by Kimi Wong

Created on: January 31, 2010

If we tell teens: you're too young to do this, or that, and also expect them not to go out and shoot fireworks or play pranks at Hallowe'en, isn't it unfair to turn around and tell them that they are too old to participate in the main Hallowe'en activity, trick-or-treating?

First of all, some 13 and 14 year old kids may not be ready to be too old for trick or treating (and even some of the older teens). They may not have matured as quickly as their counterparts, or they may enjoy dressing up and have pleasant associations with the tradition. If they are willing to put on a costume, why shouldn't they have fun? I know many teens who have gone to great efforts to make an interesting or clever Hallowe'en costume. This is the age where they are finally able to use their creativity and their skills to make their own costumes. While not all teens will do this, why deprive the teens who will?

Second, there is no compelling reason for teenagers to not trick or treat. Groups of teenagers will gather regardless; a fun activity with plenty of adults around seems like a better way for them to be engaged than hanging around in the parking lot of the local minimart. If we don't want our children to have nothing to do, we should do something about it or at the very least not limit them from the activities that are available.

And really, why are we in such a rush for children to grow out of things? They have many years to be adults...why try to shorten it with arbitrary definitions of how old or young you need to be to trick-or-treat. Obviously there is a limit, but there doesn't need to be a cutoff age - let each individual grow out of it at their own pace.

Hallowe'en is a holiday that is about being scary. With vampires, werewolves, Freddie, and Jason, doesn't this seem like a holiday that should be more about older children than about smaller children? There was a time when the only kids who trick-or-treated were the ones who were old enough to go out by themselves.

While trick-or-treating is an activity that is more for younger children, there does not need to be a cut-off age. Any kid should be allowed to enjoy dressing up in a costume and going trick-or-treating.

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