E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSHappens every Halloween:
Getty Images stock
Sure, they're cute now, but do you want them on your doorstep in a couple years?
The cute little kids dressed as princesses or pumpkins start making the trick-or-treat rounds in the late afternoon, and by about 7:30 p.m. they’re in their jammies and brushing the sugary residue from Nerds and candy corn off their teeth.
But then at 8 p.m., the doorbell starts chiming again. This time it’s the high-schoolers, the ones taller than you, whose costumes consist of a mask or some greasepaint smeared on their faces. If that. You can’t not give them candy, ‘cause they’re big enough to wreak some pretty serious Halloween mischief on your property. But really, aren’t they too old to be trick-or-treating?
More Halloween questions: Click here to take our Halloween survey!
My older daughter is a high school freshman this year, and I’m nostalgic for the Halloweens when she was an adorable Tweety Bird, Hershey Kiss and Dorothy of Oz (my sister is great at whipping up costumes). This year? Unprompted, she’s told me she’s thinking about going to a movie come All Hallows Eve instead of trick-or-treating. If she’d told me she still wanted to go trick-or-treating, I’d probably tell her she’d have to dig that Hershey Kiss costume out of storage in the basement (yes, I’ve had a hard time parting with it) and wear it. Case closed.
Not too far from where we live, kids her age aren’t allowed to trick-or-treat. It’s the law down in the Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia. In fact, Newport News has banned trick-or-treating by kids over 12 for a half-century, police spokesman Lou Thurston told me. And not even the little kids can trick-or-treat past 8 p.m. Violations are a Class 4 misdemeanor. Williamsburg, Virginia Beach and Norfolk have similar trick-or-treating age restrictions, Thurston says.
It’s not like people are carding trick-or-treaters before dispensing candy, though. And police officers aren't trolling for lawbreakers, Thurston says.
Live Poll
At what age are kids too old to trick-or-treat?
Still, “This is about safety for the kids and safety for people who are answering the door to the kids," he says, like “a 75- or 80-year-old lady who lives by herself… and all of a sudden a 6-foot-5 basketball player wearing a mask and a sheet scares her to death.”
They’ve had a long time to get used to the age limit in Newport News, so it’s really not an issue anymore, Thurston says.
Oh, and the Newport News law specifically says it’s fine for parents and older siblings to escort young trick-or-treaters. But they better not wear a mask. It’s against the law.
What do you think? At what age are kids too old to trick-or-treat? When will you cut your kids off?
"Like" TODAY Moms on Facebook, and follow us @TodayMoms
Leave a Comment:
If they are courteous, have a goody carrying bag and are trick or treating with a happy and appropriate spirit, I have no problem plopping some goodies in their bag, regardless of the age of the treat or treater. Staying young and playful is a healthy characteristic!
Amen, Ozy! And thank you.
When I was in highschool, it wasn't wierd for us to trick or treat with younger siblings, and yes we did dress up and get candy too. See my problem with a lot of the articles that appear in this forum, are quick to judge teens. We must be up to mischief (or criminal activity as this article suggests) if we are going trick-or-treating and in high school.
"You can’t not give them candy, ‘cause they’re big enough to wreak some pretty serious Halloween mischief on your property." This line really ticked me off. Honestly the teens that went trick-or-treating, were the least likely to be causing problems (yes there are exceptions) because we were more interested in having fun and getting a suger high.
Constantly I hear how teens are growing up too fast, oversexualization, drugs, smoking, alochol...and then when they want to do something that's good clean, safe fun, they get told thier too old....really?
Completely agree. My daughter is 16, and this will be the first year she isnt going trick or treating, and the only reason is because we moved this past year to Virginia Beach, where you are not allowed to go if you are over 12. It doesnt even seem like Halloween, really. I have always dressed up and gone with her, and her friends. (Never to get candy, just to go). Her group never pulled pranks, or what not. In fact both last year and the year before they stopped an ADULT from harassing smaller kids. Not scaring them, but trying to take their candy.
