When did you/your kids stop trick or treating?

[Phoenix84]

As a follow up to Underwater Chloe's thread, when did you and/or your kids stop trick or treating? If your kids are too young to stop, do you have a specific age in mind?

I stopped trick or treating after 6th grade, so maybe around 12. But I've seen and heard of kids doing it into high school.

What say you?

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I was about 12 or 13 when I stopped too - as did my bothers .

I think older kids in their teens should focus on more organized house-parties or community center parties (and I wish more community associations or schools would get into that for an after school event)..

The door-to-door trick or treating should be left to the little goblins to have some fun and collect candy.

You hear too many stories of older kids stealing the treats from little ones. Thankfully *most* parents these days have the common sense to accompany their child.

,

[truthbound]

1985.

[JustLurkin]

I stopped at 16, we went significantly later than little kids. I think in my neighborhood little kids are finished around 7--especially if Halloween is a weeknight.

[cronewitch]

Our mother insisted we were too old in Jr High, we weren't too old.

[marvholly]

For both myself & my kids it was about 12 or 13. However, I went over to escorting my 6 y/o brother and DD1 started escorting her 4 yr younger sister.

These days (and for MANY years) I do NOT open the door to hs age trick or treaters. DGD1 has 2-4 years to go but she does have 4 year younger siblings. Halloween has become a family event for us: both sets of grands, both DDs and all the kids plus a couple friends sometimes. We meet up about 4 pm, take the kids out begging and have a chili + cornbread dinner after.

[swamp]

How do you know how old a kid is when looking at them dressed in a costume?  Some of my friends have 10 year olds that are 5'9" 

ETA: One of my friends has a 6th grade boy who is 6'1" and 240 pounds. His dad went to school with me. Dad was the same way.

[busymom]

We told our kids when they were junior high-age,(grade 7) that they'd be too old. (Although some of DD's friends kept coming to our door until they were in high school). DS decided on his own that he was done after 5th grade. Yes, we do get the occasional high schooler at the door, but most kids in our neighborhood are still in elementary school.

[zibazinski]

I gave out treats to anyone that came to the door. Cheaper than getting house damaged.

[chiver78]

I went out thru HS and the first couple years of college - although by that point we were seeking canned goods/spare change for charity. I've never had much of a sweet tooth, so it was always more to get dressed up than the candy for me.

sent from my electronic distraction

[gooddecisions]

I remember trick or treating in 7th grade (13) and feeling too old. I really wanted candy though. That was the last time I went. I think you can get away with it if you have younger siblings.

[Deleted]

My son is 12 this year and plans on going.  I'm not sure he would if it wasn't for he goes with his 4 year old brother.  I think that gives him an excuse to get candy.

[yogiii]

Oct 8, 2014 5:53:04 GMT -5 swamp said:

How do you know how old a kid is when looking at them dressed in a costume?  Some of my friends have 10 year olds that are 5'9" 

I was thinking the same thing.  I've been about this size since 5th grade.

[movingforward]

The 5th grade was my last year of trick or treating (so 11 yrs old maybe). 

[giramomma]

I wasn't allowed to go trick or treating growing up.  Thank you urban legends from the 80s.

Around here 7/8th grade seems to be the cut off.

However, I can totally DS and DD1 going out with the littlest when they become "too old", as the littlest still has a decade of trick or treating in front of her.

[Phoenix84]

After sixth grade, I figured I'd eat my younger sister's candy, much to her ire.

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 9:28:58 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

After sixth grade, I figured I'd eat my younger sister's candy, much to her ire.

As the younger sister, I can unequivocally say that you suck.

[giramomma]

Oct 8, 2014 9:28:58 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

After sixth grade, I figured I'd eat my younger sister's candy, much to her ire.

In my house, actually, the older kids have to watch out for the youngest. The littlest has NO problems taking treats/sweets from her older siblings. And the little stinker KNOWS they don't belong to her.

Within the last month or so, the littlest got into our pantry, decided to help herself to a lollypop that was for her older brother, then she proceeded to go to his bunk bed (the top, where he sleeps) and enjoy his lollypop.

[Phoenix84]

Oct 8, 2014 9:33:09 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Oct 8, 2014 9:28:58 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

After sixth grade, I figured I'd eat my younger sister's candy, much to her ire.

In my house, actually, the older kids have to watch out for the youngest. The littlest has NO problems taking treats/sweets from her older siblings. And the little stinker KNOWS they don't belong to her.

Within the last month or so, the littlest got into our pantry, decided to help herself to a lollypop that was for her older brother, then she proceeded to go to his bunk bed (the top, where he sleeps) and enjoy his lollypop.

Such is the cycle of life among siblings.

[gooddecisions]

Oct 8, 2014 9:33:09 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Oct 8, 2014 9:28:58 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

After sixth grade, I figured I'd eat my younger sister's candy, much to her ire.

In my house, actually, the older kids have to watch out for the youngest. The littlest has NO problems taking treats/sweets from her older siblings. And the little stinker KNOWS they don't belong to her.

Within the last month or so, the littlest got into our pantry, decided to help herself to a lollypop that was for her older brother, then she proceeded to go to his bunk bed (the top, where he sleeps) and enjoy his lollypop.

