On the 31st of October, the neighborhoods across America will start to glow with jack-o’-lanterns, fake cobwebs, and spooky decorations. Kids of all ages will have their costumes laid out on their bed, ready for it to be taken off the hanger. Kids will plan to visit the houses with full-size chocolate bars. This question is still thought about during this time of year.
For most people, trick-or-treating was one of the best parts of being a kid. Dressing up however you want, running to doorstep after doorstep with your friends, and sorting your candy when you get home was a blast. Once people hit their teen years, Halloween feels different. Parents judge teens when they see them running around like 5-year-olds. Some say high schoolers are too old to trick-or-treat, while others think there is no limit to trick-or-treating. Freshman, Cash Coker said, “ I stopped trick-or-treating 2 years ago.”, “I got bored”. Some kids do not like trick-or-treating. They feel out of place, or are just too lazy.
Across the country, some places have local laws on trick-or-treating age restrictions. Some towns have tried to set an age limit for trick-or-treating to keep little ones safe. For example, in Chesapeake, Virginia, a city once made it illegal for anyone over the age of 14 to go door-to-door and ask for candy. If anyone disobeyed this law, the homeowners could fine them. After many attempts to lift this rule, the residents complained that the rule took the fun out of Halloween. The law was eventually lifted, and older teens could once again trick-or-treat.
Most towns don’t have age restrictions when it comes to trick-or-treating. Some homeowners still feel uneasy when teenagers show up at their doorstep. Mrs. Michaud stated, “I think that as long as the kids that are older are out and aren’t purposefully causing trouble or scaring younger kids, if they are just out there having a good time and trick-or-treating, I think that’s fine.” Michaud does not want older kids ruining kids’ younger years by setting a bad example on Halloween.
Most say that there is nothing wrong with wanting to have fun or relive your younger years by trick-or-treating. Wanting to hold on to childhood tradition is not uncommon. Freshman Tinley Bialas said,” I’m still a kid too, like I still got childhood left.” Bialas feels that there is nothing wrong with wanting to do what you love. In the end, Halloween is about having fun, being self-expressive, and connecting with others. Halloween was never meant to restrict people because of their age. Whether you are 5 years old or even 16 years old, you should still be able to experience the feeling of running in the cool breeze, laughing with loved ones, and collecting pounds of candy.
So, how old is too old to trick-or-treat? The real answer is that you are never too old to have some Halloween spirit. As long as you are respectful and safe, there is no age limit. With that being said, remember to say “thank you” after every handful.
