If you’re tall enough to see me through the window, then you’re not getting candy. Graphic by Anna Gritzenbach.

SAMUEL DOSTER | OPINION COLUMNIST | sdoster@butler.edu

Halloween is every kid’s favorite memory, getting all dressed up, whether as their favorite superhero, a spooky ghost or a zombie. It’s a tradition that every kid marks on their calendar. 

But once you hit high school, it’s high time to hang up the candy bucket. 

Getting a costume on and rushing your parents out the door on Halloween night because “all the good candy will be gone” is something every kid can relate to when trick-or-treating.

But imagine walking up to the front door of a house, anticipating all the fun candy that awaits you. But you see some big kid  — a teenager — towering over you, asking for candy as well. That can be intimidating for a kid, especially when those teenagers appear to be giants compared to them. 

There is also nothing worse than putting a bowl outside with some candy that says “Please take one!” and seeing high school-aged students walk up and annihilate that bowl of candy — potentially ruining the night for some younger child. 

High school kids out trick-or-treating could also be a safety issue. If I saw five high schoolers standing at my door with masks outside my house, I would be a little nervous. Most people expect a bunch of little kids with their parents out on Halloween night, not a group of teenagers knocking on your door at midnight. 

There is nothing wrong with wanting to go out and have a blast trick-or-treating with your friends. But once you get to that high school mark, maybe it’s time we start thinking about alternative ways to spend your Halloween night. 

Senior strategic communications major Isaiah Dwelle shared a different opinion on whether high schoolers should be able to trick-or-treat.

“I think it’s a good experience, they’re still kids in some ways,” Dwelle said. “I feel once you hit the eighteen mark, maybe it’s a little bit different, but for now, kids should enjoy the experience of going trick-or-treating with their friends and family and just being a kid overall.” 

I agree with Dwelle; they are still kids and should be able to wear some form of a costume, but there may be an alternative Halloween activity that could win over the older audience, other than trick-or-treating. 

Once you get to around that high school age, so many more doors open up that offer other enjoyable ways to spend Halloween night. 

Haunted houses, escape rooms and pumpkin carving with your friends are all fantastic examples of non-trick-or-treating Halloween festivities.

First-year psychology major Caroline Hayes gave her thoughts on whether high school-aged students should be able to go trick-or-treating. 

“High school age kids … can go trick or treating with limitations on what they can wear and how they can act around the children that are also going trick or treating,” Hayes said. “If they’re acting in a manner that is disruptive to the children and the family surrounding them, or wearing provocative outfits, then they might not be able to go trick or treating because it’s disrupting the culture of it.” 

Being out with your families and wearing fun superhero costumes or someone from your favorite movie is a part of the trick-or-treating magic. Going out and showcasing what rad costume you have this year, while still getting a boat load of candy, is, of course, the goal. If high schoolers want to disrupt that fun night and its culture, then maybe it’s time to find something else to do on Oct. 31. 

Trick-or-treating seems kind of lame compared to all of the other fun Halloween festivities. You can watch horror movies with your friends, and a corn maze — if you can find one — would be crazy fun. 

Attending age-appropriate Halloween parties or small gatherings is another way teenagers could have fun on Halloween. Or if you’re 16, just drive to the store and get yourself a bag of candy. No sense in taking all the kids trick-or-treating candy when you can just drive and get some yourself. 

Lecturer in sports media Nick White thinks there are exceptional circumstances for some teenagers. 

“I think it depends,” White said. “If you have a younger sibling, you can go a little longer. So if you’re a high schooler and you’re helping your middle school or elementary school sibling get out there, and you have a good coordinated outfit and you’re doing it in good clean fun, I think that’s good.” 

I agree that if you want to go with a younger sibling to help them trick or treat that’s fine, but don’t waste the fun of your teenage years. 

Trick-or-treating is a long-awaited night of fun for young kids across the country, not for high schoolers. Given that high schoolers also can drive, why not just drive to a small event with friends? 

Enjoy trick-or-treating while you can, cause as much fun as it all is, it might be time to give younger kids the chance to take the reins.