Halloween is one of the best days of the year for kids. As much as Halloween is a fun and exciting night, there comes a point when trick-or-treating should be left to only the younger kids.
Many agree that once you reach high school, it’s time to step back from trick or treating and let younger children have their moment. Teens have had their chance to enjoy their moment as children, now they can allow the little kids to have theirs.
“I think once you get into high school, there should be an age limit because it’s the younger kids’ time to shine. And you can contribute more to the community by passing out candy instead of trick or treating,” sophomore Norah Snyder said.
Little kids look forward to Halloween all year, and it can be disappointing when older, taller teens crowd up the doorsteps or rush ahead of them. Teens have already experienced many Halloweens, so it’s fair to give younger kids the spotlight and allow them to feel the magic of the night without feeling cast aside.
There is also the fact that some younger children feel uncomfortable when older teens are around. Even if the teens aren’t trying to be scary, their presence alone can be intimidating. Shy children especially might feel overwhelmed when someone much older than them shows up next to them at a door.
“I think it could make kids more scared to go trick-or-treating, especially if they’re shy, when trick-or-treating is a time for kids to socialize and learn how to socialize,” Snyder said.
Some teens don’t always make the best choices on Halloween night, which creates problems for families who just want a safe, happy evening.
“There are a few safety concerns with teens going door-to-door on Halloween. I feel like there could be vandalism. Teens going and vandalizing people’s decorations, their yards, or their front porch,” sophomore Krya Allen said.
Even if not all teens behave that way, the ones who do ruin the experience for everyone else.
“I don’t think that teens should be going trick-or-treating because they make it sometimes their goal to ruin it for everyone else, or they unintentionally ruin it for everyone else without knowing,” Allen said.
Instead of trick-or-treating, teenagers can still enjoy Halloween in other fun ways. There are still plenty of ways to be part of the excitement without taking the attention away from little kids.
“There definitely are more age-appropriate ways for teens to celebrate Halloween. I feel like if they still want to have the experience of dressing up, you could go to parties, have group hangouts, or they could be the people that open the door and pass out candy, but you don’t have to be the one trick-or-treating,” Allen said.
Halloween is about creating memories for everyone, especially kids who are experiencing it for the first time. High schoolers don’t have to completely give up the holiday; they should just get to enjoy it in a new way. By stepping back from trick-or-treating, teens can help make the night more fun, safe, and special for the younger generation.
