Trick-or-treating is a fun way to celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes, going around each of the houses in your neighborhood in the evening, announcing “trick-or-treat” and asking for a few pieces of candy at each door. Very common among elementary schoolers, it becomes less common as students grow up through middle and high school. Opinions on what age a child should stop trick-or-treating vary.

According to a survey on TODAY, 16 percent of adults felt kids should stop trick-or-treating around 17 or 18. 19 percent said age 15 or 16 is the stopping point.

Sophomore Norah Simpson says she stopped trick-or-treating about four years ago, back in 2019. 

“The main reason I stopped was because of COVID,” she said. 

Some students stop trick-or-treating because they want to do something else instead. 

“I stopped trick-or-treating in eighth grade because I was bored of it and would rather have just done something with my friends,” senior Samantha Sophir said. 

Spanish teacher Laura Hodge has strong opinions about who should be trick-or-treating. 

“I am that grinch that turns off all the lights and hides in my house and doesn’t even hand out candy,” she said. “Little kids should be the trick-or-treaters, big kids should not be trick-or-treating. If I buy the candy, I will eat it all myself so I don’t even buy it.”

Some high schoolers feel insecure about being too old to go trick-or-treating. 

“If I still went trick-or-treating, I would feel self-conscious about not being the same age as others trick-or-treating,” junior Mailie Chavez said. 

Even for underclassmen, this sentiment remains. 

“I get weird looks from people while trick-or-treating,” freshman Aiden Lyons said. 

However, weird looks may be softened if one is trick-or-treating with a younger child. 

“I take my little brother trick-or-treating. If I went trick-or-treating this year by myself, I feel like parents would look at me strangely, and I wouldn’t get as much candy as I do when I take my little brother, or when I was little,” sophomore Gabrielle Stephenson said. 

Still, strong opinions persist.

“You should not be trick-or-treating past middle school,” Chavez said. 

Instead of celebrating Halloween by going door to door in a local neighborhood and announcing trick-or-treat for some sweets, other Halloween activities include going out with friends, celebrating at a party and decorating your house.