At what age are kids too old to trick-or-treat?

Halloween…you know how it goes…you get the cute little trick-or-treaters ringing your doorbell all decked out as witches or pumpkins, parents standing not far behind reminding them to say ‘thank you’.

A couple of hours go by.   Some down time.  Then the bell starts again.  This time they look a little different.  Much bigger kids, with maybe some black makeup on their faces and a plastic bag.  Most don’t even say ‘trick or treat’ – they just stand there.   Still kids, but are they too old to be trick-or-treating?

My older two kids are looking the part these days.  One towering over me, the second not far behind.  In the past couple of years they have set up haunted garages and had small parties on Halloween – but still, the longing for trick-or-treating is there.

Some towns actually have laws about how old a person can be to trick-or-treat on Halloween.  I can’t imagine however anyone asking for ID when someone looks too old at their door.  I always thought turning off your light meant, We are closed for business.  But in some places it means, Egg me.

The tradition of trick-or-treating is so nostalgic.  I guess it just would not even truly feel like Halloween without it.  But, doesn’t it seem like something that could open up the doors for trouble?  How about the creepers who come out?  Would we even know if they were for real or in costume?  How about the law that sex offenders are suppose to post a sign on their door to stay away.  Really?  How many do you really think are going to do this?  And, who is to say they are not out there with the rest of the crowd?

I realize we can’t worry about everything – but doesn’t it make you think for a moment?

I hope Halloween is here to stay, but in this day and age it wouldn’t surprise me if they start ticketing trick-or-treaters soon.

How old do you think is too old for kids to be ringing doorbells on Halloween?