# Poll: When Should Kids Stop Trick-or-Treating? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304 "2010-10-25T17:39:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/61 "2010-10-26T20:33:42Z")
I wouldn’t. I’d appreciate the effort, and the fact that he seems to be enjoying life more than I am. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/62 "2010-10-26T20:46:25Z")
Only a few years ago, my then-almost-60 mother, dressed as a white-clad zombie, shambled up and down the sidewalk as the kids trick-or-treated, moaning, “Skittles! Got Skittles?” (her favorite candy). I’d have given her some. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/63 "2010-10-26T22:14:39Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Really? If a grown ass man came to your door with a little paper bag asking for candy, but you liked his costume, you wouldn’t be thinking, “Shouldn’t your old ass be at a party with grown ups or something, instead of trick-or-treating?” The way we spend Halloween might be coloring my thoughts on this. Our own neighborhood, and our house in particular (2nd floor apt, entrance at the back of the house) is not conducive to a big trick or treat crowd so we split. We go to the home of friends who live in a neighborhood of row houses. It’s well known as a trick or trating destination. Including our hosts there are typically 10 to 12 people sharing dinner, and some adult refreshments. Even with all of us contributing as much candy as we can afford we usually run out before 9:00. We dine on the porch, and most of the neighbors hang out on their porches to give out candy. The house is near a university campus. I usually assume the older trick or treaters are on their way to a party. If I were sitting inside my apartment and getting up from the couch to answer a doorbell for each trick or treater I’d be cheesed off, but it’s really more like a block party with some costumes. How do you all feel about parents who dress up and cart around a teeny tiny baby far to young for candy as a way to collect candy for themselves? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/64 "2010-10-26T22:25:11Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > This thread has made me think. Maybe I’ll conduct an experiment and put on my Wonder Woman costume and go trick or treating by myself just to see how much candy I’ll get. I think you just want any excuse to wear your Wonder Woman costume! Hell, I would, too, if I had one. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/65 "2010-10-26T22:44:52Z")
> [@Zulema](#): > > I like seeing the high school kids in costumes come out on Halloween. There are a few groups who are very creative with their ideas. I went until 12th grade and it was fun to act like a kid on a nice fall night. I did too (the fact that I looked a lot younger helped), and as someone who now hands out the candy my favorite group of trick or treaters are now teenagers. I’ll be disappointed if they don’t show up on Sunday, because we’re thinking of recruiting them to scare the lil ones when they decide they’re too old to go out themselves. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/66 "2010-10-26T23:35:36Z")
You’re never too old to trick or treat! When attending a party at a friend’s house, I usually show up early and do the neighborhood. I put a lot of time and effort into my costumes. The Tomorrow Knight took hours upon hours of work. I have no clue how much money I spent on it as that was in small increments (Goop brand glue, fabric paint, etc). I still have the Tomorrow Knight mark 3 lying around. This year I’m wearing a wolf/wolfman/big bad wolf costume I made. I’ll post pics to some thread or other. For the record, I have a goatee and am 5’10". ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/67 "2010-10-27T00:15:50Z")
14 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/68 "2010-10-27T02:16:58Z")
I’m fine with kids trick-or-treating if they’re in elementary school or younger, and act like it. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/69 "2010-10-27T02:39:23Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > BTW. I’m 41. > > This thread has made me think. Maybe I’ll conduct an experiment and put on my Wonder Woman costume and go trick or treating by myself just to see how much candy I’ll get. > > I got carded for cigarettes yesterday. Surely, I can still pass for “under 18.” > > :: devil horns :: I got a treat for ya 😉 Or is it more of a trick :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/70 "2010-10-27T03:16:49Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > How do you all feel about parents who dress up and cart around a teeny tiny baby far to young for candy as a way to collect candy for themselves? Well one, I don’t think parents who take babies trick-or-treating are doing it to score candy for themselves. I really think they think they’re supposed to take a one year old trick-or-treating. That said, I feel the same way I do any time I see a parent taking a way-too-young baby to a thing the baby isn’t even yet capable of giving two shits about: “I guess I get your whole parent thing, but seriously, you’re way more enthralled by this than your kid is.” Now if I were to believe it was all a ploy to score sweets, I’d think they’re silly. Re: the rest of your post. Fair enough. Like most things, the question posed by the OP depends on context. Is there a scenario in which I wouldn’t think it’s asinine for someone with a beard to show up at my door in a costume, with a bag in his hand, asking me for candy? Sure, but for the most part, trick-or-treating is for children, and young children at that. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/71 "2010-10-27T15:16:49Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > If I step out on my porch in my sexxxy butterfly of death costume and you are old enough to say “Whoa” and eyeball me from head to toe in a nonverbal comment about how sexy my costume is… then you are too old to be trick or treating. You just described me at 6. > [@](#): > > If you have pubic hair… you are too old to be trick or treating. If you check for this, no children should ever, ever go to your house for any reason. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/72 "2010-10-27T15:49:17Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I think you just want any excuse to wear your Wonder Woman costume! Hell, I would, too, if I had one. Bingo. You should see the boots. They’re _vinyl_. :: swoons :: ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/73 "2010-10-27T15:50:44Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I got a treat for ya 😉 Or is it more of a trick :dubious: Hey, singles are a ‘treat.’ Maybe I should trade lap dances for candy. :dubious: Wait a minute… ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/74 "2010-10-27T17:15:16Z")
No teenagers. Extortionist bastards… ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/75 "2010-10-27T21:55:45Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Hey, singles are a ‘treat.’ Maybe I should trade lap dances for candy. :dubious: > Wait a minute… Where do I slide my VISA? ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/76 "2010-10-27T22:21:35Z")
Never really, but at my house you have to earn your candies. I sculpt professional props and take delight in scaring the ever living hell out of everyone. If you can hang in there through the spooky and have a costume, you get treats. If you can’t then too bad, so sad. Teens without costumes get nothing, and I DARE them to try something. usually i just recruit them as scare actors for my display. ---
**Author:** ![Sparkina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sparkina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparkina)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/77 "2012-03-10T22:17:28Z")
A young person should stop trick-or-treating WHEN THEY LOSE INTEREST ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/78 "2012-03-10T22:31:36Z")
> [@Sparkina](#): > > A young person should stop trick-or-treating WHEN THEY LOSE INTEREST Lose interest? In free candy? Hell, I’d still be doing it, and I’m nearly eligible for Social Security! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/79 "2012-03-10T22:59:35Z")
In the spirit of Halloween, a thread resurrected from the dead! When they stop believing the Great Pumpkin! ---
**Author:** ![Cheerleading\_Dropout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac8455/32.png) [@Cheerleading\_Dropout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheerleading_Dropout)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304/80 "2012-03-10T23:03:49Z")
I’m 14 and a half and last Halloween (when I was just-turned fourteen) I went trick-or-treating, it was my last year (I’m not going this year). I didn’t actually want to go to be honest, but a pile of my friends were going and roped me into it. I’d say that most kids can decide for themselves, unless they’re actually being rude or obnoxious, etc., they should probably be allowed to go. And they should put some effort into the costumes, too. But having parents tell them to stop isn’t fun for most kids, because it makes them feel like they’re immature. If I had to pick a specific age I’d say 14. Because that’s when most of my friends stopped being into it. Next year I’m just gonna stay home, have a party maybe, and hand out candy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/558304.md?page=5)