When can a kid trick-or-treat without adults?

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Unfounded paranoia is unfounded.

 

[thraashman]

Hmmm... I'm trying to remember when I started going by myself. Must have been around when I was 9-10 at the latest. Damn fuzzy memory...

Yeah I think it was about the same for me. Kids are probably safer out on the streets in costume on Halloween than they are in class in elementary school.

 

[Paladin3]

Totally depends on the particular kid, the group of friends they run with and the area you live in. We live in a small town and I've raised my kids to not be irresponsible or disrespectful little shits, and we don't let them hang with kids who are.

As long as they let us know where they are and check-in on occasion, our kids got "go-out-and-play privileges" that extended beyond the street we live on when they were about ten. By then they knew the safety rules and, more importantly, knew that if they misbehave it would get quickly back to us.

On Halloween night they don't stomp across lawns, kick over pumpkins or take entire bowls of unattended candy, and they know to be polite and say thank you.

That said, we trick-or-treat as a family event because we enjoy spending the time together. If the kids wanted to go without adults I would want at least one 13-14 year-old in the group because they are usually out after dark.

 

[Linflas]

In this day and age, never. Too many sick fucks out there and I love my children too much to not go out with them because I'm feeling lazy.

More like 24x7 sensationalist news coverage drives the fear of a mythical increase in the number of sick fucks out there when they are likely the same percentage of the population as a whole as they have always been.

 

[Triumph]

In this day and age, never. Too many sick fucks out there and I love my children too much to not go out with them because I'm feeling lazy.

I don't know how old you are, or the age of your kids, but I'm guessing you are between 30 and 40. You probably shouldn't have been trick or treating alone when you were a kid.

It's not about "loving your kids too much" or "feeling lazy," it's about letting kids experience the world without having someone hover over them and protect them at every turn.

 

[nageov3t]

8-9 years old sounds about right to go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood with a group of their friends.

iirc, 4th grade was the first year I went trick-or-treating without adult supervision, and 6th grade was the last year I went trick-or-treating at all.

after 6th grade, we graduated up to Halloween parties instead.

 

[hanoverphist]

My oldest is 10 (turns 11 next month), and this is the first year he's going out by himself (with friends). He could have probably gone last year alone too, though I like going with him. In fact, I'm a little sad that this is the first year I don't get to go with him!

i went through the same thing a couple years ago. my kids ask me to go with them, and i usually dress up as well. they are all over 14 now, and going on their own this year again. they are always with a group that we know and trust, so im not too worried about it. theres a lot of foot traffic in the neighborhood, and lots of concerned parents keeping eyes out.

i accidentally clicked 14+ but meant to click the 12-13.