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How old is too old to trick-or-treat?

My personal opinion is that if teens (or heck, even adults!) are brave enough to get in costume and go door-to-door that they've earned a Snickers. But others disagree with me strongly and will turn teens away. What do you think?
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magdalene
magdalene
Marked as Best! October 05, 2009 01:58 AM
I want to give you the cliche of "it's never to old!" however I will not, although I agree with your opinion.

I am 20, and I still trick-or-treat. However, I do look very very young and can pass off as a young teenager. I dress up in a full costume as well. I do it because I find it fun, and I would say the appropriate age for someone to stop trick-or-treating is whenever they no longer find it enjoyable, whether it be 10 or 20.

Sometimes I hand out candy at my house, I always love to see the parents in costumes with their children and I give them candy too.

There are other ways to spend your Halloween night, and if that sounds like better than trick-or-treating then go for it. In addition to my trick-or-treating I also participate in theme parties, and our city's annual Halloween parade. Halloween is suppose to be a night of fun and it's not about what you do as long as you have a good safe time.
Asker's Rating:
• Excellent perspective and thanks for giving a really well-rounded opinion. Happy Halloween!
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ewpldf
ewpldf
October 05, 2009 03:51 AM
I agree! As long as the visitor has made a reasonable attempt at a costume and not just a $2 mask or a paper bag with eye holes, I'll give them candy. I figure it's a holiday and if they are getting into the spirit and having fun than why not give them the candy. After all, most candies that people give to trick-or-treaters tends to suck, so if someone dresses up in costume they are probably doing it more for the fun of it and not just the cheap candy.

(I stopped trick-or-treating when I was early elementary school, so I'm not giving this answer just to support my own candy gathering efforts.)
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backthat
backthat
October 05, 2009 01:29 AM
I think 13 should be the last year because once high school trick or treating isnt as fun as it was before.
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girlieq300...
girlieq300...
October 05, 2009 01:34 AM
I trick or treated until I was 17.. after that I started going to parties instead. Hey, I put time into a costume, I might as well go and get some candy! Plus, by the time 17 hit I knew the houses in my neighborhood well enough to know what was good and what was a waste of time. I think 17 is about the limit though and I would likely give candy to someone older but they'd probably get the cheaper candy and not as much of it :) What I DONT like is when they go to the dollarstore and get a mask and think that counts as dressing up... you have to put some effort into your costume to get the candy from me!
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msnicole
msnicole
October 05, 2009 01:53 AM
18 is too old to trick or treat so toddlers up until age 17 is fine.

A Flexible Approach:
Once you are old enough to watch "R" rated movies at the movie theater and are out of high school, then you are too old to trick or treat. 17 year-olds are usually high school juniors and seniors but once someone is in college, he or she is too old to be trick or treating.

A Conservative Approach:
Although 17 is the limit for trick or treating in my opinion, I would be hesitant to give out candy to older teenagers because there is an expectation of little kids doing the trick or treating so with that said, any child that is above 4 feet tall should not be out trick or treating.

However, if the costume is really nice, then age should not matter......it's just candy!
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bbrookin
bbrookin
October 05, 2009 02:23 AM
I think it's a situational thing. It's kind of cool when the older kids start taking their younger siblings out trick or treating, leaving the parental units home to dole out the goodies for the neighborhood. In that case, the older kids can certainly be in costume, as their chaperoning duties earn them an occasional goodie.

OR...young adults going door-to-door on a trick or treat for a cause - perfectly fine.

My dad, at the age of 60 or so, dressed up as a ghost and prowled our very rural neighborhood with an empty martini glass. He got it filled at almost every door, and others joined him in the mobile block party he was self-creating. VERY cool.

I sympathize with people who are besieged with busloads of bored teens, especially when they're from other neighborhoods. But too much depends on attitude and circumstance to draw a hard and fast line based on age alone.

http://pumpkins.gusick.com/hand_boofus_mcd_pirate.jpg
Source(s):
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michelleld...
michelleld...
October 05, 2009 05:39 AM
162

If you're 162 years old, you probably shouldn't trick or treat.

