Trick-or-treating is a time-honored way to spend Halloween, giving kids the opportunity to be creative, have fun and, of course, fill up on candy! But deciding when it’s time to leave this childhood tradition behind can be tricky, for parents and tweens alike. Discussing children’s feelings openly can ensure a smooth transition.

When to stop trick-or-treating is not a one-size-fits-all decision. Here are a number of ways to determine whether your child is on the brink of outgrowing trick-or-treating:

Your neighborhood culture

Look around at the other children trick-or-treating in your neighborhood. Is your child among the oldest? The youngest? Right in between? This can help you decide if your child fits into  neighborhood culture. Says Angela Marvel, mom of two, “My now 15-year-old plans to go out this year and dress up with his girlfriend in a couple costume. My 17-year-old isn’t sure. If he has a group of friends to hang with, he will go out; if not, he will stay home. Around our area the teens tend to choose to stop trick-or-treating when their friend groups decide not to anymore.”

Lack of enthusiasm

Your child may be letting you know that they are feeling too old to trick-or-treat if they don’t seem as excited as they used to about choosing a costume or Halloween in general. In this case, follow their lead and trick-or-treating may phase out by itself.

Birth order

An older sibling may trick-or-treat a little longer than they normally would in order to accompany a younger sibling. Shaun Thompson, mom of four, said her older children would take her younger ones out trick-or-treating and sneak in some candy for themselves. Because of that, “I think it’s difficult to pinpoint an age when they would stop,” she says.

They’re never too old!

Many parents would prefer their children do something as innocent as trick-or-treating for as long as possible rather than pursue more grown-up interests. If this is you, let them trick-or-treat for as long as they are willing! Barb Danielsen, mom of three, said, “I encouraged my kids to trick-or-treat for as long as they were willing to dress up and have fun with it. One stopped around 13, the other daughter around 15 or maybe more, my ‘97 baby didn’t stop until 15. I’m always happy to give treats to teenagers who are dressed up in the spirit of the night.”

High school teacher Jeb Barry agrees saying, “I never had much of a problem with my high school students coming to my house trick-or-treating since they could have been doing a lot worse things instead. But if they didn’t wear a costume, I would tell them they are simply begging for candy.”

What to do instead of trick-or-treating:

Just because your child may have outgrown trick-or-treating doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of fun activities to do on Halloween. Try making memories with one or more of these:

  • Costume parties: Even adults enjoy costume parties and kids may willingly trade a night of trick- or-treating for a fun party!
  • Haunted houses: A frightfully fun Halloween activity that appeals to teens and tweens. See events here.
  • Movie night: A spooky movie and some treats of your own is an entertaining way to spend the evening. You can ramp up the fear factor on the movie as your child gets older.
  • Hand out candy: Answering the door to trick-or-treaters is a Halloween necessity, so make it a new tradition in your house. While you wait for kids to ring the bell, play board games or make up spooky stories.
  • Make homemade treats: Have fun in the kitchen making chocolate bark with colorful sprinkles or get a “make your own gummies” kit if your crew prefers fruity treats.
  • Give back: Instead of candy, your tween or teen can collect non-perishables for a nearby free little pantry or food bank to help community members in need.

-Jill Morgenstern

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