For many, childhood memories are closely intertwined with holidays like Halloween. The class parties, spooky costumes and the hours of trick-or-treating experienced paint a picture of what being a kid truly meant. But in today’s world, many look at what the holiday has become and wonder, “What happened?”
Some blame the rising influence of social media and easily accessible technology, arguing that it’s causing kids to grow up too fast. Being a kid today is a completely different experience from what it was for previous generations. Growing up now means getting a phone younger than ever, with the average age being 11.6, according to Stanford Medicine. This means even elementary-aged kids are commonly stepping into a digital world that has been increasingly linked to heightened behavioral problems, anxiety and depression, not to mention exposure to cyberbullying and online grooming.
We at The Tower acknowledge the multitude of risks that phones can pose to people of all ages, particularly children. In an era when children are increasingly immersed in the online world, we at The Tower believe that Halloween presents an opportunity to help them escape. However, with constant shifts in how kids experience the holiday itself, that may not be possible.
Between the COVID-19 pandemic to evolving safety concerns, the celebrations of Halloween that many grew up experiencing have been permanently altered. These society-changing events have influenced how the Grosse Pointe community itself celebrates the holiday, creating an intense and season-long spectacle. From “trunk or treats” and Halloween events at local churches to those at Greenfield Village and the Ford House, what was once a magical night where kids would put on a costume and “trick-or-treat” around their neighborhood has turned into a weeks-long endeavor. Most importantly, by the time Oct. 31 comes around, many kids in Grosse Pointe have already had their fill. As a result, the community’s Halloween night seems quieter, ending earlier and seeming emptier than it used to be.
So, with fewer kids staying out all night to collect their favorite candy, it would make sense to embrace anyone who still spends the entire night knocking door-to-door. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case. With Grosse Pointe’s well-lit and walkable streets drawing families from all over to spend their Halloween evening, some residents complain about the kids trick-or-treating in neighborhoods outside of their own. Additionally, teens are often deemed too old for trick-or-treating with some other cities, like Chesapeake, VA even issuing fines to those over the age of 14.
But as Oct. 31 fades into something less important in the whirlwind of seasonal plans and as kids become enveloped in a digital world and distracted by the rush of other events, we at The Tower believe that Halloween should bring people together and be for everyone, no matter their age or where they’re from.
We at The Tower view holidays like Halloween as a reminder that growing up is something that does not need to be rushed. The world is a quickly changing place and with the holidays that once defined childhood changing as well, all kids deserve a chance to be kids, even if it is just for one Halloween night.
