By: Chloe Kellams

Trick or treating has always been one of the greatest passtimes of the young American child.  Dressing up in full out zombie gear or princess attire, whichever suits, then going from house to house, ringing door bells and retrieving candy is a tradition deeply rooted in most children from before they could even walk.  After a few hours of rigorous trick or treating, the best part of the night comes when one finally returns home and relishes in all of their goodies. 

For weeks at a time, kids all over anxiously look forward to that special night.  When Halloween finally rolls around, one can look out their window and see herds of small children in wild apparel.  However, if there is a super sized “child” in the mix, the classic scene is thrown off a bit.

This brings us to the palpable question, how old is too old to trick or treat?  For some, the line between creepy and cute is a tad bit blurry.  For others, this question doesn’t even exist in their minds, and there is obviously a problem with that concept.  To help out the over-aged trick or treaters, a few simple parameters have been set.

First and foremost, if you’re able to drive yourself from house to house, you are too old to be trick or treating.  Second, if you can no longer shop in the children’s costume section, you are too old to be trick or treating.  And lastly, if you are old enough to rent an R rated scary movie without a parent’s consent, you were too old to be trick or treating about five years ago.

Since trick or treating is really no longer an option for the teen age group, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate the festive holiday.  Try getting a group together for a scary movie night or even a haunted house.  But please for the sake of all the impressionable young children, do not make an appearance amongst the kiddies unless you are handing out candy or escorting them around.