October 31 is a day for more treats than tricks. It is a day that children look forward to every year; getting to show off their costumes, hair, and makeup, and maybe even get some candy along the way. However, with trick-or-treating hours being so short and early, some kids may not get to experience the joy of going door to door.
This year trick-or-treating hours are from 5-7 p.m. What happens to those children whose parents work a 9-5 job? Do they just have to miss out on the holiday activities? There are two things that our and other cities around us can do.
The first thing that the community can do is make the trick-or-treating hours longer. Some kids can go out earlier with some going out later. This would have numerous benefits. First, the kids whose parents do not get home until later would still be able to go out, and would not have to miss out on the tricks and the treats. Another benefit of longer hours would be that not every kid would be out at the same time, making the streets and sidewalks less crowded. There would be fewer safety concerns and would make the night go much smoother.
The other thing that the community could do is move trick or treating to a day during the weekend. This also has many benefits for both young and older kids alike. Young kids would be able to go out with friends and family that may not be able to go out on weekdays. This would allow parents and kids to have more time to prepare for the night and enjoy the festivities. For the older kids, they would not have to worry about going to school the next day and be able to hang out with their friends late into the night.
With these added changes, trick or treating would be more fun and enjoyable, while also being more practical and safe.
