Halloween is the one time of year when it’s acceptable or maybe the word I’m looking for is more like, “expected” for adults to be able to bring out their inner child.  It’s the one time of year where you won’t hear, “Oh grow up!”   And it’s the one time of year when kids, tweens and teenagers should know that there’s not an age limit to enjoying Halloween and the best part of it, trick-or-treating.

No where is it written that once a kid turns 13, he or she is too old to go trick-or-treating (Halloween is not just for kids anymore).  Aren’t we always saying that kids grow up too fast the way it is.  Well, Halloween is a great time for them to slow down and enjoy being a kid.  To me a tween (ages 10-12) and a teenager are still kids.  If a teenager rings my door on Halloween night dressed in costume who am I to say he shouldn’t be there?  I didn’t realize there was an age where we no longer love candy, especially lots of free candy!  You can believe that if I didn’t have to stay home to hand out candy, I’d be in costume going door to door!

Kids today have so much on their plates with school, sports, grades, peer pressure and parents; it’s a lot for them to handle.  Just like adults, they need to be able to step away from that and have fun every once in awhile.  Halloween is the perfect time for that!   Haunted houses, pumpkin patches, hay rides and trick-or-treating are just what our kids need to be reminded that that’s exactly what they are…kids, and how much fun it is to be one.

Costumes today are so much better than they were when I was young.  We had the vinyl one piece fireman suit with matching plastic face mask with the elastic band that wrapped around your head.  Those masks were awful!  You’d make it to a couple houses and have to slide it up onto your head because, (a) the mask was wet from you breathing into it and, (b) you couldn’t see because those two little slits in the mask they called eye holes just didn’t get it.

Today costumes are amazing!  Kids and adults can be anything they want.  Even the tried and true princess and superhero costumes are a million steps above what they were years ago.  Hollywood and the movies are such an integral part of Halloween costumes and the kids love it.  They can dress as their favorite movie character, favorite rock star or even their favorite President.  You can even find online Halloween stores that have categories and suggestions for costumes for that in between stage known as tweens as well as for teenagers and adults alike.

So next time your middle school or high school aged child asks you if they’re too old to go trick-or-treating, tell them the truth…absolutely not! Let them pick out a costume they like and encourage them to go out and enjoy Halloween with their friends. Let them be kids!!

Happy Halloween to everyone ages 1 to 100!

• you’re never too old to have fun with your friends
• you’re never too old to laugh and;
• you’re never too old to go trick-or-treating!