We know there is a big debate on whether teens should trick or treat. We understand there are varying opinions on this debate and strongly encourage you to check out our perspective on helping all ages enjoy a safe and happy Halloween.
Teens and Halloween Considerations:
- The pandemic interrupted holidays and get-togethers. Those who are teens now were recently tweens or big kids and may have missed the fun these past 2 years.
- Age or size does not equal mental development. A teen in age may be much younger developmentally as trauma and other factors affect development.
- Costumes may look like everyday clothes. Perhaps they may be dressed up as a YouTuber or videogame character, or they may not have money to dress up.
- Free candy! Who doesn’t love that?!
Here are other unique ideas to help teens enjoy a safe and fun Halloween:
- Get crafty — no magic needed, just some DIY fun! Check out these Halloween Crafts for Teens and Tweens by Happiness is Homemade for ideas from candles to wreaths.
- Ask them to hand out the candy. They can even have a little fun being creepy or giving a gentle scare as trick-or-treaters walk up.
- Host a movie night, complete with treats. The film doesn’t have to be gory, there are plenty of options from silly to suspenseful. Check out this list of 97 Best Halloween Movies by Teen Vogue.
- Host a pumpkin carving or painting contest. A traditional and still a favorite!
- Bake festive treats. We like these 20 easy and fun ideas from Raising Teens Today.
No matter how teens engage in the holiday, we encourage them to be safe and respectful.
