Halloween Age Restrictions
by Bibi on Monday, October 25th, 2010 | 6 Comments
How old is too old to be trick or treating?
According to few articles from Associated Press I read recently when your child turns 12 they better enjoy the Trick or Treating because it might be their last year. Depends on what city or town in the US you live in.
It seems that some U.S cities adopted age limit when it comes to Halloween tradition of trick or treat. The age limit is 12 years of age.
Too Old To Trick or Treat?
The teenagers who are caught wearing masks and going door to door asking for candy might end up with $100 fine or even face a jail time. According to the articles these laws are not strictly enforced.
How about teenagers trick or treating with their siblings? I guess they are allowed to accompany children who are trick or treating, but they are not allowed to wear mask or ask for candy.
Mayor Mark Eckert of Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis had this to say about Trick or Treat age limit: “”When I was a kid my father said to me: “You’re too damn big to be going trick-or-treating. You’re done.” then he continues: “When that doesn’t happen, then that’s reason for the city governments to intervene.”
Do you agree?
In Virginia, several cities have had trick-or-treating age limits on the books since the 1970s. City officials from Meridian, Miss., to Bishopville, S.C., and Boonsboro, Md., have cut off the trick-or-treat age at 12.
I myself do not like Halloween. I grew up in a country where Halloween wasn’t celebrated and when I came to Canada as a young adult I just never understood why would anybody celebrate it especially when I learned the origins of Halloween. That is my choice.
Put that aside many of my friends and family celebrate Halloween and my own children used to go trick or treating with their friends (with my supervision, of course).
Apparently this trick or treat ban came after many senior citizens and single mothers were complaining about being scared and uneasy when 6″2′ teenagers in masks would come up to their doors and ask for candy.
I can understand that. I’ve seen many teenagers wearing a mask from Dollar Store and carrying large pillowcase collecting candy door to door while being in large groups and not behaving very well. Would you say no to them if they walked up to your door? I wouldn’t.I wouldn’t dare.
But, I’ve also seen many teenagers supervising their younger siblings and wearing costumes to please them and their parents. I’ve seen teenagers walking up to the door and asking for candy because their little baby brother or sister is very shy.
So where do you draw the line?
Courtesy of Google Images
Maybe , just maybe all trick or treaters doesn’t matter what age should be fined for bad behaviour, disrespecting peoples properties, vandalism and unnecessary frightening of young children. These fines should be enforced if you ask me.
We all are different and so are our teenagers. We should not let few bad apples spoil the whole bunch.
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Hmmm I’m 34 and was planning to trick or treat this year under the false notion that it is to take my 2 year old (but let’s face it I do love chocolate!!!). Something I am willing to take a fine for. LOL
My daughter is twelve this year, and she’s probably looking at doing alternative things to trick or treating next year… although she’ll probably help me take her brothers around door to door and she loves the dress up part of halloween… nothing on the books here, so I guess we’ll just play it by ear….
My 28 yr old son goes out on Halloween with his buddies, but they do not go door-to-door. They go to see their friends. They all grew up in this small neighbourhood and have respect for those who live here. I myself love to dress up and have been known to go next door looking for treats. I am well past the age of 12.
Rosemary
Very interesting. I now wonder if our state have such laws.
I notice that only kids and mostly with parents came to our door last year.
I don’t mind giving out candy, but I don’t feel the need to go out and party with the ghouls.
A few bad apples ALWAYS spoils the bunch.
We just turn off our lights at 8PM. It seems like the older kids come then and the little ones are in bed.
Emily is 10 and she still does it, but we also have a 3 year old so I am sure she will continue togo out with us all.
Hi Bibiana!
Great article! I never realized that some cities actually have age restrictions and laws for trick-or-treating. I can understand the causes that led to the implementation of such laws, but it seems to me that this is just another area that government is having to stick their noses in because parents are slacking on their responsibilities of teaching their children good, respectful behavior. If parents were doing a good job of mentoring their children and setting restrictions on inappropriate behavior, then cities wouldn’t have to crack down on teenage trick-or-treaters.
Well, it’s all easy for me to say now, since my girls are 5 & 9. Perhaps I’m in for a power struggle when my girls are teens and want to trick-or-treat with their friends? I’d like to think that we’re building relationships with our children, their friends, and their friends parents that will lead to a different sort of merrymaking on Halloween night when the kids are teens.
Thank you so much for opening up this excellent discussion!