This year though? We have decorated the front porch. We bought candy. We are deciding if its worth the effort of dressing up and sitting amongst the decorations to scare/give candy or if we should just be "responsible" and let them knock, pass out candy without the scare. It seems pretty boring either way.
Trick or Treating should be for anyone, no matter the age.
ozymandias,
Beautifully said!
My daughter is a tiny little thing, put a princess costume on her and no one would blink if she knocked on their door (she's 23). My son, however, has always been a head taller than the rest of his peers, and now at 12yrs old, is 5'11". He is the sweetest, kindest, goofiest kid in the world. Unfortunately, and much to the writer of this article's dismay, he's is also taller than many of the folks answering their doors (and has been since he was 7yrs old). What is amazing (and cruel) are the snide comments that are made by those who presume to know who should and shouldn't be trick or treating. I've seen the look of confusion and hurt in his eyes, and only wish that they realized that their presumptuous comments hurt a CHILD.
Your criteria is so much more generous and kind. You are truly a very lovely "spirit"!
My husband wasn't able to trick-or-treat beyond second grade for this exact reason.
I wish that people would have realized, just because a kid looks like an adult doesn't mean they have to act like one.
If you look like this; you're young enough
Another good question is at what age should they start? People pushing a baby around in a stroller or holding the child because they are too young to walk is just ridiculous.
The law here is from 6pm to 8pm.... it's like the running of the bulls... I live in a subdivision where the kids are literally "bussed" in... that is just not right. Hundreds of kids that don't even live anywhere in the subdivision. We normally buy around 100 dollars worth of candy and it's gone by 7:30pm.
That's just wrong!
"Kids" should have fun;
delinquents and trouble makers should be very careful where they start trouble.
My son voluntarily stopped when he was 14....my 13 year old daughter is going out this year, he will be giving out the candy at home. However as long as they are polite, I don't have a problem with older teens going out too, it is all in fun.
It's their city and they can and should pass the laws they want. So what if I don't like it, I can and should choose to live somewhere else where the laws are more in line with what I want.
I totally agree there should NOT be a limit on age. Kids, teens, adults all should be able to go and have FUN. That is what it is all about. Look at all the adults that dress up at home to give out candy! Little children go up to the door and some very scary witch is handy out candy and the little one holds mom or sisters hand tighter before getting her candy. It is all fun. If you are at home, alone, older, whatever the reason and you don't wish to give out candy....Leave Your Lights Off. Around here if the lights are off you go to the next house, no big deal.
My two little girls ages 4 and 5 go every year AND my 14 and 15 year olds go with them door to door. It is safer for them all to be together. I would much rather them be going with them getting candy then wanting to "go out" and possibly get in trouble or hurt. Nothing wrong with trick or treating.
Last year my 14 year old daughter was so shocked and hurt when a "family" in their house said aren't you too old to be trick or treating and she was really dressed up as my children Love to dress up and go out. She told me, I won't let them ruin my fun. But it really upset her.
I have been invited to TWO Halloween dress up parties this year but choose to stay behind and take my children trick or treating because they love dressing up and going. Stop trying to ruin the kids lives and force them to grow up to quickly! Let them have fun!
Obammy thinks 26 yrs old is when they can still trick or treat!..
I think the age thing isn't a big deal but as a parent I encourage my older daughter to do other activities. But I don't push it
The bigger problem around here is teenagers without costumes. But at my house if you don't have one you don't get a treat.
PP commented that people should trick or treat in there own town. Well that is something my family can't do. There are very few houses in our area and none of them give out candy. So we go back to the neighborhood we lived in before.
Funny...my wife used to dress up as Witchie Poo and would go trick or treating with my kids for years. Every once in a while someone would ask..."aren't you a little old?". To keep her secret, she'd just smile and open her bag...
Cantakenomore, good to see your wife is a socialist scumbag leeching off the hard work of others for her own gain. Pathetic.
Nibien...
Bring it buddy. F You! You can spew venom about me all you want...bring my wife into the picture and I'll take care of you...a$$hole!
