As Halloween approaches, family therapist Sheryl Ziegler weighs in on the appropriate age to partake in trick or treating. Although the practice is common among kids, parents are wondering if it is acceptable to teens to go around filling their baskets with candy too.
According to a YouGov survey, about 26 percent of adult respondents thought their kids can never be too old for the holiday tradition, and nearly double the amount of parents agreed in another survey by TODAY. Only 1 percent felt children above 9 are too old to trick or treat.
How old is too old to trick or treat? Experts weigh in
According to Sheryl, there is no set age limit for kids to stop trick or treating; however, she suggests that high school graduates should explore more creative ways to enjoy Halloween. She also believes that behavior should be a determinant over age.
Etiquette expert and author Catherine Newman thinks kids are allowed to enjoy holidays however they deem fit, noting that younger kids get more excited when they see the older ones in costumes. Newman also urged people to avoid questioning older kids they might see at the door, noting that some struggle with a developmental disability and are yet to outgrow the practice.
On the hunt for older trick-or-treaters
Some cities like Bathurst in New Brunswick, Canada, and Chesapeake, Virginia have laws that do not permit kids above a certain age to trick or treat. Although there are no penalties or arrests made should anyone over the age is caught moving door to door, ordinances permit law enforcement officials to handle those who create disturbance during the act.
Sheryl emphasized concerns about big teenagers ringing doorbells and being too loud while hunting for candy. She added that their overly gory costumes might scare little children off, contrary to Newman’s thoughts. Newman insisted that teenagers should be allowed to be little children again for one night.