Halloween: Fun for teens
Spooked by the thought of your teenager at loose ends on Halloween? Therapists say the best solutions help teens too old for trick-or-treating to take on a little adult responsibility, but still have fun. Here are six strategies:
Take younger siblings trick-or-treating. This is “always an out,” says family therapist Carleton Kendrick. It gives teens an excuse to dress up and collect candy.
Ask your teens to hand out candy at home. Challenge them to dress up and outdo you in entertaining the visitors.
Have them set up an elaborate Halloween scene at your house. Kit Bennett, founder of amazingmoms.com, suggests asking your teen to rig up a graveyard scene with sounds and lights.
Help them arrange to volunteer that night at a nursing home or homeless shelter. They can pass out candy or perform a Halloween-related skit. Public Halloween events also need volunteers and will often accept the help of teens.
Host a Halloween party. “That gives you the control,” Ms. Bennett says. She suggests a pumpkin-carving party or a scary movie party. If you’re more ambitious, you can order mystery party kits online and have the guests solve a “crime.” Or arrange a Halloween-related scavenger hunt in your yard. Or hire a psychic to give readings.
Take them to a Halloween-related event such as a hayride, corn maze or organized festival hosted by your town, a local museum or school.
Associated Press