I'm 22 now, but I had voluntarily stopped when I was about 13. I just felt sort of silly and embarassed walking up and asking for candy. I was much more excited to dress up but be the one handing out candy to the little kids who came by our house. However, when I have a house, I'll probably give out candy to anyone dressed up and in the holiday mood. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and anyone else who's in the spirit deserves a few candy bars!
How 'bout the ones I like to call the "double-baggers"? Usually an older girl...claiming that the 2nd sack is for her poor younger sibling who is too ill to venture out....I always seem to get at least a couple of them coming around. A couple of radio talk show hosts I enjoy, like to joke about perhaps dumping a ladle of creamed corn into the older one's bags......LOL. As an adult, I discovered years ago....that you can make some SERIOUS money by attending the right costume parties. Go online & search for clubs/bars....casinos.....that are holding Halloween costume contests. Over the past 30 years, I've racked up at least $6000 in prize money ( 1st or 2nd place.....) plus at least one 3 day Carnival cruise to Mexico...( although, I had no desire to even get off the ship in Ensinada...). However, one CAN push the bounds of "good taste"....because I've also been physically "escorted" from clubs...even AFTER winning for "funniest" costume, because some religious nut complained that she was "offended".........Ya' never know, but Halloween can be more fun than Christmas if you use your imagination. This should be a great year for adult parties, as Halloween falls on a Monday. I'm seeing places holding events on both Friday AND Saturday.....and after the parade of kids thins out on Monday, I may still be able to find something on Halloween itself.
To all,
Jesus Christ! What a bunch of bitter, negative people I am reading. Kids can wreak havoc against anyone, at any time of the year; this is not confined to All Hallows Eve, and though I am well aware that when teens, or anyone, get together in groups, the urge for wilder behavior can be escalated, I do not feel Trick-or-Treating should be deemed a felonious act for those over ten years of age or so. I did it into my teens, though those were milder times in society and fewer vandalous acts were seen by far, and I see nothing wrong with it continuing today. If an older person answers the door, they should be prepared for anything on this night. If not, have a pump twelve-gauge shotgun standing beside the door.
Im going! Its awsome. play like a kid.Get jacked up on sugar. Almost 50, Maybe my grand neice will acompany me.
It also dont hurt to have adults in the mix to keep the real predetaors at bay
The issue that is being avoided here is DOZENS of uncostumed older kids who don't live anywhere near where they're being dropped off later in the evening, but hit the "nicer" neighborhoods to mooch. This used to aggravate me until I read up on holiday customs. The entire Hallowe'en to Twelfth Night season was a time of harvest abundance being shared with the "less fortunate," often with booze and strongly implied physical menace attached. (This is the real reason Christmas was banned in the Puritan colonies in this country for a time.) These things faded with time and the modern, family-friendly holidays sorted themselves out, especially in the States. To an old fart like me who ran around unsupervised in the country, often going into houses and playing games as well as getting treats, the modern Hallowe'en has long seemed a pathetic farce. The poisoned candy thing is also an urban myth. (Look it up: ONE case, and it was the kid's father going for insurance--a genuine monster for your contemplation.) So, I figure if it's "traditional" for older kids to come around, let 'em come...we have lots of lights and decorations, and the trick or treaters are almost always polite, regardless of age--at least as polite as my college students.
Wow - this article is so mean. It is hard for kids to know what childhood rituals to leave behind..and when. Hardest of all is Halloween, as evidenced by the massive numbr of adults who like to dress up and have parties. If a 16 year old comes to my door, they are getting some candy and a "Happy Halloween!" fro me. Their childhood will disappear so fast - I see no reason why I should be a witch about it. If they're not from my neigborhood and have come from less desirable neigborhoods - then they'll get exactly the same. A kid is a kid is a kid - if they are still young enough to WANT to dress up and go door to door for some sweet stuff, who am I to judge? . And anyone who thinks that a costumed boy who is tall is a threatening menace deserves to have a heart attack. Mean!