At what age do you feel is TOO young to trick or treat?

[SkyeFaerie]

what do you feel is to young for this tradition?

[Lunacie]

The same answer as usual: it all depends. In this case it depends on the child. We took my grandchildren to a Halloween party last night and both girls had a wonderful time playing games and eating treats. But when it was time to go through the "haunted house" the five year old was much too afraid to go and the two year old couldn't wait to go. :lol:

[SkyeFaerie]

:lol: oh that's rough :lol:

[OakFire]

I think it depends on what you do. If you are letting them trick or treat around the neighboorhood by themselves or with a group of friends. Or if you are going with them. If you have a party maybe just taylor it to their needs and age. If you take them to a haunted house, check it out first to see if you think it is to scary for them. Bascially, I think you can let any child trick or treat, or celebrate Halloween/Samhain. You just have to judge your child and see what would fit them best.

[Wicker Man]

It really does depend on the child. We took our daughter out last year when she was a few months shy of two years. We dressed her up as a cheerleader and walked her to a few houses figuring that would be plenty for her. When we started back to the house she started to cry as she was clearly having a good time. So we went around the rest of the block and she was ecstatic. :)

[veinglory]

I feel at least one fo the kids in the group should be of 'walking' age -- with younger kids coming along to be part of the family activities. But what the hell -- if you knock, i give candy.

[VelvetBlade]

I started taking my kids from birth, except my first of course. He was born in October, but I dont think we seriously went trick or treating until he was 2. As babies, they would be dressed up in those cute little sleepers...and would schlep right alongside the older kids. My kids have never gone trick or treating without a parent with the group either. Just wouldn't happen..

~AW

[Felidae]

When you and the child feel ready. If your both able to deal with the excitement without negative reations (though some let-down is natural) then go for it. We started taking my girl out when she was two, and I found that a Jack O'Lantern is an easy, fun costume for little ones.

Oh, I wish we could still indulge in this part of the night together... Believe me, these fun times with your kids are over a lot sooner than you'll be ready for!

[Phil_Anselmo_Lover]

We started taking my girl out when she was two, and I found that a Jack O'Lantern is an easy, fun costume for little ones.

*ahem* Oh, yes, especially when you spend the rest of the night trying to scrap the orange paint off of the kid's face, with the kid bawling. And then you are told that baby oil is the easy solution. :rolleyes:

I suggest a costume that doesn't involve face paint, if you're anything like my mom ^. :lol:

[Chibi-Fallon]

I think I first went when I was 2. We probably went to about 2 houses, my mom always made me really nice costumes, so that was more for them to get pictures then anything else really.
The free zoo near my house always does a non-scary event called Zoo Boo (kids just walk around the zoo and get candy) that we had party for that, with people from pre-school and ECFE. That started the same year I think (I really don't remember).

[nomadicdragon]

we took my ex's daughter when she was 2 as a bumblbee and last year she was a unicorn... she had fun.. we found that after an hour or so she'd get a litte tired.. so the only thing i suggest is keeping the length that you trick or treat is short..

[SkyeFaerie]

my son is almost 4, not quite, and gets pretty excited. I'm afraid he will get TO excited. It would be different if his father was coming with us but he is goign to be at the Fire Dept all night. So he won't be able to. It will be just me...I'm just a bit worried...

[Stardevil]

My son zach jsut turned 3 today .. He has been trick or treating since he was 11 days old... the first year he was alittle bear and he went from palce to palce with grandma so grandma could show him off to her friends.... It was actually trick or treating because he went to grandma's friends houses is where he went... When he was 1 he was a scarecrow and we wtook him to the family's houses and a couple of freinds houses only... Same thing as when he was 2 but he was a ghost that year... This year he is goign to be my little red dragon and we are actually goign to go walkign around depending on how tired he is after goign to all the family's houses....


With young children keep the time limited but introduce them to the concept in some way shape or form this way it is not jsut sprung on them one year by tellign here we go and getting them dressed up adn out the door...

[SkyeFaerie]

I may just take him around the neighborhood. to a few houses that I know and call it a night. He gets overlly excited so I want to make things simple for him!

