Too Old...?

[McheleM]

Rules at my house: if you look older than 13-14, no candy unless you're with a smaller child. Smaller child gets 2-3 pieces, you get 1.

No costume, no candy, no ifs ands or buts about it. If I have to spend money on candy, you need a costume-and don't throw a pillowcase over your head with eyes cut out. Make it a good costume.


I usually go all out for Halloween. It's my favorite holiday. I actually own 10 fog machines, 5-6 strobe lights, a 6 ft Jason voorhees, several vampires, a endless tunnel, and a full fledged cemetery complete with mausoleum. I make the kids walk through a tunnel to get to my porch to get their candy. We chase them with a chainsaw, and scare the crap out of kids and parents alike. Last year some teenage kid decided to hit my son and a fight ensued, so there's no Halloween this year at my house. Next year, we'll see.

[myteddybear]

I have kids that range from 26 down to 7 and we go every year and love it. Of course my 26 year old is now on her own and a mommy so she goes with her son but my son was home until this last year and and he went every year until he left home at 19. We always went as a family. My son went with our little ones up to the doors and he always spent lots of time on his costume (never a mask, last year he was Johnny Bravo and it was so funny) He did trick or treat while dad and I walked the dogs and followed but stayed at the end of the drive ways with the dogs. I was always proud that he preferred to spend it with his family and he never went out alone with his friends so we always knew what was going on.

For our family it has always been about the fun of dressing up and spending the night out together no matter how old the kids. My son spent the time to make it fun for the smaller kids and the people answering the doors so I always felt he should be allowed to participate. I always felt so sad when people were rude about him being there even though he was always dressed as something fun and was always escorting the smaller kids. I would say though that for the majority most people had fun with him and lots even asked to get pics of him. When he was Johnny Bravo it was all home made even the muscles and he did the voice and Johnny's sayings and most people really enjoyed him.

I wish Halloween hadn't changed so much but it surely isn't what it was when we were kids.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by myteddybear

I have kids that range from 26 down to 7 and we go every year and love it. Of course my 26 year old is now on her own and a mommy so she goes with her son but my son was home until this last year and and he went every year until he left home at 19. We always went as a family. My son went with our little ones up to the doors and he always spent lots of time on his costume (never a mask, last year he was Johnny Bravo and it was so funny) He did trick or treat while dad and I walked the dogs and followed but stayed at the end of the drive ways with the dogs. I was always proud that he preferred to spend it with his family and he never went out alone with his friends so we always knew what was going on.

For our family it has always been about the fun of dressing up and spending the night out together no matter how old the kids. My son spent the time to make it fun for the smaller kids and the people answering the doors so I always felt he should be allowed to participate. I always felt so sad when people were rude about him being there even though he was always dressed as something fun and was always escorting the smaller kids. I would say though that for the majority most people had fun with him and lots even asked to get pics of him. When he was Johnny Bravo it was all home made even the muscles and he did the voice and Johnny's sayings and most people really enjoyed him.

I wish Halloween hadn't changed so much but it surely isn't what it was when we were kids.

I agree thats why I have fun with it and give out candy to whoever has a costume on no matter what age. Its only once a year I could understand if it were all the time but its not. Alot of people in our neighborhood dont give out candy so I try to give out what I can. One thing of candy I got is a tub of dum dum suckers with a 1000 in it for $20. Now who cant afford that? I also got candy bars and mcdonald coupons. and some things from the $1 store for my trick or treaters. I just love halloween and I also love the giving that goes on in the neighborhood by the ones that do give candy. Alot of my neighbors that do give candy try to make up for the ones that dont by giving treat bags or even some give whole candy bars. One year a guy gave out $1 and$5 bills. We are in a downtown neighborhood too where there is some poorer people and middle income definitely no upper income.

[jmdt]

Originally Posted by McheleM

Rules at my house: if you look older than 13-14, no candy unless you're with a smaller child. Smaller child gets 2-3 pieces, you get 1.

No costume, no candy, no ifs ands or buts about it. If I have to spend money on candy, you need a costume-and don't throw a pillowcase over your head with eyes cut out. Make it a good costume.


I usually go all out for Halloween. It's my favorite holiday. I actually own 10 fog machines, 5-6 strobe lights, a 6 ft Jason voorhees, several vampires, a endless tunnel, and a full fledged cemetery complete with mausoleum. I make the kids walk through a tunnel to get to my porch to get their candy. We chase them with a chainsaw, and scare the crap out of kids and parents alike. Last year some teenage kid decided to hit my son and a fight ensued, so there's no Halloween this year at my house. Next year, we'll see.

Don't think it's funny at all to actually chase the kids with a chainsaw (fake or not). The scary tunnel is cool but to actually chase them in my opinion is taking it too far. I would have hit anyone that was trying to "scare the crap out of kids"!!

[jmdt]

My oldest child is 22 and a teacher. I could not imagine him going around trick or treating and running up to houses for candy like his students. It's ridiculous. Trick or treating is for the younger kids not adults.
Why not just have a little get together at your apartment with your friends and make spooky treats and a funky punch??

[chachi]

Well the vast majority of my adult trick or treaters have a child and they just want to dress up and trick or treat like their kids. But if someone had a dog and had a costume for their dog and they just wanted to go trick or treating so they could show of there dog and they came to my door Id be thrilled to see them. The whole spirit if halloween is in the giving so I would think it would be terrible to tear someone down and tell them Im not going to give them candy because they are too old.

