old is too old for trick or treating on Halloween?
Categories: Teens & tweens, Fun & activities, Holidays, Life & style, Mommy wars, That's entertainment
My father, who's birthday is on Halloween (lucky guy!) would tell you that you're really never too old to celebrate Halloween. His love for the holiday is probably the reason Halloween is my favorite day of the year. That said, we've all opened our doors to hand out candy to someone who was, in our opinion, a little too old to be hitting up the neighbors for candy. Costumes are one thing--having seen the magic and creativity of many a Halloween parade (including the likes of the famous ones in New Orleans and New York City), I can attest that you're never too old to wear a costume, parade around and have a general good time. Once you hit a certain age, the candy is generally replaced by cocktails at such functions, but what about that in between time?
I've heard people say they've turned away kids who they thought were too old for trick or treating. I've also heard people say that it's the parents' responsibility to not only take the kids trick or treating but to tell them at what age to stop. I remember dressing up and hitting the neighborhood myself when I was in middle school and getting the hairy eyeball from a parent or too. My friend, who went as a baby, actually got on her knees after pushing the doorbell and wore pigtails to appear younger. I realized at that point, once you spend any period of time thinking about how to appear younger, you need to be on the other side of the candy bowl.
What do you think? Is it more important for the parents to tell the kid when to stop trick or treating, or should it be a decision the child makes on her own? Isn't Halloween really all about rebellion, anyway? If so, then telling a child he can't go trick or treating might just get him more inclined to do so without your blessing!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mary 9-30-2008 @ 5:29PM
I think you should probably proof-read your post a little better. And high school age is too old for trick-or-treating. So anyone older than 14 should not be going.
Reply
crazygurl540 9-30-2008 @ 7:35PM
Are you insane?? I'm sorry but where I'm from (suburban S FL), everyone trick or treats through high school as long as halloween is on a weekday. If it's on a weekend then the parties take precedent but most high schoolers still do their own street for 'dessert'.
Even after moving to Orlando, the majority of middle schoolers trick or treat along with a good lot of 9th and 10th graders. It depends on what age parents let their kids attend Halloween Horror Nights at Universal or whether or not they will pay the extra money for the kids to go on halloween instead of just the 15 nights through October.
Actually, I know a lot of college freshmen and sophomore girls who still trick or treat every year. Would you rather the middle and high schoolers be at a party getting drunk and high?
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Baron 10-01-2008 @ 9:44AM
Grammar nazi's are everywhere; it is such a shame they feel the need to be so condescending.
@crazygurl540, I think it all depends on where you live that dictates what age people stop trick or treating. I know where I grew up and where I live now, 5th or 6th grade was where it stopped. I can understand that if you lived in a community that always went out when they were older, it would be a fun tradition to have. Also, just b/c someone isn't out trick or treating, doesn't meant they need to be at a party drinking and getting high. Again, that is all about how and where you grew up.
The oldest trick or treaters I had were some high school kids. They didn't have any costumes. The oldest/leader of the group just had a baseball bat and simply said "I'm Barry Bonds" before handing out his sack. I can only imagine that they were on the trick side if they didn't get candy, I didn't want my headlights bashed out.
I personally feel that you just do whatever the rest of the people in the community do. If you live in a place like the earlier commenter, then go on through high school, but if you live in a place like me, you stop (unless you are thugs with baseball bats) when you are in 5th or 6th grade.
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elsoldenoche 10-01-2008 @ 3:12PM
Psh. I was trick or treating well until I was about 18 years old.
Its fun and I still got candy. I even stopped and talked to the people who gave me a stink eye. I remember one year when I was about 17 a woman who was not going to give me candy went into her house and came out with a pin for my costume (I was a hippie) instead after I talked to her. Its all about having fun. I dont think there should ever be an age limit on such a thing.
I know whenever I pass out candy I always give bigger handfulls to the older kids. Props to them for still knowing how to have fun and not trying to rush into growing up.
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Pavlina 10-01-2008 @ 8:27PM
Are you kidding? You'll refuse a tiny piece of candy to someone who you think is too old for rick or treating? Come on, lighten up. I have the few high schoolers come by, I gladly hand over the obligatory piece of candy and tell them to stay safe.
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Anna 10-24-2008 @ 10:02PM
Heck I'm 21 and I do it, if they think it's wrong so be it.