Should There Be A Halloween Age Limit?

Halloween does not necessarily have an age limit, but people often debate the age at which you start handing out candy instead of going door-to-door getting candy. Nationwide, about a quarter of Americans think that there is no age limit for trick-or-treating, while others say that around 16 to 18 years old is the right time to stop. Some even say that kids should stop at an even earlier age such as 14 years old. What realistically do you think is the cutoff for being “too old” to trick-or-treat?

“I think 18 is the last age to trick or treat,” Josefina Hernandez (12) said. “You're leaving high school and at that point people are usually having parties or something like that for Halloween.”

Another student, Adrian Murillo (12), thinks that around 17 years old is the age of stopping door-to-door trick-or-treating.

A lot of people end up boiling it down to common sense. Usually, the older kids end up staying out later than the younger kids, as well as having a reputation for being the “rowdy, rude, and noisy teen” stereotype, more focused on the amount of candy that they get than the younger kids are. Some people use that as validation to deny teenaged trick-or-treaters. It often comes down to just having manners and letting everyone, especially the younger ones, have fun.

Even if you chose not to go trick-or-treating, there are many other fun ways to celebrate Halloween. Dressing up and making costumes is a large part of the appeal of the holiday, and there are many costume parties and other events that encourage dressing up. Oftentimes, people focus solely on their costume. For people who are super enthusiastic about Halloween, preparations can start a year in advance, whether that is just planning and getting a concept, or grabbing the materials needed to make the costume. Costumes and Halloween in general don't have to stop when you reach a certain age, it's just the way that you show it off that changes from going door-to-door to showing people at a party or other event.

According to a recent TODAY.com survey, when asked about the age to stop trick-or-treating, 19% of adults said 17 to 18 years old is the limit, with another 18% calling 15 to 16 the maximum. The answer you get with this question also depends on the demographic, as usually people 55 or over point towards 12 or 13 years old being the cutoff age for trick-or-treating. When asked, younger adults were far more forgiving, with many saying that there is no age that is too old for trick-or-treating. Millennials and older Generation Z are usually under the impression that you don't necessarily have to grow up too fast and stop celebrating Halloween past early childhood while Generation X and Baby Boomers often have the opposite opinion.

In many neighborhoods, as long as the people who are trick-or-treating are respectful, in costume and genuinely participating in the spirit of the holiday, age doesn’t matter all that much. A lot of adults would rather see a teenager politely asking for candy than engaging in risky behavior on Halloween night.

Parents of teens often encourage them to get involved in the holiday in some positive way, whether it’s through trick-or-treating, helping take younger siblings out or volunteering at another Halloween related event. Some people also just enjoy making their house a fun house to trick-or-treat at by using crazy, over the top decorations, which take a lot of hard work and dedication to put up.

The point is, there are so many things you can do to celebrate Halloween even when you reach that “cut off” age or just decide to stop trick-or-treating, and some can even make a positive impact on your community.

Photo from Unplash | Halloween has elements for both kids and adults.