[OwnedByJezebel]

This is a generic answer to any dilemma: If you have to ask whether or not something is proper, that illustrates that there is doubt in your mind. That doubt is there for a reason, your common sense is telling you that it isn't acceptable. However, there is another side of you that is looking for an excuse to do just the opposite, and posting here to get others to make you feel better about it.

Now, to address this specifically: Nothing wrong with dressing up and having fun, but going from door to door is for kids. Adults can go to clubs, have parties, and buy their own candy anytime they want. I don't understand why an adult would want to spend their time on Halloween going door to door for candy (unless to accompany children, and even then, the candy is just for the kids) when there are other options that are so much more fun.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by McheleM

Rules at my house: if you look older than 13-14, no candy unless you're with a smaller child. Smaller child gets 2-3 pieces, you get 1.

No costume, no candy, no ifs ands or buts about it. If I have to spend money on candy, you need a costume-and don't throw a pillowcase over your head with eyes cut out. Make it a good costume.


I usually go all out for Halloween. It's my favorite holiday. I actually own 10 fog machines, 5-6 strobe lights, a 6 ft Jason voorhees, several vampires, a endless tunnel, and a full fledged cemetery complete with mausoleum. I make the kids walk through a tunnel to get to my porch to get their candy. We chase them with a chainsaw, and scare the crap out of kids and parents alike. Last year some teenage kid decided to hit my son and a fight ensued, so there's no Halloween this year at my house. Next year, we'll see.

We have one house in our neighborhood that they decorate the downstairs as a haunted house and let the kids go in and the kids love it its the spooky house but its really not for the little trick or treaters. One year I just played scary music and the little ones didnt want to come in my yard it scared them so I turned it off

[jmdt]

Originally Posted by chachi

Well the vast majority of my adult trick or treaters have a child and they just want to dress up and trick or treat like their kids. But if someone had a dog and had a costume for their dog and they just wanted to go trick or treating so they could show of there dog and they came to my door Id be thrilled to see them. The whole spirit if halloween is in the giving so I would think it would be terrible to tear someone down and tell them Im not going to give them candy because they are too old.

I agree with you. I would never turn away someone. I mean really... it's a piece of candy I wouldn't screen their costume to see if it met my standards.
I'm kind of excited for this year because I'm always out with my younger kid and I miss all the cute costumes. I love to hand out the candy. My older son will be glad this year that he doesn't have to do it. lol

[chachi]

Originally Posted by jmdt

I agree with you. I would never turn away someone. I mean really... it's a piece of candy I wouldn't screen their costume to see if it met my standards.
I'm kind of excited for this year because I'm always out with my younger kid and I miss all the cute costumes. I love to hand out the candy. My older son will be glad this year that he doesn't have to do it. lol

I like to hand out the candy too. My Husband and take turns. I take my daughter a couple of streets then we go back and he takes her out for a while and so one. Last year was like a trick or treat marathon my Daughter just wanted to see how much she could get and then she didnt even eat most of the candy so we arent doing that this year.

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

You could always trick or treat for unicef instead of candy. Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF :: Youth Action :: U.S. Fund for UNICEF - UNICEF USA

Well, that's a better idea than asking for candy as an adult.

My son was done trick or treating by middle school. Really, I've never seen an adult asking for candy unless it was for their small child.

It would be odd in my neighborhood. Yes, I would probably give candy IF a young adult was dressed up - but not much. Candy is for the little kids that come around.

Lil Sis, I am limiting the amount of candy too. We have TONS of kids in our neighborhood; we'll hand out however much we have - then lights out. I'll bet a lot of folks do that this year.

[manina]

Originally Posted by jmdt

I agree with you. I would never turn away someone. I mean really... it's a piece of candy I wouldn't screen their costume to see if it met my standards.
I'm kind of excited for this year because I'm always out with my younger kid and I miss all the cute costumes. I love to hand out the candy. My older son will be glad this year that he doesn't have to do it. lol

Agree ! everyone gets candy, but this year i will giving out candy after school lets out, my better half will be giving out the treat after 6:00pm, and we go until 8:00pm that's it. I turn off front lights.
I enjoy them during the day light hours, my furbabies will be going nuts every time that bell rings , so I put them away with the tv on loud. I always buy too much candy and so much left over.

bark@ulater!!!!!
manina,mileyandmax

[jmdt]

Originally Posted by manina

Agree ! everyone gets candy, but this year i will giving out candy after school lets out, my better half will be giving out the treat after 6:00pm, and we go until 8:00pm that's it. I turn off front lights.
I enjoy them during the day light hours, my furbabies will be going nuts every time that bell rings , so I put them away with the tv on loud. I always buy too much candy and so much left over.

bark@ulater!!!!!
manina,mileyandmax

I know my babies go nuts also. I will have to put them in my bedroom with the tv on.

[Beamers Mom]

My furbabies always went nuts too when we had trick or treaters. But last few years we have been on a cruise on Halloween. Llast time we were home on Halloween I went trick or treating but only to the next door neighbour's house LOL
Next year we will be home for Halloween, Bruce and I will get dressed up and sit outside to hand out candy.

I notice the OP is no longer a member

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by Beamers Mom

I notice the OP is no longer a member

Scared away by the Halloween "scrooge"s ....