The scariest place to trick-or-treat this year looks to be in Virginia. A number of cities in the Commonwealth are implementing laws that could result in fines, jail time (yes, really) or both for anyone over the age of 12 caught (gasp!) trick-or-treating or out after 8pm. This is not a trick, and most certainly not a treat.
Lock ’em Up
Chesapeake and Norfolk both threatening to slap anyone older than 12 or out after 8pm with a misdemeanor. Chesapeake going so far as to prescribe potential jail terms of up to 6 months! Newport News has taken the additional step of outlawing the wearing of masks by parents!
The goal seems to be to curb the “trick” part of trick-or-treating by keeping shenanigans to a minimum. While I certainly understand the motivation behind the laws, I’m pretty sure this approach is going overboard.
I don’t know how heavily enforced these laws will be. However, this did raise an interesting question for me – what is the right age to stop trick-or-treating?
How Old is Too Old?
I will admit to getting annoyed by a few trick-or-treaters every year. There are always a few kids that need a shave, have deeper voices than I have, or are wearing “costumes” that barely qualify as such. Seems some just need to brush up on their trick-or-treating etiquette. Most of this I tend to brush most of this off in the spirit of having fun. Halloween is still fun for me, why shouldn’t these kids?
I enjoy everything about Halloween and have tried to pass that along to my 3 kids. I love that they still get excitied about trick-or-treating. My oldest turned 13 just before school, and started 7th grade, which is her first year of middle school. Apparently, that’s jailing age for trick-or-treaters in Virginia. Should I tell her she’s too old? Or let her decide for herself when she’s done?
Let The Kids Figure it Out
This seems like the sort of thing that naturally works itself out. My daughter will self-select herself out of the candy pool without my having to tell her. I have the feeling that may happen as early as this year, as her middle school friends decide they are too old and she goes to parties instead of trick-or-treating. Though, as the father of a 13 year-old girl, I’m not sure which is scarier.
As long as they are respectful of those giving out candy, I’m supportive of my kids trick-or-treating until they decide they are done. I certainly don’t want a law to tell them they are done. 13 years old? No problem. 15? Sure, as long as you don’t mind folks possibly poking fun at you. 16? When you can drive your friends around the neighborhood, you might want to reconsider.
Trick-or-treating is one of those childhood memories that kids should be able to participate in and hold onto as long as possible. Like believing in magic, leprechauns and unicorns – some things just help you stay young a little longer.
And who wouldn’t want that?
I personally love to see all the kids dress up in their cute costumes and ring the door bell and yell trick-or-treat. My own children went trick-or-treating until they were maybe 13.