If you’ve ever wondered what is the age limit for Halloween (or if there is even one), here’s what you need to know. Every parent and teenager struggles to answer simple questions at every Halloween festival: How old is it to trick or treat? Here are a few facts that will surely help you to make the decision.
What is the average age for trick or treat to stop?
What age will children avoid trick-or-treat? The answer is anything but obvious. In a survey of nearly 2,000 respondents by Today Parents in 2017, many people thought kids should avoid going door-to-door right around their teen or between years: at 12 or 13. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said trick-or-treaters would hang up with their costumes by age 17 and leave the holiday festivities to younger children.
Is it illegal to trick or treat over 12 years of age?
Some cities across the country also think there are limits in order. While they are difficult to enforce, there are book ordinances that limit trick-or-treat for younger children in some municipalities. A few years ago, there were raising worries about older children taking candy from younger ones. The general fears of mischief, the Canadian town of Bathhurst, introduced a municipal law banning children of 16 years of age from trick or treating (with a fine of $200) and ending the Halloween night festival at 8 pm. The new guidelines were more versatile than previous ones, which restricted going door-to-door of the kids of age 14 or young, and asked them to get done by 7 pm.
Why is the trick-or-treaters worry getting too old?
What is the concern about older children participating in the time-honored tradition of candy? Fear of bullying or damage likely comes into play. Local officials point towards safety as a primary reason for the rules and regulations that they have to enforce on children.
It is up to local municipalities to determine if they want Halloween parties to have age limits or curfews. The National League of Cities does not keep track of which cities have regulations, so it isn’t easy to know how broad the trend of implementing a trick-or-treating age limit is in the present time.
The final decision
The best guideline could be just to keep up the festive mode of the city. If group activities are unsafe for children, and then older people must be invited to keep a watch. Or you can also plan a scary movie night with friends, or host a casual party for your kid’s squad (family or neighborhood party for all ages to enjoy in your home). Just embrace the idea that teens are not too old to enjoy the innocent fun of touring in the neighborhood for candy collection. Halloween is about being with friends and having fun. And to try creative costumes!