Everyone else, have fun!
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mila_mm
mila_mm
October 05, 2009 06:48 PM
I agree with drawing the line at 162! Hooray for candy and costumes!
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albanian
albanian
October 05, 2009 11:58 AM
Although children grow up at different rates, I would estimate 13 as the oldest that a child should trick or treat. When you are older than that you should go to Halloween parties and parades etc but not go knocking at doors.
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cheapgamer
cheapgamer
October 05, 2009 01:29 PM
I am 35 and I am toying with the idea of trick or treating with my friends & thier kids.

I think that the holiday's traditional candy giving is pretty focused on children. After all the adults are expected to be the ones going with small children or handing out candy.

I personally have no issues with the idea of an adult coming to my door but I know that there are people who would be intimidated seeing one or more costumed adults coming to the door.

That being the case if you are over 18 and you want to trick or treat either do it to neibors you know well and make it an excuse to say hi ^_^ or borrow a kid to take with you.
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samid
samid
October 05, 2009 03:27 PM
The last year I trick-or-treated was my sixth grade year when I walked up to a house in full costume and rang the doorbell and the heartthrob of the school opened the door. I had no idea he lived there. I gave the "trick-or-treat" spiel hoping he wouldn't notice it was me since I had a mask on. He cocked his head and looked at me funny and said, "Sami, is that you?" I was so embarrassed to be engaging in what apparently was a "little kid" activity when I was in junior high. I never went trick-or-treating again. That was it for me!
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psynopsis
psynopsis
October 05, 2009 08:56 PM
I don't think there is a specific answer. Most of the time Halloween is also fun for teenagers because they can do all kinds of shenanigans. They really don't care about the candy anymore. But if there are some teens and adults who still like to trick or treat for candy, go ahead! I think my grandma bought a costume. It's natural, cause she was the one who started this tradition! :D
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duenhsiyen
duenhsiyen
October 06, 2009 01:07 AM
It is never too old to trick or treat! The rules are that you wear a costume, and that you say "trick or treat." Now some people would be surprised if a senior citizen showed up at their door, and may let you know in no uncertain terms, but they are the ones being triggered, assuming you are not, by their response. (Just avoid them next year!) Now, one of the reasons why i give out candy at Halloween, actually, is to see the children in our neighborhood, and to see them grow up. If the parents come along, so much the better, because it is a way of socializing. Sometimes, I have a party at the same time, and so my guests can see the trick or treaters. And if they want to stay, or return later, that is fine with me.

duenhsiyen
Source(s):
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duenhsiyen
duenhsiyen
October 06, 2009 07:33 AM
I might add that in Waikiki, Halloween is a really big night, and everyone is out in costume!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi6uKsWlhuk
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dnatureofd...
dnatureofd...
October 06, 2009 02:29 AM
It really depends on the maturity of the people and what the town and local area considers appropriate.. Many in town told me they are not happy because no trick or treaters come around anyhow... I am in the country and its the same everyone goes to parties and church events... I love Halloween and would have loved to go to parties, and trick or treating the last Halloween thing I went to was in Middleschool I was a Scarescrow and I won best costume....

My friends were all mad I did not go trick er treating my Parents do not allow trick her treating beyond 5th grade.. I believe that is wrong... But I also believe and understand it matters on a school night.

Little Children usually have an earlier time to trick er treat then there was a later time for teenagers and adults.. I am surprised as how many adults on the route will also tell you that you are to old to trick her treat based on your height!!...

There is not age limit on trick or treating and costume wearing..
But alot of the real creeps and pervs made it dangerous for teens... and they ruined it for the community...
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melinda mo...
melinda mo...
October 07, 2009 08:24 PM
I have been seeing this question posed a lot. I feel that kids high school age and younger can trick or treat, and the elderly. I do not think the 18-65 group should trick or treat.
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