Halloween is almost upon us - and soon to be followed by other holidays. Parents should be thinking now about how they will spend the holiday season with their teens. But we should focus on Halloween first.
Some families have developed a routine for Halloween in which their children (in the preteen years) go trick-or-treating, often in the neighborhood. Other families have a tradition of taking their children to a Halloween or Fall Festival as a way of celebrating the holiday. And other families might gather their children's friends to come to the home and watch movies and play games. All of these traditions are ones which families enjoyed for their children's preteen years.
Should the tradition change when the children become teenagers? Parents should think about the safety and interests of their teens. Most teens are not interested in trick-or-treating in that they feel they are "too old"; and indeed many people become a little nervous when they open their door to see a teenager standing there asking for candy.
Talk to your teen about how they might want to spend Halloween evening. They may have some ideas you have not considered. Letting them have some impact upon how they spend this time could help you learn more about their interests. You and your teen might develop a new tradition for Halloween.
Happy Halloween!
Dr. Debra
Comments