[DragonLove]

I took both my kids to all the neighbors homes when they were a few months old. I dressed them up and carried them. It was more to show them off in that cute little pumpkin outfit of course but it was fun for all of us nonetheless : )

[Semele]

Age is irrelevant!! LOL! trinity is going this year, well she went last year too but she was still in the womb! This year Dad will carry her and she will collect candy for Mommy and the new womb occupant who will sadly enough be at work that night. :(

[Mnemosyne]

Kids can't be too young to trick-or-treat. Kids love dressing up and getting little treats from neighbors. I have really young neighbors- even 2 years old, and they love it. If the child is really little, just go to a few homes, and go to homes where you know the people quite well.

Now a question would be: how old is too old to trick-or-treat? lol

[Shadowolff]

No age is too young (with proper supervision, of course, lots of good suggstions posted above).

No age is too old, either, if you're bringing the little ones around. I'd get dressed up, too, I'll never be too old to play, but I hung back on the sidewalk as they went to the door.

"How come you're not trick-or-treating?" someone asked while passing goodies to the little ones.

"I'm too old," I said.

"No one's too old for Halloween," they replied, and for the rest of that night and every time I brought my kids out after that, I was at the door, too.

[SkyeFaerie]

well I think I am going to take him! I just need to get his costume! He wants to be a fire man just like his Daddy!!!!! So off to Toys R Us I will be going this weekend! Thanks so much! skye

[Calzaer]

They have to be able to walk. And preferably say the words "Trick or Treat".

I don't give candy to parents carrying a 9-month-old dressed like a tomato. If they ARE planning to give the candy to the kid, that's bad, and if they're NOT, they're being dishonest.

[SkyeFaerie]

well he said he didn't want to go this morning so I don't know if we will be now or not, I'll wait and let him decide closer to Halloween...

[Jenne]

No age is too young (with proper supervision, of course, lots of good suggstions posted above).

No age is too old, either, if you're bringing the little ones around. I'd get dressed up, too, I'll never be too old to play, but I hung back on the sidewalk as they went to the door.

"How come you're not trick-or-treating?" someone asked while passing goodies to the little ones.

"I'm too old," I said.

"No one's too old for Halloween," they replied, and for the rest of that night and every time I brought my kids out after that, I was at the door, too.
WORD! That's sooo my attitude! I don't know if I'd collect candy for myself ever, but I put my kids in the stroller ever year and we GO! We even went t-o-t'ing in Mexico when we were down there for Halloween! Course, the next day and night it was cooler to see the Dia de los Muertos celebrations too!

[Sekhemet]

I believe if a child can walk, knock and SAY trick or treat, they should be permitted to go out scrounging for candy ... Even if that means you have to "pre-train them" by using the bedroom and bathroom doors, and asking friends over to be the one ANSWERING the knock.
My daugther was almost 5 mos old, but fully able to walk and talk (tic teet) - We dressed her up as a duck in yellow track suit type underclothes and a couple of yellow feather boa's wrapped around, and off we went - She did well, and she LOVED it!!!! She may have only been 5 mos, but she was the last one off the sidewalk. "Tic teet, MOM tic teet!!!!"

Parental accompanyment up to the age of 10 is also wise - due to the fact of past nightfall, and the rest. By 11 and 12 going out with siblings and friends would be proper I'd imagine.
From the age of 13 - 16 however I do still think kids should be ALLOWED to be kids and be banging on doors - BUT ONLY if they take the effort to find/create a costume and dress up!

*pet peeve* 14 yr old at the door wearing dad's pants and t-shirt claiming to be a "workman" - no go. At least borrow the hard hat too, guys!

I will say though around this house the kids put extra effort in for ME and I put extra gunk out for them.
THE RULES;
No costume = no candy - but you can still have the apple ...
Big kids (13+) and parents get big size bars
little tiny ones (3yo and less) I give balloons (the BIG hit) and apples or a sippy juice (which is ually GONE by the foot of the driveway)
And I always give out a couple of "prizes" for best costumes - stuff that can be kept and put out and enjoyed - Colouring books work in a pinch, and are only like $1 each.

The other suggestion - put your trash can out at the foot of the driveway too - saves you picking up all the wrappers the next day.

And finally - remember how you respond to the kids on this ONE night will denote how your property is treated by all the neighborhood hoodlums for the entire of the next year.
I'm always good to the kids, they always treat me well - Bring back the dogs if they escape, let me know which other kid it was tossing potatos at the house, bring back things other kids have stolen, etc.
I missed ONE year of giving stuff out - ONE ... and I've had more grief with the neighborhood kids in this past year than I want to admit. Granted it's a LOT of new neighbors too - But if you put the effort in, it seems to be worth the reward.

