Thread: Agree or Disagree: Older Teens Barred From TOT'g

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S. Illinois city bans teens from trick-or-treating

This article talks about a town in Southern Illinois that has banned older teens (9th grade & up) from Trick-or-Treating. While I don't like the idea of anyone being barred from participating in Halloween traditions, in this day & age, I think this is a good position.

What say you?

I don't agree.

Anyone that wants to TOT should be allowed.

As long as they are not damaging property or being rude, I don't have a problem with any age TOT at my house.

I've had teens that were at least 14 or 15 years old every year. They wear costumes - sometimes pretty amazing ones and are always polite and they look like they are having fun.

I am sad to see that they are not allowing teenagers to TOT. I am not normally one to be ok with setting a limit of time curfew for TOTing, but I can see if they are having a problem then maybe not after 9 pm. That's really not stretching it so bad, and there is still plenty of dark to TOT before then. They should not take the fun of the holiday away by saying no they can't TOT at all. I for one TOT'd until I was 15 or 16, and those are still some of the best memories of my life and time with my mom as well. I don't think they should take that away from kids. They are already taking away enough of their childhoods, and making them grow up too fast.

I think that may be something to think about. In recent years we've had teenagers with no costume at all but carrying a pillowcase for candy knocking on our door for TOT. Not all but some.

I'd be curious as to the reasoning behind the decision. If the town was having a lot of trouble with teens and vandalism, etc, then maybe it was warranted. Personally, I think anyone who wants to celebrate Halloween by TOT'ing should be able to. I do have issues with some adults who come for handouts, but teens, in my book are for the most part a fun bunch on Halloween. You can pull out all the stops on scares, most are respectful and appreciative, and in many cases make up a considerable portion of your TOT numbers. My two oldest went out with their friends until 9th grade and they all loved it. They didn't get into trouble and really enjoyed their last year as a "kid" on Halloween.

I don't mind the teens. Here, they are mostly rural farm kids and are very respectful. I just don't give them the same treats I give the younger TOTs. Older kids get bags of chips usually. Little kids get toys or king sized candy bars.

If the problem is being afraid of opening a door after 9PM, then they should just enforce the curfew better. They obviously don't mind the expenditure of having a number of enforcers out since they said that's what they'll be doing anyway.

As far as Halloween being "for very young children," this site itself pretty much proves that it isn't. Have any of us outgrown Halloween yet?

i certainly hope they do something for those teens. if they dont, they will be mad and running around anyway.

I dont care if you are 4 or 40. If you are wearing a costume you get a treat

I'm with Mangler, you have a costume, you get a prize. We do a "Raffle", with people reaching into a cauldron to pull out a ticket with a prize printed on it. It IS a little silly, however, when a 40-year-old parent wins a coloring book. But, hey, it's Hallowe'en!