# When should kids stop trick-or-treating? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149 "2013-10-24T19:23:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/1 "2013-10-24T19:23:42Z")
Just wondering… I say the kid decides!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/2 "2013-10-24T19:31:17Z")
12 at the latest with two conditions 1. Go around after the little ones have had their turn. Put some effort into a costume. 2. Taking a younger sibling out. Still should have a costume but accept candy only when offered. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/3 "2013-10-24T19:44:33Z")
Anyone can come to my house regardless of age or costume, if any. Lots of little kids out on Halloween walking around in the dark, please be very careful and keep an eye out for them. They are adorable! ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/4 "2013-10-24T19:47:39Z")
It’s hard to give a definite age, but my criteria get harsher as the kids get older. 12, 13, 14 - with a great costume, and taking little kids around with them, and being polite and engaging … this is fine with me. In our old neighborhood, there was a group of teenagers who made a big thing of Halloween, and would dress up all in a theme (vampires, zombies, etc) and then sing acappella when you answered the door, songs like Monster Mash or other oldies. It was like Halloween caroling. It was terrific and I was more than happy to hand out the candy. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/5 "2013-10-24T19:57:38Z")
I voted ‘14’ but it does matter about how the kid acts. Helping out the little kids by taking them along (even to the scary house) is a great idea that should be promoted. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/6 "2013-10-24T20:06:22Z")
Just going on what I would like to see at my front door, I said under 12. Really, this is a kids’ thing, teenagers have lots of other things to think about. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/7 "2013-10-24T20:08:40Z")
Anyone that shows up at my door wearing a legitimate attempt at a Halloween costume receives candy or mini-box of raisans even if they are a senior citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/8 "2013-10-24T20:13:24Z")
For jehova witnesses, at birth. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/9 "2013-10-24T20:14:23Z")
When the bag fills up. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/10 "2013-10-24T20:20:47Z")
Through high school, if the kid dresses up, it’s cool. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/11 "2013-10-24T20:34:23Z")
Girls should stop trick or treating before they cross the [cute](http://www.disneycostumes4u.com/pimages/large/ballerina-witch-costume.jpg)/[slutty](http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/653313344/2012-new-free-shipping-Halloween-dark-purple-short-sleeved-cute-witch-costumes-uniforms-wholesale.jpg) divide. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/12 "2013-10-24T21:06:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Girls should stop trick or treating before they cross the [cute](http://www.disneycostumes4u.com/pimages/large/ballerina-witch-costume.jpg)/[slutty](http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/653313344/2012-new-free-shipping-Halloween-dark-purple-short-sleeved-cute-witch-costumes-uniforms-wholesale.jpg) divide. That is crazy talk - after clicking your link I sincerely wish at least a few of the latter would drop by my house on halloween. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/13 "2013-10-24T21:34:51Z")
Sixth or Seventh grade was my last time. For “should stop” I put 12. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/14 "2013-10-24T21:43:38Z")
2 AM ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/15 "2013-10-24T23:24:52Z")
Let the kid do it until he is ready to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/16 "2013-10-25T01:17:22Z")
When they’re old enough to start liquor-treating. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/17 "2013-10-25T01:19:40Z")
I’m happy to give candy to any older child/teen that makes a good effort at a costume. I will also offer candy to uncostumed kids who are obviously supervising younger siblings. The only really annoying ones are loud rowdy teens that show up late and don’t even try. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/18 "2013-10-25T01:51:54Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > For jehova witnesses, at birth. Yeah, the J.W.s don’t like it when strange people come up to their house and ring the doorbell… ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/19 "2013-10-25T02:08:47Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Anyone that shows up at my door wearing a legitimate attempt at a Halloween costume receives candy or mini-box of raisans even if they are a senior citizen. This. Except at my house, they’ll get yoyos and stickers this year. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149/20 "2013-10-25T02:10:04Z")
The whole point of Halloween is to teach kids two important lessons: 1. It’s good to get out of the house and explore the world around you. 2. If you’re polite and follow rules, you’ll be rewarded. Give them 3-5 years for the lessons to sink in, and after that keep them in, turn the TV to a Halloween special, and let them have a big bowl of powdered coconut or almond clusters. No, really. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-stop-trick-or-treating/672149.md?page=2)