Trick-or-treating is an age old Halloween tradition. Originating from the Celtic end-of-year holiday Samhain. Halloween is celebrated in many parts of the world on Oct. 31. Kids dress up and go around the neighborhood houses saying, “trick-or-treat” and hoping for their favorite candy bars. However, there are many teenagers who are also trick-or-treating. Teenagers are not kids and should not go trick-or-treating.

There are many reasons why trick-or-treating should be an activity for the youngest kids and not teenagers, because of are safety concerns. Many teenagers trick-or-treat much differently than the kids. Typically, teenagers travel in packs of their friends without parents. They usually run to the next house, which can lead to little kids being run over or property damage. Teenagers also usually stay trick-or-treating much later than the kids. Teenagers also trick-or-treat for different reasons than kids and their parents. Usually, the kids trick-or-treat with their parents, and maybe some of their friends. It is a time for bonding, and fun interaction with neighbors. Teenagers are only motivated by the candy, which they could get just as easily, if not more easily, by going to their local convenience store.

Another main difference between the little kids and their teen aged counterparts, is that the former is content with the treats while the latter is much more inclined to participate in “tricking”. Teens like to toilet-paper and egg houses, and like to scare kids.

As blogger Heidi L. wrote, “When kids are more interested in pulling pranks than having good clean fun, it’s time to stop trick or treating,” and commented that around age 13 is when this change occurs.

Pranking is so bad in certain places, that neighborhoods have begun banning teens from trick-or-treating, with the possibility of jail time if teens are caught on the streets of Oct. 31.

While the enforcement of these ordinances is usually very relaxed, as reporter Dena Potter wrote, “Officials cannot recall anyone ever being arrested or fined for being too old to trick-or-treat,” they still send an apparent message.

Some people believe that as long as the person is wearing a costume, they can trick-or-treat, and theoretically they are right. Anyone can trick-or-treat, but only the younger kids should. If there were fewer teenagers trick-or-treating, the little kids would get more candy, go to more houses, and interact with their friends more than they do now.

“There are far worse things for teenagers to be involved in than trick-or-treating,” Chris Jordan wrote on her Alpha Mom blog. While there are worse things, that does not excuse the fact that it is not desirable.

In general, middle school is the time to stop trick-or-treating. After elementary school, trick-or-treating transitions from a family activity to a candy gathering event. Adults handing out candy do not want to see teens expecting something from them, even though they may give them candy, they probably would chose not to.

There are still many ways in which teens, and adults, can celebrate and enjoy Halloween without endangering children, or upsetting homeowners. Halloween parties are increasingly prevalent, and at a party you can enjoy almost all of the benefits of trick-or-treating without the hassle of actually trick-or-treating, or the danger involved with trick-or-treating teens. So this year, rather that going around the neighborhood scaring, possibly even hurting little kids, just to get a few fun-sized candy bars, get a group of 6-8 friends together, find a venue, and host a party. Dress up if you’d like, buy some candy, eat, chat, and tell scary stories. Or… you could celebrate Halloween in the ancient ways by building a huge bonfire and sacrificing animals to the spirits.