This sounds familiar. You should check this story out at the library: www.amazon.com/Big-Red-Lollipop-Rukhsana-Khan/dp/0670062871

[Phoenix84]

Oct 8, 2014 9:29:30 GMT -5 swamp said:

Oct 8, 2014 9:28:58 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

After sixth grade, I figured I'd eat my younger sister's candy, much to her ire.

As the younger sister, I can unequivocally say that you suck.

Oh don't worry, she got her revenge in more ways than one.

[Ryan]

Oct 8, 2014 5:53:04 GMT -5 swamp said:

How do you know how old a kid is when looking at them dressed in a costume?  Some of my friends have 10 year olds that are 5'9" 

ETA: One of my friends has a 6th grade boy who is 6'1" and 240 pounds. His dad went to school with me. Dad was the same way.

The older kids aren't dressed in costumes.  You can't tell a 5th grader from a HS kid?

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 10:48:22 GMT -5 Ryan said:

Oct 8, 2014 5:53:04 GMT -5 swamp said:

How do you know how old a kid is when looking at them dressed in a costume?  Some of my friends have 10 year olds that are 5'9" 

ETA: One of my friends has a 6th grade boy who is 6'1" and 240 pounds. His dad went to school with me. Dad was the same way.

The older kids aren't dressed in costumes.  You can't tell a 5th grader from a HS kid?

I see older kids dressed all the time.

[chiver78]

Oct 8, 2014 10:48:22 GMT -5 Ryan said:

Oct 8, 2014 5:53:04 GMT -5 swamp said:

How do you know how old a kid is when looking at them dressed in a costume?  Some of my friends have 10 year olds that are 5'9" 

ETA: One of my friends has a 6th grade boy who is 6'1" and 240 pounds. His dad went to school with me. Dad was the same way.

The older kids aren't dressed in costumes.  You can't tell a 5th grader from a HS kid?

I wouldn't give candy to a kid not in costume either.....but I went out dressed up all the way up til I stopped going out in college.

[Chocolate Lover]

DD is 12, last year she dressed as a flapper and had some (lowish) wedge heels on. She was taller than me. She is now officially taller than me flat footed. She hasn't said a word about costumes yet. Neither has her little brother, who's 10 and almost as tall as I am. (I'm 5'3" btw) Long way of saying, please be nice to the taller/bigger kids, especially in costume.

My oldest would walk along with his siblings now and then, to help me out. He had no costume and if anyone asked he'd tell them he was "Dude in sweatshirt". Some adults still offered him candy since he was with the younger kids.

I went trick or treating with some friends at about 19, just for giggles. We were treated kindly by the few houses we went to. We did have costumes though. 


So, to actually answer the question, I'd say around 13 is when my kids & I quit. 

[sesfw]

I dressed up and took my bro and his friends out until I married. DD dressed and went out with her friends to local parties until she married.

DH and I dressed up a couple of years ago and went to the community party. Probably will this year also.

Never get too old to enjoy things.

[michelyn8]

I often felt like I didn't stop until my own children were middle school age and ready to stop. I'm pretty sure I stopped trick or treating for myself around age 11 or 12. I then became an aunt for the first time in early 1981 and turned 13 a few months later. For Halloween of 1982, I went with my sisters to take my then 18 month+ niece for her first time.  The next child in my family was born in 1984, two more including DS in 1985, two in 1987, DD1 in 1989, DD2 in 1991, one in 1993 and the last in 1994.  I never went with my brother's family but me and my sisters all went together until my two nieces stopped going and then it was just me and my other sister and our kids until they all reached the tween age (around 2001).  By that time, I was living in a small town that they could make the rounds with friends and still be close enough to home that I didn't have to walk with them but could still be comfortable with their safety because neighbors and their friend's parents were out and about too. 

To be honest, I no longer enjoy Halloween and even though I've gone with DGD (made it a family thing with my daughters and their younger half sister who has just reached the "to old" age, and my Ex), I'll be happy to stay home and watch TV this year while DD2 takes DGD out for the "fun". 

[Peace Of Mind]

Oct 8, 2014 4:26:18 GMT -5 truthbound said:

1985.

So you were about 22 when you stopped? 

We stopped in our early teens.  I think we were about 14/15 when we'd all meet at the park, get high and then go see what we could scrounge up when we got the munchies.  Good times!

I give candy to anybody and everybody who comes to our door until we run out.  I LOVE Halloween! 

[ponomo]

I was 18, my little brother was 10 and had no one to go with. 

I give candy to everyone too!  Growing up sucks bad enough, why not hold onto trick or treating as long as you can?  Is there ever an age where you don't want free candy? 

[swamp]

Oct 8, 2014 13:37:49 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

Is there ever an age where you don't want free candy?

If so, it's at least 33 or higher, because I still tax the kids when they get home with their bag of treats.  Last year we used it to explain the concept of progressive taxes.  The tax rates were;
0-8 pieces 0% tax
9-36 pieces 15% tax
36-87 pieces 25% tax
88+ pieces 35% tax

They were not amused.

I have flat tax. Mom gets all the peanut butter cups.