Trick or Treat - how old to walk alone?

[Anonymous]

Mine is in 3rd grade. I can't see letting her go with friends next year.

[Anonymous]

My DD is 13 and going for the first time with friends without parent.
Last year I probably would have let her but she didn’t ask

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:depends on the neighborhood. I think 5th grade would be the young side. I would not let a kid go alone.

Agree with the neighborhood. If it's a townhouse community with only a few cars, then younger. But in a busy part of the city? No.

[Anonymous]

Kids only trick or treat until 6th grade usually so those of you saying 5th is too young, do you intend to always follow your kid until they stop trick or treating?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never let them walk alone. We have a good time walking with them - good exercise and time to catch up on things. Some adults giving out treats don’t like to see kids without a parent.

This is crazy. I’d give any parent walking with an 11 year old some serious side-eye.

Depends on the kid. My kid had multiple invisible special needs. You’d probably judge my parenting, but it’s warranted.

[Anonymous]

My 6th grade son started alone with his friends in 4th grade. He is very responsible and understands rules. My 4th grade daughter is too much a free spirit to go alone with friends. Maybe next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids only trick or treat until 6th grade usually so those of you saying 5th is too young, do you intend to always follow your kid until they stop trick or treating?

Is that a problem? I'm on the sidewalk chatting with other parents and enjoying the costumes and decorations. Why shouldn't I have a festive walk too?

And over the years I've been there for tricky traffic crossings, more than one turned ankle, somebody else's lost kid, etc. I don't see the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our very Halloweenesque neighborhood, parents supervise because kids go out at night, cars are driving home from work, and the streets are narrow. Kids run across the streets all the time to flit from decorated house to decorated house without a thought for vehicles - even though usually they look both ways, on that night they're all high as kites on candy and excitement. I see it every year, and every year a motorist has a near miss with a kid jumping into the street.

Although if the shutdown lasts 'til then, maybe it won't be as dangerous

So know your neighborhood.

Yes cars are my biggest concern. Kids get excited, especially in groups, and there is ALWAYS one kid who is running from house to house and not waiting for the rest of the kids. So then you get them crossing streets, and while cars might stop for the first 1-2 kids, they might not realize kids 3-4 are behind and darting out.

So if I'm sending my kid with a friend, I'd have it be 1 friend, not a pack. If there is a pack, I'm supervising until middle school. My oldest is in 6th grade this year and is going with a friend and I feel comfortable letting them go alone. My 9 year old I will still walk around with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids only trick or treat until 6th grade usually so those of you saying 5th is too young, do you intend to always follow your kid until they stop trick or treating?

Is that a problem? I'm on the sidewalk chatting with other parents and enjoying the costumes and decorations. Why shouldn't I have a festive walk too?

And over the years I've been there for tricky traffic crossings, more than one turned ankle, somebody else's lost kid, etc. I don't see the issue.

I dont think there is an issue if it's what you like to do, but I also dont see the necessity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids only trick or treat until 6th grade usually so those of you saying 5th is too young, do you intend to always follow your kid until they stop trick or treating?

My 11 year old 6th grader is still pretty pumped about ToTing. Her friend group is not into Sephora and skin care, but still likes to play and be silly. I am SO GLAD they still love being kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids only trick or treat until 6th grade usually so those of you saying 5th is too young, do you intend to always follow your kid until they stop trick or treating?

My 11 year old 6th grader is still pretty pumped about ToTing. Her friend group is not into Sephora and skin care, but still likes to play and be silly. I am SO GLAD they still love being kids.

+1 me too.

[Anonymous]

Come on people. There is no magic age when kids are suddenly able to do something alone.

It depends on your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At what age would you let your kids trick or treat without a parent? Assume a suburban neighborhood with sidewalks in most places.

Alone, depends on the kid and neighborhood.

With friends, again depends. Kids often are less likely to pay attention to safety when with friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids only trick or treat until 6th grade usually so those of you saying 5th is too young, do you intend to always follow your kid until they stop trick or treating?

+1. DS went alone last year with friends in our suburban neighborhood as fifth graders. They had a blast.