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“How old is too old to trick or treat?” Why am I not allowing my daughter to participate?

“How old is too old to trick or treat?” Why am I not allowing my daughter to participate?

As a mother of three, my house is humming Halloween fun this week.

My six-year-old twins were growing up spooky crafts while my 14-year-old daughter is going to spend the night with her friends on Halloween.

As a family, we like to embrace the silly, scary side of the day. We decorate the entrance door with a spider web and a pumpkin and we’ll have a treat with little kids ready to collect as many sweets as they can handle.

But there’s one rule I won’t break on Halloween: I won’t let my 14-year-old get treats.

I’ve seen people on social media talking about how a a teenager who wants to go trick or treating should be allowed because they choose “childish activities” over other things. Let children, people cry!

But I’m still firmly not.

69 percent of women are less likely to go out after dark

why Because to begin with, I don’t like my 14-year-old daughter wandering the streets after dark with her friends.

We know that the personal safety of women and girls is of great concern.

Survey of 8,000 Londoners found that 74 percent of female respondents feel concerned about their safety some of the time or even all of the time, and the 2021-22 MOPAC Public Sentiment Survey. showed that 69 percent of women are less likely to go out after dark.

But this is not only a matter of personal safety. I also know how local households can feel if they hear a knock on the door, open it expecting to see a group of young children and parents, only to find a group of teenagers instead.

Whether it’s a woman staying at home alone or an elderly couple, there are many reasons why they may feel vulnerable opening the door to a group of teenagers, no matter how polite and friendly they may be.

She can come with the whole family

My 14 year old gets to go with me and her little sisters when we go to fun events, so if she really wants to have fun on Halloween, she can.

I’m not the only one with this rule.

Mom Niomi Winter asked, “How old is too old to trick or treat?” in an Instagram video this week, and many parents responded.

“Personally, if you’re too old to go with mommy and daddy … then I think you’re too old to trick or treat,” said one mom.

“We move on to my teenagers, accompanying the younger ones and/or opening the door and continuing the entertainment for the little ones. Instead, I’m throwing them both a Halloween party/movie night with tons of candy and treats!”

But others disagreed. One mum said: “Definitely any age as long as they are respectful. I hate to see people being told they are too old for a certain age. Too old for fun and joy?! Why?!’

“I don’t like it when we get a big group together late at night”

Some parents said that teenagers can be tricked or treated dress up in a suitbut you can’t just knock on the door in ordinary clothes and ask for sweets.

“As long as they put effort into the suit: it’s on. I don’t like it when we get a big group, late at night in tracksuits and masks just holding out an Asda bag expectantly ‘

And, according to many commentators, the big concern is the behavior of teenagers, not their age:

“There’s no age limit, if you’re polite and show up at my door, you’ll get candy even if you’re 80!…what’s not okay is walking around destroying people’s jewelry when you’re sick of trick or treating, so there is a disrespect limit, not an age limit!’

However, for me it’s a simple rule: if you want to go for a walk, you go with us, and we do it as a family. This is not an activity to do with your mates.