How Old Is Too Old?

[Rising Dead Man]

But I think 40 year old trick or treating is really weird. I think once your 18 you can't go anymore.

[Hallow's Queen]

i think 15 is a good age,, but there should never be a limit to dressing up cause i always will

[litemareb4xmas]

I'd say about 12 is when kids start getting to the point of being to old, of course I won't turn anyone away who dresses up, no on the other hand, when I get a mob of highschoolers, who are still wearing the same clothes they wore to school, I'm cautious, 1st I don't want them coming back later and messing with my display, that gets expensive fast. So this year I had a "special bucket" I wrapped pinecones in foil. That way they have no idea it was me, unless they were really paying attention! So far no problems!
We had another surprise for them that was even better, a friend jumped out from behind a car and fired up a chainsaw we took the chain off of. nothing better than seeing them about load their pants!

[TK421]

Every kid is different. I still enjoy trick-or-treating, and since I have children, I can still go out and have fun walking the streets.

My oldest is 12 (she'll be 13 by Halloween) and she still enjoys trick-or-treating. The nice thing is, she can go around with her little sisters, so she can keep going for years -- if she wants. She's also more excited about the Halloween party now that she's older. Having her firends over, pumpkin carving, scary stories, etc.

I know I'm profiling, but I don't really like the 15 year old boys that come around just looking for candy and mischief. I worry they're going to hurt the haunt, but so far, so good.

I figure I'm set with a ready excuse to go trick-or-treating for many, many years. I've got 3 girls, with a fourth due in June, so I'll be able to go out for at least the next 10-12 years with them. And by that time, who knows, we might start seeing grandchildred (shudder to think).

[DemonSlayerMau]

Well, Usually I'm handing the candy out. But I miss trick or treating. Perhaps if I wore a convincing enough costume they wouldn't be able to tell.

[Mr.PumpkinGrin]

Well, I don't think you can never be too old to go trick-or-treating. But about 4 years ago,.... I was.... 18.... there we go, I had to decide between, going out and gettin a sugar rush in the frickin snow, or, stay back, hide in the shadows of my mausoleum and scare the costumes off little kids all night. I chose the scaring. But I didn't "give up" trick-or-treating. I just now have a bigger obsession with building something to bring back the main reason why we trick-or-treat, or moreso, why we have halloween!

[Mr.PumpkinGrin]

I'd say about 12 is when kids start getting to the point of being to old, of course I won't turn anyone away who dresses up, no on the other hand, when I get a mob of highschoolers, who are still wearing the same clothes they wore to school, I'm cautious, 1st I don't want them coming back later and messing with my display, that gets expensive fast. So this year I had a "special bucket" I wrapped pinecones in foil. That way they have no idea it was me, unless they were really paying attention! So far no problems!
We had another surprise for them that was even better, a friend jumped out from behind a car and fired up a chainsaw we took the chain off of. nothing better than seeing them about load their pants!

That is frickin awesome with the pinecones! We have a bajillion and my mom likes to wrap candles in the tinfoil, so why not pinecones! Especially for the kids that keep coming through over and over again, the kids that walk through not enjoying any of the stuff I built, and those rambuctious highschoolers... turds... thanks for the idea! that my friend is a Halloween Trick!

[Pumpkin_Man]

As I stated on other threads, anyone who comes to my door in a costume and yells "Trick or Treat" gets a piece of candy, I don't care if they're 2 or 92. I voted for 18 being too old, however because that's when a lot of people refuse to give out candy. I stopped ToTing when I was 13, because I felt 'self- consience' about it. I'm kicking myself about it now a days, because everyone I know ToTed all through high school and some evenin college.

Mike

[Andybev01]

I agree Mike, as long as someone has the spirit...

[Pumpkin_Man]

It is common to make older kids feel self consience about it, too. When my oldest niece was in high school, she was the principal baby sitter in her family. She was incharge of taking all the little kids ToTing, and she figured that since she's going to be doing the walking anyway,she might as well put on a costume and carry a bag for her self. Most of the neighbors were okay with it, but there were a few who only gave out candy to the little kids and not to her, and often would let her know of their 'dis-dane' for some one her age ToTing.

I will never make anyone feel that way. I dont care if you're in Kindergarten or working on your Ph, D. I don't care if youre on social security or in your very first Halloween Costume, you can cont on a piece of candy in your bag if you come to my house in traditional Halloween spirit.

Mike

[DemonSlayerMau]

Here here.
I'd probably do the same thing, if the adult in costume wants candy as well, they'll get it.
Of course, I'd probably only give them a piece of candy if they wanted one. The important thing to me is that they're keeping the spirit of Halloween, and as long as they aren't destructive and causing trouble, they deserve it in my opinion!
Believe me, I wouldn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable either. It should matter how old the Trick or Treater is. Why spoil the fun by saying that a person is too old?

[Pumpkin_Man]

Thanks DemonSlayer. I was made to beel bad about it when I was 12, whichis why I felt so self-consience about it when I was 13. That's why I quit. The other kids my age who ToTed all through high school didn'g give a rip.

As I said, I would probably put a costume on and ToT if I had kids or were in charge of other kids, but I live alone, so I have to stay home and give out the candy. That's not a problem, however as I have as much fun givingi out the candy as I use to have getting it.

Mike

[DemonSlayerMau]

Well y'know what they say. Tis better to give than to receive. If it works for Christmas it should work for Halloween too.
In the end though, I think if I didn't hand out candy where I live...no one would at my residence. So I do more to keep the spirit of Halloween alive in my community by handing the candy out than I would if I was going around in a costume trying to get candy. This is because my grandmother refuses to do it, and she won't even buy the candy anymore. But I don't mind buying the candy and handing it out. It's my contribution to Halloween, and I get to have some left over for myself.
Plus I dress in costume. I always thought it was cool when the person giving the candy out was really into the Halloween Spirit and dressed up.
One time when I was really little, I think I remember people dressed up in ghost costumes and had a really neat decorated haunted house. Everyone else just handed out candy in their normal clothes.
However, I remember when we were kids, me and my cousins could go to grandma's house and she'd give us some candy. I suppose part of it is that she's getting older and just doesn't want to deal with it anymore. I can understand that. But personally I think I'd still be handing candy out even if I was in a wheel chair and 90 years old. I won't let age stop me until I'm completely bed ridden.

[Pumpkin_Man]

That's exactly the way I look at it. No matter how old I get, I don't want to be left out of the fun, and for me, the fun is in giving out the treats any more.

A lot of elderly people, on the other hand, don't give out candy because, and this truely is sad, they are often broken in and robbed by young thugs posing as ToTers. That happened to an elderly woman in Joliet when I use to live there. A group of thugs between the ages of 17 and 20 dressed up in costumes, went to this woman's door, and as soon as she opened it, one of them pulled a gun, burst into the house, smacked her around and took all the cash in her purse. She had just cashed her pension check, so they took all of her living expense money for the entire month of November.

She never again gave out ToT candy because of that. A few of her friends heard about what happened, and they now keep their lights off and doors locked on Halloween, too.

Mike

[DemonSlayerMau]

Unfortunately, things like that do happen.
One time, my cousin told me when we were kids...that she found a razor inside a piece of Halloween candy that she got while trick or treating, and cut her tongue. She told me this, saying that after that happened they would say a prayer before trick or treating.
But, from what my other grandma would tell me...she was a bit of a chronic liar. So who knows.
As for what happened with that woman, I honestly can't blame her for not handing the candy out after that incident. Personally, I think I'd do the same thing. Of course, since I'm a Halloween nut I'd still want to do something. Maybe send out small care packages to family members' kids on Halloween or something.