(WWJ) – There are few things more exciting to a kid than Halloween. From dressing up as their favorite characters to showing off their costumes at school and comparing them with friends, it’s a big deal.
But the biggest deal of all is the candy; the trick-or-treating. It’s a staple of the holiday, even if here in Michigan sometimes it requires an umbrella or a winter coat.
So what’s the right age to let kids start trick-or-treating on their own? WWJ’s Zach Clark learns on a new Daily J podcast that parents and experts disagree on that answer.
Sarah Clark, the Co-Director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health says most parents agree that kids benefit from having time on their own without adult supervision.
But not as many parents say they let their kids actually have that time on their own. Especially when it comes to trick-or-treating.
The folks at the Ann Arbor hospital say age 9-11 is the best time to allow kids to go trick-or-treating by themselves, but only 15% of parents polled say their kids in that age range actually do so.
“It actually wasn’t much better for some other day-to-day tasks, like staying home for 30-60 minutes or even walking or biking to a friend’s house,” Clark said. “It’s just an example of how kids 9-11 aren’t having enough opportunities to practice doing things outside of their parents’ direct supervision, which is really key to developing their confidence and experience in becoming independent.”
But that’s not to say safety isn’t important, especially Halloween. Todd Berg, an attorney with Michigan Auto Law, says most trick-or-treating times fall between 6-7 p.m., which is “the most dangerous time of the day” on the roads.
That’s why he says it’s important to take safety precautions, including preferably bright-colored costumes, masks that don’t impair vision or have tripping hazards while crossing the street, and carrying a flashlight or wearing reflective tape.
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