How Old Should Kids Be To Trick-or-Treat By Themselves In Illinois?
Halloween is creeping up quick.
We all have different memories of trick-or-treating. For a few years, I teamed up with older kids in the neighborhood and we would go house to house together while our parents watched from afar. Other years, my parents went right up to the doors with me since I was too shy to utter "trick-or-treat".
Halloween is almost here. We know our area's trick-or-treat times. We're making plans. So can you let the kiddos just go on a house-to-house sugar tear?
When It's Fine
I couldn't find any kind of local laws that specify what age a kid can legally trick-or-treat by themselves. That's kind of a nuanced thing, after all.
But a poll found that 15% of parents let their kids trick-or-treat by themselves starting at ages 9-11. That sounds kinda like a low number but 84% of parents agree that kids in that age range benefit from having free time without adult supervision.
The general consensus among parents is that 12 is the right age to allow kids to trick-or-treat by themselves.
But obviously, take everything into consideration, especially the safety of the neighborhood. It's an awful statistic but children are more likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day. So besides stranger danger, also teach your kids about crossing the road safely.
In general, make sure your kid's Halloween costume is safe. Falls and burns are common inujries for kids, so experts say to make sure any masks, wigs, etc. are flame-resistant.
If you do let your kiddo go out trick-or-treating alone, make a plan with them. Communicate often and set a time that they need to meet you somewhere. But most importantly: have fun!
Quad Cities Haunted Houses
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Quad Cities Pumpkin Patches
Gallery Credit: Connor Kenney/Townsquare Media Quad Cities