This year, I'm goin' nuts! 10 "Jack's" alone, and I'm anticipating somewhere around 400 kids. What is the expected head counts for you folks??

[Willow_Raindancer]

I said under 4 simply because most halloween candy passed out is unsuitable for youger children. AKA gum, hard candy, taffy, sweet-tarts (you get my drift) :hehehehe:

[faylinn]

If you think about it, you trick-or-treat as a kid, then you might do it as a teen, just to get candy, then when you become a parent you go with your kids. So basically you trick-or-treat all your life. Well, most of it.

[Sekhemet]

I said under 4 simply because most halloween candy passed out is unsuitable for youger children. AKA gum, hard candy, taffy, sweet-tarts (you get my drift) :hehehehe:

*smile* Shore do ... the other one people tend not to think of if not dealing with it themselves is allergies and/or diabetic kids.
Wouldn't it be horrible to go get all that candy and not be able to eat a single piece! If I was that kid I'd be sitting there in tears myself!
It's as easy as getting ONE package of the stuff and ASKING them if they have allergies or are diabetic ... Be the cool person who thought, and makes sure to include everyone!

But if you did have a little one, and *were* to head out ... I could give you gummi bears, chocolate bars of the kitkat, smarties and coffee crisp variety, suckers, the apple, a package of sesame snaps, a juice, a balloon, potato chips, and some pixie stix too ... Would that work for ya' mom??? *chuckle*poke*
(and I wonder why I'm up to 500 kids - the "take" from this house is legendary by now I'm sure! All that for a mini people, at one house no less, and I DO permit return knockers - but only when it gets late, and only if they change costumes (it's as easy as TRADE!!!) Imagine the haul for a teenager around here!!! lol it's terrible bad, I know.)

OK - OK! I'm a Hallowe'en junkie at heart - I confess ... *sigh* but it's ALMOST HERE!!!!!!

[Sekhemet]

If you think about it, you trick-or-treat as a kid, then you might do it as a teen, just to get candy, then when you become a parent you go with your kids. So basically you trick-or-treat all your life. Well, most of it.


yeah!!!!! cool huh!!!
And even if you DON'T have kids there's always a cool happening to head out to do, and you can feel free to stop and grab sugar sticks on the way to or from the gathering!!

I LOVE HALLOWE'EN!! bwahahahaah (I digress - sorry about that)

[emerald fae]

If you're willing to dress your child up and take them door to door, then the child probably isn't too young to take trick or treating. You just have to take into consideration the weather and such. It's a great family event. And everyone loves seeing those little baby bugs all dressed up.

[Chibi-Fallon]

My little cousin is going for the first time this year (she's 2). :) She's going to be a lady bug. :cutie:
The main problem is she is afraid of acorns.... and leaves touching her. :lol: So she might not get to far.

[SkyeFaerie]

I said under 4 simply because most halloween candy passed out is unsuitable for youger children. AKA gum, hard candy, taffy, sweet-tarts (you get my drift) :hehehehe:
that's what I think to! I never give my son candy so this would be rather intersting :lol:

[Sekhemet]

I *may* be moving slightly off topic here, but I don't think it's worth an entire thread for it, hope no one minds ...
How do you folks give the candy to your kids after it's been collected?

We put one SMALL bowl of it out to nibble on whenever the urge strikes, when that's gone, it's gone. No re-fill. But around our house it's always been done as a reward system. Do as you are asked, when you are asked, without a scene - and get a pick out of the bag (max of 5 treats a day - morning, noon, evening + 2 "bribes")
Heck I even do that with the S.O. whose big weakness is the reeses cups *chuckle* And yes, it works with him too!!!

My favourite. "Mom needs a couple of minutes of silence and "re-group time" can you PLEASE go colour or do something very quietly for a just a couple of minutes, and when I come to find you I'll make sure I bring you (insert goody here)."
OR
We need to go shopping for groceries kiddo - I have to get ready, and you have to get ready too. Betcha' I could be ready to go quicker than you! (winner gets a goody and of course the wee one always wins - just keep talking to them as you do your thing reminding them what needs to be done before they go - trick is not how WELL they clean up and hit the door - but the fact that they are SITTING at the door waiting for you to put their shoes and coats on for them when you get there. Not running around or in the middle of a TV show or something foolish.)
Don't make mom stress, and you win a reward. Some call it a bribe system, some call it a reward system.
Smart people call it "positive reinforcement." Screaming and yelling at a child is easy enough to pull off. Can you figure out ways to GET them to behave, encourage good behaviour and maintain it?? (it's as simple as the "bribe" - we punish for bad, but we often forget to reward for the good behavioiur, and take it for granted. Reinforce the behaviour you WANT to see, not the stuff you would rather ignore, and watch your child blossom. *wink*)


