by Riley Lyons

As Halloween arrives shortly, many children are planning their costumes and people everywhere are getting candy for the excited kids coming their way. But what does that mean for teens? Some are told that they can’t go trick or treating, yet some still do. Some towns even put age limits on trick or treating. Bill Chappell from NPR says that in Chesapeake, Virginia, a 15 year old can face a misdemeanor for trick or treating, while in Illinois and Louisiana, other towns have similar laws for 13 year olds. However, teens should be able to participate in the Halloween fun because it is not only meant for certain ages and allows them to maintain a part of their childhoods. 

The reason that some towns ban teens from trick or treating is that teens will scare younger kids and steal candy. But this is not true for all of them. Many parents say that it depends on the teenager. Evolve‘s Behavioral Health Team says ” Traditions like trick or treating on Halloween ground kids in the past and remind them of what’s important in life: friends, family, and wholesome good fun.” The towns like the one in Virginia should consider the many positives to allowing teens an opportunity to hang out with friends, enjoy the holiday, and make good choices. Halloween gives teens a chance to relive what they did during their childhood. Adults often fear the bad choices that teens make in their downtime, so why restrict a holiday where they can continue their childhood a bit longer? Teenagers should be able to still dress up, giving them something to be excited about.

Halloween is a way for towns and communities to come together and enjoy the fun of the holiday. A recent poll from a national poll says that “18% said kids should stop trick or treating at age 13 and 18% say that you should never stop.” After Covid, many adults have feared for the mental health of teenagers who have isolated themselves with the current mental health crisis among teenagers. If teenagers went out trick or treating, it would give them a reason to be around others, not feel so isolated, and give them a chance to meet new people.

Halloween is a fun holiday for kids of all ages. Teenagers should be allowed to participate in trick or treating because not only does it give them a chance to socialize, but it lets them enjoy the fun of their childhoods, not to mention the candy.

Sources:

https://evolvetreatment.com/blog/should-teens-trick-treat

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/30/1209089947/halloween-bans-on-teens-trick-or-treat-say-it-isnt-so