Should there be an age limit on Trick or Treating?
Recently in Belleville, Illinois, they passed a law that only children 12 and under are allowed to trick or treat.
I actually agree that once you are a teenager that you probably shouldn’t be trick or treating. But I guess I am surprised that a law was actually passed for it.(Ashley, the first comment made a really good point–I was in middle school at 12 and 13 and I still trick or treated too.)
Are we making children grow up too fast? Not all kids are mature at 13 and 14 and wanting to go to parties, etc.
Also, how do you enforce it? If a 6 foot tall skeleton comes to your door do you actually call the cops? Apparently a judge can fine anyone trick or treating that is 12 and older a fine from $100-$1,000!
I am also really shocked at the towns that are not allowing trick or treating on Halloween night! Why change it to Saturday night from Sunday night? Because the next day is a work day and school day? That never would have happened while I was growing up!
What ab out set hours for trick or treating? I’ve never heard of that either! I can see where it can be useful, but I honestly can’t see parents keeping their kids out that late since it *is* a school night? I always just turn the light off when I don’t want any more trick or treaters or we have run out of candy!
Does your neighborhood have any rules?
Are you going trick or treating Saturday or Sunday night?
Would you let a 13 year old trick or treat?
Our entire region (5 counties) has a 12 & under age restriction, which I think is too young. I was still in middle school at 12-13 and loved trick or treating.
It's just another way we make kids grow up too fast and ruin the fun childhood events we all loved. All because a small minority of teenagers have to act like jerks and ruin it for the majority of good kids.
As far as enforcing the age limit, there are cops everywhere around here on Halloween. They can stop anyone and if you're caught, you're fined $50 and taken home. It's crazy.
There are no alternatives for the older kids, and that's what is dangerous, imo. You tell them they are too old to trick-or-treat, but give them no where else to go. Perfect chance for bad things to happen.
ToT is still Sunday here, but with VERY limited hours of dusk-8pm. We won't take Bunny out because I don't want to be walking around in the dark with her. They only want younger kids ToTing, but give them adult hours to do so. Makes no sense.
Sorry for the soapbox!! Can you tell I hate the laws?
Personally, I will give candy to anyone who rings my doorbell, is wearing a real costume, says trick or treat, and thanks me for candy. This includes adults, altho I personally feel that's a little strange. As far as I know, we don't have any laws about ToT, but my daughter isn't even 2, so we'll only be going to a few houses around 7p to show off her costume and visit with a couple friends.
I agree that older kids shouldn't trick-or-treat…the problem is where should the cut off be? And like you said, you can't gauge a kid's age on his/her appearance…People mistakenly think Tater is at least 4 (even when he was only 2)!!
I don't know… I can see what they are trying to do – but I think instead they should have a time limit on trick or treaters. Children out past 8 will be stopped and told to go home… that would have the same effect without enforcing an age limit… Sad that some kids ruin it for others.
When our older child was old enough that he wasn't really suitable as a trick-or-treater, he took our younger child around the neighborhood. Frequently, he was given candy, too, but he didn't ask for it. How will the police distinguish between older siblings helping younger ones? Or, what about teen parents? A legal age restriction is ridiculous and is not intended to limit the ages of the children as much as to discourage trick-or-treating in general.
I give books away along with my other treats, from board books to adult mysteries. I welcome everyone with coffee, water bottles and juice boxes. I offer kleenex packets for sniffly noses, bandaids for boo-boos, and special treats for the parents who take the time to keep this tradition alive. And, like a lot of other enjoyable stuff, humbugs keep wanting to take the fun away.
I'll be out on Sunday, for sure, and Saturday, if there are knockers.
Wow! That is so weird I have never heard of a law like that. My oldest is almost 11 and I actually started thinking this year how many years she had left. The problem is we always go out as a family(I also have an 8 year old) and I can't imagine in a couple of years telling my oldest to stay home while the rest of us head out for a fun evening trick or treating. That would seem weird!
I get the concept, but I probably wouldn't let my 13 year old out alone on Halloween any way.
we'll be out tonight (saturday)…blah. our mayor didn't want to observe it on sunday bacause it's a religious day. seriously?! our hours are from 5-7 also. the only positive side is that there is no age limit, but i'm sure that will change!
I totally think that trick or treating should be left to the little ones…after a certain age, the kids are most likely not doing it for the candy any longer and it's just too big of an opportunity to get themselves into mischief! Plus, it's a little frightening going to the door with a 6 foot zombie on the other side! Happy Halloween!