Free candy and fun costumes are what make many older teens continue to trick-or-treat despite being past their childhood. Many believe that trick-or-treating is a holiday for children, but some like to push the boundaries of normalcy and continue to participate each Halloween.
Halloween is known as a playful night full of candy, costumes and occasional scares. Trick-or-treating is a topic of controversy each year as Halloween approaches. As kids get older, they begin to feel pressure to stop trick-or-treating.
Age matters when questioning who is allowed to trick-or-treat. According to a 2024 Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, Americans decided trick-or-treating should stop at 13 and a half years old. Some adults fear the misbehavior of teens among the crowds of young kids. Adults may also feel that teenagers take advantage of the kindness of those who pass out candy intended for children.
Others believe that trick-or-treating is fair game for all who dress up and act accordingly. This mutual respect between the person giving out candy and the mature trick-or-treater is a leading reason why many teens continue to participate.
Teenagers have earned the reputation of carelessness towards the traditions of Halloween. Showing up with a pillowcase in hand and without a costume causes many adults to resent the older crowd of trick-or-treaters. The lack of effort put into Halloween is a major cause of many homes choosing not to serve candy to these teenagers.
Each year, Halloween is exploited for the purpose of free candy. The spirit of Halloween can be lost when teens abuse the generosity of others. Those who do not fully participate do not deserve to participate at all.
Older teens that trick-or-treat are attempting to extend their childhood. This can cause people to romanticize immaturity. Teenagers should understand that they grow out of certain holiday traditions as they age. Teens that crave the freedom of adulthood contradict themselves by trick-or-treating.
Many teenagers continue to enjoy Halloween in ways other than trick-or-treating. Costume parties, haunted houses and horror movies are some of the age appropriate activities that are popular among teenagers. These activities can replace the trick-or-treating aspect of Halloween night.
Communities and neighborhoods are expecting to see young children, not teenagers and young adults. Large groups of teens can be intimidating and even scary to the younger kids. This causes parents to be hesitant towards letting their children trick-or-treat. Teens can get into mischief and raise safety concerns in communities. Younger children deserve to feel safe and have a kid friendly environment while trick-or-treating.
Adults may frown upon teen trick-or-treaters because they take more than their fair share of candy. Teenagers are infamous for emptying a bowl of candy that is left out, leaving nothing for the families with young children after them. This immature act causes the younger kids to miss out on the treats involved with Halloween.
Halloween is about fun, not greed. Teenagers let their selfishness take over, which can be the reason for discomfort for those around them. When older kids dominate trick-or-treating, the whimsy of the holiday is lost in the sea of pillowcases and garbage bags full of candy.
Growing up is not about banning fun. It is about developing acceptable ways to celebrate holidays as people mature. Halloween, in general, is for all ages – anyone can dress up, pass out candy or attend costume parties. Teens who plan on trick-or-treating need to make an effort to wear a proper costume and respect those around them.
