What age should be the cutoff for trick or treating?

Question

If you can legally drive, aren't you a bit too old?

Answer 1

NEVER! If you suddenly feel like you are too old one year, find a child to "take trick-or-treating". Luckily, I have one of my own.

Answer 2

I used to say that the cutoff for trick-or-treating should be when you're old enough to walk around the neighborhood with your own kids, you should stop trick-or-treating. Besides, you can always snag the candy they don't like. (My son doesn't like Butterfingers, Baby Ruth, Mounds or Almond Joy, and those are my favorites, so we have a great time sorting his haul on November 1.)

Last night, however, I had the unhappiest Hallowe'en I've had in years, and I think it has a bearing on your question. Since 2000, my son and I have trick-or-treated with my oldest friend and his daughter -- they're two years apart and even though they're now 10 and 12, they still get along great, like cousins. We have a GREAT time every Hallowe'en, the kids hitting all the cool-looking houses in the neighborhood and then the four of us going back to my house (which we always decorate in SUPER Hallowe'en mode -- this year we had thirteen glowing skeletons, a graveyard, and the works), where the kids have candy and the dads have a glass of something more age-appropriate.

Well, my friend was out of town last night, so his wife came along with us in his place. And she was compulsive in the extreme -- rushed the kids from house to house, complained about what slugs they were, talked about how "when I was a kid I always..." and in general, gave nobody a rest.

So I think the answer doesn't have anything to do with age. The answer is, when you are too big a stuffed-shirt to have FUN going trick-or-treating -- when it becomes an activity you pursue to have a goal rather than an activity you pursue because it's fun -- when you feel compelled to drive the other people to follow YOUR strictures and YOUR perceptions about how it should go rather than letting them enjoy themselves -- then you should stay home and let the people who DO know how to have a good time go out and do what they enjoy.

And... I'm just grumpy enough from last night to suggest that if you're asking this question, you should probably stay home.

Answer 3

After reading other responses and truly thinking about it some more, I feel there is no age limit to having fun and trick or treating on Halloween or having fun on any other holiday for that matter. Why put an age limit on fun? When we do that, we age a lot quicker and then life if just boring. I say, go ahead, dress up and put on your costumes on Halloween, everyone. Go trick or treating. Have fun! As long as you're not hurting anyone, what's the problem? Is it silly when an older child or adult goes out trick or treating? Maybe but that's the point so have fun everyone! Trick or treat!

Answer 4

I say never I am 28 however if you get someone trick or treating that you think is too old just tell them hey I think you are to old to trick or treat and I am not giving you any candy I'd really rather have a 50 year old trick or treater than a lot of other things people do.

Answer 5

I agree cuttoff should be about 15. However, you are never to old to have fun. We had a foreign exchange student from who was 15 and had never been trick or treating so we went out to a few houses. We got some strange looks so, I'd have to say 15 is pushing it. Have a halloween party instead.

Answer 6

age 12

Answer 7

50

Answer 8

I think as long as they are in costume it is ok, no matter the age. I do expect to see more effort put into the costume of a person in their teens and up though.

We had some teenagers stop by last night in their regular clothes, which did kind of get under my skin, but whatever.

Answer 9

Im 24 & I go trick or treating with my 2 kids. It's fun!

Answer 10

Nope,

The adults in my neighborhood accompanied the little kids and one house offered them Kahluha (the adults, not the kids).

I think 99 should be a cutoff.