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Some people feel that teenagers shouldn’t be allowed to trick-or-treat on Halloween. It’s a sentiment shared by parents of young kids and by really grumpy people who’ve forgotten what it was like to be a teenager. A town in Virginia has an even stricter stance on Halloween: Teens over the age of 14 are banned from trick-or-treating, and until the law was amended a couple of years ago, offenders could face jail time. That’s a stiff price to pay for a couple of Snickers bars.
But most feel that teenagers should be allowed to participate in the Halloween ritual, and experts agree. “As long as everyone is being kind and respectful, how can we put an age limit on fun?" pediatric occupational therapist Keri Wilmot told Good Housekeeping.
Whether you’re looking to welcome older kids to your door this Halloween, giving out gift bags at a Halloween party, or just looking for something special to give your favorite teen ghoul, look no further than a Halloween treat bag. Here are some Halloween goodie bag ideas for teens and tweens.
The most popular Halloween candy with teens
News flash: Teens still love candy! Although sweets like candy corn and licorice are hit or miss, don’t underestimate the power of the full-size candy bar. Atlanta mom Kaitlyn Ross decided to hand out the big bars in reaction to the Virginia law.
"The city that banned trick-or-treating after the age of 14 is what started me thinking about it," Ross told Today. "…I was still trick-or-treating all through high school, and it didn’t seem fair that the kids there don’t get to do it. I think kids should get to stay kids as long as they can, and Halloween is a part of that."
"I’m going to do it! I’m going to be the house that hands out the big candy bars at Halloween this year," Ross wrote in her viral Facebook post. "Why? Because it’s JOYFUL! And I am so sick of hearing about the Halloween haters."
So what candy is most popular with teens? According to YPulse — a company that specializes in Gen Z and millennial-focused research — the top five candy choices for the 13- to 18-year-old crowd are:
- KitKat
- Chocolate (any kind)
- Hershey’s
- Sour Patch
- Skittles
So show your teens some love by having a few of these sweets on hand — full-size, if you can.
Teen treats they love to eat
There’s an old saying that you can buy a teen’s love with a bag of Hot Cheetos. Well, it’s not exactly an old saying, but it’s still true! If you want to make those older kids happy, load up their treat bags with some of these snacks that Business Insider says are at the top of teens’ snacking list.
- Hot Cheetos
- Takis
- Cheez-Its
- Doritos
- Pringles
- Lay’s Potato Chips
Don’t hate the messenger — we know these might not be the healthiest snacks around (although Trader Joe’s carries slightly healthier versions of Takis, Pringles, and Lay’s.) But it is Halloween, and these might be a little less cavity-causing than those huge Butterfinger bars they’ll be bringing home.
If you’re still feeling guilty, you can always hand out granola bars, which are still on that same list of popular teen snacks and are a healthy snack even when it's not Halloween. (Remember that most granola bars contain nuts, so as with all treats you hand out to trick-or-treaters, make sure you are aware of any food allergies your recipient may have.)
Non-candy treats for Halloween teens
Another great idea is to give your favorite teen something that doesn’t go into their stomach. These non-candy handouts might just be the most appreciated — and healthy — treats of all.
Gift cards
Any teen would appreciate a gift card to their favorite bookstore, tech store, or clothing store. And go ahead and give Starbucks, PostMates, or DoorDash cards if you really still want to satiate those stomachs.
Pokémon cards
You’ll be the most popular house on the block once they find out you’re giving out these collectibles. Pokémon cards are back in (did they ever go out?), and with some cards being sold for hundreds of dollars, you might just be investing in some lucky teen’s future.
School supplies
Nothing says fun like associating school with Halloween, but hear me out — what teen wouldn’t love getting a pack of Post-Its with a funky design, some cool boho bookmarks, or an eraser shaped like a unicorn? I’ll bet some of them would take these over a box of Nerds any day.
