Every October, the debate over the proper age to stop trick-or-treating resurfaces. From parents to children, everyone has an opinion on the topic, and most are not afraid to share it.
Students were asked whether or not they thought high schoolers were too old to trick-or-treat. In a Google Form sent out to the student body, 131 students responded. A total of 113 students responded “Yes”, and 18 students answered “No”.
Not only were wildcats asked this simple yes or no question, they were also prompted to explain their reasoning. Common responses of students in favor of high schoolers trick-or-treating consisted of, “We’re still kids. You’re never too old to trick-or-treat,”, “It’s all about having fun and making memories, not just getting candy,”, and “As long as you’re respectful to younger kids, it’s fine.”
While only a few students argued against high schoolers trick-or-treating, those students make the argument that teenagers should “leave the candy for the little kids” and that “it looks weird and immature.”
Although the majority of students stand for teenagers’ ability to go door-to-door for candy, it is the parents who appear to have a problem with it. From personal experience, I have had parents look at my friends and I with judgement simply for participating in this tradition.
In my personal opinion, I fully believe that high schoolers should be able to trick-or-treat. Halloween is a holiday for everyone, and no one should be bashed for dressing up and asking for candy. Plus, parents with younger children do it every year. (We all know your infant isn’t eating all that candy.)
Not only is this tradition harmless, but it is also much safer for teenagers than attending Halloween parties. If anything, adults should be advocating for high schoolers to stay children for as long as possible.
In a world full of so much stress and pressure to grow up, I believe that we must preserve these small traditions. Instead of being criticized for being “too old”, high schoolers should be welcomed and encouraged to trick-or-treat.
