Trick or treating rules

[sgluckadoo]

Is trick or treating safe these days? How do you decide on where to go and if the candy is safe to eat? What ages are ok to trick or treat without parents?

[sgluckadoo]

And another question.... How old is to old to trick or treat?

[dracorium]

as far as safe neighborhoods well that is pretty easy to determine just dont take em to the HOOD lol. ALWAYS check candy, i dont mean steal all the good candy from your kids. and i say as long as you put effort in your costume ANY age should be able to trick or treat. and as far as age when they should trick or treat alone AFTER they learn self-defense. and you can always find out where any pedophiles may be living online free

[lgemini]

You will have to go in places you know the people.  I have to take my son and niece out, but only in my neighborhood.   

[sgluckadoo]

You will have to go in places you know the people.  I have to take my son and niece out, but only in my neighborhood.   

That may be why I dont get any. Most everyone in my neighborhood is older, very few kids. I hate not seeing them all dressed up! 

[lynnc35]

malls are good, alot of churches host trunk or treating, this would be safe, don't trust door to door anymore.

[mrsldigbie77]

In my opinion, you should never let your kids go trick or treating alone. Go in your neighborhood, where you know everyone and try convenience stores.

[2getherwewin]

IF IT IS A COMMUNITY EVENT.

[fogarty815]

By the time I let my kids go by themselves they will probably be too old to want to go! I take the kids to retirement homes and nursing homes, where they have no idea what the costumes are, but fuss over the kids. Also check if your neighborhood has a designated trick or treating time/day. It's not always on Halloween. I really think people poisoning candy is an urban legend and everyone would know who did it, so please people don't worry about that and have a good time! 

[SmartyTru]

You will have to go in places you know the people.  I have to take my son and niece out, but only in my neighborhood.   

Used to do the same thing with my children until they said Dad........we wan't to go with friends this year(long ago like 10 years)

[lvstephanie]

By the time I let my kids go by themselves they will probably be too old to want to go!

Heh, they'll never be too old to want to go! Heck, I'd still love to dress up in costumes and get free stuff! Although everyone else would think I'd be weird and too old, so I guess I'll just have to go to the costume parties at the bars in town.

Actually the first year after my parents decreed that I was too old to go trick or treating, my friends and I came up with a great idea... On November 1, we dressed up and went around for "left-overs day". A bunch of people got a kick out of that, and some actually did have tons of candy left-over so they'd just dump the remaining candy into our bags, esp. those that didn't have kids and so had no need for it. I think we actually made out better that year than we did any other year. However our parents found out what we had done, and forbid "left-over day" as well come the next year... 

[hicaniplay]

Never too old to dress up and go out, but to get candy I think you should really have an extra cool costume or an under 15 kid or a dog with you

I think if you let your kid normally wander around in the daylight with a pack of kids, you could let them out at night with the same pack to go roaming, but it depends on the kid. I'd be more concerned that the kids would try to cause trouble than get abducted (pack of kids a must though, no singles but might get away with just three), so it depends on the actual kids and how much you trust them.

But our family almost always has an adult or old kid with the kids, I don't really think anyone younger than 12-14 was allowed to wander around without one, but I could be wrong. Can't always remember ages. We usually combine family units and wander around, more eyes to watch the kids, pile everyone into one car when going to different neighborhoods, etc.
Plus, we mostly stayed in small towns where we live. When we went to visit the "city" (larger college town) I think we only had little little kids at the time, but even if we'd have had bigger I think everyone would have had to stay together or stay in one place so they wouldn't get lost and not have a ride.



Also, "left-overs day" is adorable. 

[2010weis]

I think parents should always go with their kids and keep a close eye on them.  And then don't allow them to eat any candy until you have gone through it with them.  Look for any opened wrappers, baked goods, things that could be tampered with.  It may sound like you are being paranoid, but with all the crazies out there you can never be too safe!

[alina6]

In our neighborhood the kids go door to door in packs while the parents all walk together down the street. usually one parent stays home to hand out the candy.

[raven1114]

as long as they are with a parent MOST neighborhoods are fine to trick or treat in. as far as the safety of the candy i think people worry far more than is needed in this area. do people know how very few REAL cases of children being hurt by tainted candy there are? sure check the candy but don't be paranoid about it. as far as age i don't care if 50 year olds want to t&t just don't push little kids down to get to the candy.