I did this, this way and by Xmas we STILL had Hallowe'en candy. I've heard rumors of parents who give the kid the ENTIRE bag and don't regulate the consumption (so sayeth the kids), but I've not yet run across an adult who says that is the way they do it. So I figured I'd ask ... After all that candy has been collected how do you folks give it to your kids? Or do you just let them go to town??

[SkyeFaerie]

:lol: good I'm not the only one who bribes! I just dont' do it with candy just because he hasn't had candy yet :lol:

[moonmorgan]

Too young? No one's too young to trick or treat!

[MoonDust]

too young? is there such a thing?

one can never be too young or too old.

[Drisel]

Well I first took my oldest out door to door when she was four. Holidays involving candy are hard for her because she has a chocolate allergy. Poor kid gets hives, problems breathing the whole bit. She was so cute the first year because she would say trick or treat, the person would go to give her candy and she would say I'm allergic to chocolate but that's okay my mom and dad can have that one. People would usually scramble for something to give her instead. She was so cute. My youngest was 12 days old and was swiming in the baby costume we got her. She was supposed to be a cat but looked more like a mouse because the ears were so big for her tiny head. So I guess it depends. And yes I dress up when I take my kids out. About four years ago when I took out the oldest a bunch of friends wanted to come along. So there was this one 5yr old with four adults all out trick or treating, and yes we were all dressed up.

**As a side note (and yes I will probably get slammed for this) it is NOT safe to give small children baloons because when they pop from rough play or, even just from being chewed on , a piece of the balloon can cover and obstruct the airway. This can hapen even of they are not inflated.**

[MoonDust]

no slamming from me.

[Sekhemet]

**As a side note (and yes I will probably get slammed for this) it is NOT safe to give small children baloons because when they pop from rough play or, even just from being chewed on , a piece of the balloon can cover and obstruct the airway. This can hapen even of they are not inflated.**


I get them helium filled and put the goop inside so they stay floaty for a few days - When I give them to the wee person I tie the sting onto the handle of the goody bag, so it won't bind or be caught on anything is easy to be rid of once home ... and yet is still secure.
The first year I tied them on wrists and coat zippers but I had 2 small people return in tears, because the balloons floated off, and a few that just would NOT stay out of the child's face *chuckle* so now I tie them on the bag/bucket or ask the child if they'd rather the parent held the balloon - they ALWAYS want it themselves though ... and ...
I figure if you're being an actual parent and knowing the child is playing with a balloon and therefore supervising them as one should - all is well, and there is no danger involved. There is only parenting and supervision involved.

This wasn't intended to slam anyone, or even to defend anything ... and no I wouldn't give out flat balloons - that would be not only dangerous a FEW ways (one could easilly coat a balloon lip with something toxic I'd imagine) but it would also be sort of "sucky" wouldn't it?? Deflated - yes are very nasty not just for wee ones, even for pets - But an inflated hellium balloon is a great and cheap toy (42 cents) - UNLESSS the kid has a latex allergy *lol* all them allergies huh!
Mine learned quick if it popped it was gone - And ALL of it was in the garbage NOW, the toy was finished, and no there is not another one. That kid could make a hellium balloon last all the way down to a grapefruit size before she would FINALLY let me toss it! Hey when it's like that it made good "music" - "look, you pull the "tail" and it makes a thunk thunk like a drum mom!!!"

But if YOU as a parent wouldn't want one - then it's as easy as saying ... "No thank you" *shrug* I'd happilly let YOU deal with the annoyed youngster who was just jilted ... *chuckle* Not my problem!

And I'm smiling over here, while typing this - for the record ...

[VroomBroom]

Both my boys have been trick or treating since they were about 1...but I will admit to taking out the oldest when he was a month old in a t-shirt that said 'this IS my halloween costume (new parents we were excited and couldn't wait:lol:

As for giving out the candy they recieve, they are allowed 2 to 3 pieces of it a day....I know that may not seem like alot, but I have always been a little 'strict' with the candy.