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Teen Tricks and Treats
How Old Is Too Old to Celebrate Halloween? By Gina Roberts-Grey, LCSW
Teens want to be taken seriously. They look for mutual respect and truly believe they are well on the road to adulthood – except when it comes time to don costumes and go trick-or-treating. Suddenly, the most mature of teens and tweens no longer care as much about being grown up as they do celebrating this festive day.
The subject of teen trick-or-treating tends to garner diverse opinions. There are many who believe older children should not actively participate in trick-or-treating for fear they'll be overly mischievous. Teen trick-or-treaters are often unfairly stereotyped as being demonstrative, destructive, pumpkin-smashing celebrants.
"Taking away the opportunity to creatively express themselves can be stifling for children," says Barbara Mueller of Madison, Wis., a family therapist. "I work with many teens who feel the pressure to always be mature. Giving them an outlet at Halloween is a great way to alleviate some of those pressures."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1975 to 1996, an average of four children ages 5 to 14 were struck and killed by cars on Halloween night. These tragic accidents usually occurred as a result of children forgetting to practice simple safety tips.
Make sure your teen has a predetermined route and advises you of the area he and his friends are planning to travel in. He should stick to neighborhoods or buildings he's familiar with and knows how to get home from. Teens should know to avoid dark alleys, cutting through yards, crossing in between parked cars and entering a home they would normally not go into.
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