How old is too old for Trick or Treating?

Don't everyone rush to answer (just kiddin', just kiddin'...)  {Actually this is just a shameless l'il old forum bump}

You are too old for Trick or Treating the year you stop wearing a costume to go Trick or Treating. After that, you're out forever, even if you decide to wear a costume.

Barring that, 19, or 24 if you're a college student. IRS rules.

4 minutes, and someone was just about to bump you anyway. Lame! You're too old for trick-or-treating when you unneccessarily bump a post.

4 minutes, and someone was just about to bump you anyway. Lame! You're too old for trick-or-treating when you unneccessarily bump a post.

Heh, I'm glad someone saw the article fairly quickly, though articles don't always show up in the sidebar, which is part of what inspires that forum bumpage.

Regardless, thanks for the answer to the question.  Still hoping for several more as this topic is up for discussion in my household with some argument back and forth between myself and my wife.

Usually I categorically avoid any article with intentional forum bumping (which includes every article you've ever written ever, terp ), but I digress.

12.

That's it, man; when you're twelve, you're done. At least that's how my parents did it and how I'll do it when my kids approach that age.

Because, I'll be straight - few things piss me off more than the fifteen-year-old trick or treater. Go to a party, rondos.

What if I dressed up as a Missionary and went door to door handing out pamphlets? Do you think anyone would give me candy?

Dude, you can get a LOT of candy (and other stuff), even in March.

I know, because I did it for two years.

12, maybe 13 at the oldest.

Hey, I'm almost 40 and I still get all dolled up and go trick ot treating.  It's not for the candy; I don't carry a bucket with me and expect to get sweeties by the handful (although I'm short enough to pass for a kid especially when I'm wearing a mask)....for me, it's all about dressing up and being scary.  You have to understand that I didn't get to do this as a kid in the UK so I'm making uo for lost time.

Since we came here in '04, I've successfully made at LEAST three children cry when I got dressed up and took my young-un's out trick ot treating.  The first time I was a zombie, the second a Werewolf, and since the zombie got more cries of terror, it'll be the zombie again this year.  I LOVE it. I ADORE being able to put fake skin on  and have it looking like it's decaying and hanging off my face; I love having nails that look like I've dug my way out of the grace and teeth that are blood stained and green  It's so much fun and I wish that other people would do it. 

So, to answer your question:  You are NEVER too old.  EVER. 

Usually I categorically avoid any article with intentional forum bumping (which includes every article you've ever written ever, terp ), but I digress.

Heh, when you generalize, you...  never mind.

There's more than a few articles out there that I've done and never bothered to post a reply to (nor gotten any replies to).

Try this article as an example: http://terpfan1980.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=165952

Terp... almost all of your articles have the second half in the comments.

Terp... almost all of your articles have the second half in the comments.

Matter of preference and trying to think about what users might expect if they visit my blog.

I'm about to waste an article on the topic there, so feel free to comment there.

I don't care, I was giving him grief. Hopefully he took it in good nature.

I don't care, I was giving him grief. Hopefully he took it in good nature.

Just gives me another reason to write.

Me too. I read it in the forums anyway, so it's all the same to me.

By the way, to get back on topic here, the reason I asked the question is that is a serious discussion in my household about whether or not my daughter, who is what I consider over the line for trick or treating, is too old or not.  She and a friend want to go out trick or treating and I'm looking at her (the daughter, not the friend) and thinking she's really pushing the situation, costume or no costume.  To me there is a line that gets crossed when kids are, as someone commented here I think, but if not, in another forum where I put up the same question, are more of the age that they'd be attending a High School dance type party rather than going out trick or treating.

I understand that my daughter wants to enjoy her childhood and wants to satisfy her sweet tooth, but again, there's a point when a child is probably going to be embarrassed to say 'Trick or Treat' and at that point they probably are too old to do it.

Is my daughter over that line?  I don't know for sure, but my leaning is towards 'yes.'  My wife disagrees somewhat.

What we both agree on is that no costume = no trick or treating.  If she can't put at least that much effort into it, then it's a no go.

If she was out escorting children she was babysitting (yeah, she's old enough to babysit for $$ for someone) then I could understand it a bit more, but she won't be doing that and instead will just be walking around with her friend.  Which leaves me thinking she really doesn't need to be out there at all.

What's wrong with going out and getting some candy, dressing up in a nice costume? As a candy giver, I like to see the costumes. I think it depends on the costume, myself. If it's an awesome costume, you have to let her go. If it's a crummy costume, she can stay home.

Like LW I think it's pretty much dependent on the maturity/intent of the child.

My 10 yo is trick-or-treating this year (with daddy and brother and sister). He still loves dressing up and is not into vandalism, LOL. Some kids would need to find an alternate activity by the pre-teen years. I don't know that I'll have Xavier stop at 12. I guess it just depends on what changes between now and then.

Before the thirteenth Birthday {for us Jews 13 is when you declare you are an adult}

psh! your never too old to go trick or treating... some of us went out last year when I was 20... it was a blast... people thought it was funny and we kept hearing "arn't you too old to be trick or treating?" but they still gave us candy! Yea, we were in a college town though and the houses we went to were mostly college houses.... plus a lot of the time we ended up just going inside for a bit to hang around at parties going on.

12 is the stopping age... but for us cheapo indians who love the free stuff! probably around 70? 80? !!!

I'm with TW.  I think it depends on the kid.  I think a lot of kids with younger sibs live in the innocence a little longer.  My boys wouldn't dream of smashing pumpkins or TPing houses.    They get soooo excited about trick-or-treating though.  They like showing off their costumes and seeing the decorations on the houses.

I agree whole heartedly that no costume = no treats!  What we do here is give the hard old last year's left over candy or raisins to the teens who come around without a costume.

What we do here is give the hard old last year's left over candy or raisins to the teens who come around without a costume.

I second that!

I figure if she is in a GREAT costume, I'll cut her some slack. Better yet, have her find a kid to escort. There is still time to find one! I know I cut the escorts a lot more slack than the teens by themselves....but no costume, no candy....or just really old stuff at best.