Publication:Kenosha News; Date:Oct 26, 2007; Section:Commentary; Page Number:13
MY TURN
Trick-or-treating has plenty of educational value
BY SUE SOMMER SPECIAL TO THE KENOSHA NEWS
Recently, fellow Myturner Eric Houghton wrote about a valuable lesson he learned while handing out candy (“Don’t scare the moms on Halloween†Oct. 19). But the more substantive education comes from the other side of the equation; trick-or-treating. I know this because my town, like most rural areas, does not engage in this ritual.
Our family found this out the hard way. We moved to Brighton on a crisp fall Friday the 13th. Since nothing bad happened, we planned to honor the powers of Halloween when it arrived. So on the appointed afternoon we set out, with costumes on and bags in hand. The first neighbor, after eying us suspiciously and having a murmured private conversation, handed over two quarters per kid. The second neighbor ponied up a half-roll of lifesavers and a snacksize bag of chips, which set off a squabble between the Ninja Turtle and the Little Mermaid. Word must have traveled because after that no one answered their door, despite cars in the driveway and the sound of the TV wafting through the yard.
Talk about culture shock. It turned out that families in our town meet at the local school for a safe, controlled celebration rather than the more familiar rite of childhood. This makes perfect sense. But running from house to house in a mad race for candy isn’t just fun, it really is quite educational.
For one thing, successful trick-or-treating requires organization and planning skills. A child who can’t remember to wear shoes to the bus stop will carefully map out his route so as to maximize candy intake while avoiding the apple/pencil/educational product houses. One impressive ghost I know strategized so as to loop back to the house to discharge the contents of his plastic pumpkin, without losing any ground. A clever hobo designed a stretchy, giant capacity loot bag so no detours were necessary. Trick-or-treating also encourages strategic collaboration since it is a group activity, and disputes over the loot might win a small battle but reduce overall production.
I must also stress the social skill-building aspect of trick-or-treating. Let’s face it-Halloween is all about begging. And what social skill is more crucial than knowing how to beg? I have found that the most annoying adults have not mastered the art of begging —either knowing how or knowing when. Psychological studies show that intermittent reinforcement is the best way to build behavior. A Snickers reward in your bag for every perfectly timed begging episode is a powerful way to learn this vital skill.
And let’s not forget the essential concepts of subterfuge, disguise and cross-dressing. The youth of today must master these talents if they are to have any future at all in politics, government, or a host of other high-tech careers. Every business etiquette class learns the mantra that first impressions are important. Halloween provides dozens of chances to hone that first impression.
As for learning respect for others regardless of socio-economic class, trick-or-treating is all about smashing stereotypes. You just can’t tell the full-size Butterfingers house from the snack-size, by its level of grandiosity. Some houses, like Mr. Houghton’s, go all performance-art. Others leave candy in a bowl or worse, lights-out-no candy. A successful trickor-treater never makes assumptions; neither does a successful capitalist.
Carrying a stash of candy while not eating it until your Mom checks it over for contraband is a terrific lesson in delayed gratification. (Of course, that apple was in no danger of being devoured on the way home anyway, but that’s beside the point.) Another valuable lesson is the Unicef kid, who chooses the selfless path of collecting money for the needy. I guess I didn’t really learn from that experience, since I only remember the feel of the cardboard box in my hand, much lighter than my friend’s loot bags. But there is a lesson there, for sure.
Children aren’t the only ones to benefit from Halloween. A quick perusal of the most popular themes traipsing along the streets will provide the most out-of-it adult with a quick cultural snapshot, which can come in very handy as one ages out of direct participation. For example, this year’s hot costumes include the Dronkey, Zombie Doctor, Anakin Skywalker, Ruby the Pirate and Sexy Batgirl. Well, Sexy Batgirl never goes out of style, but if you blanked on the others here’s your chance to catch up for the year.
I love Halloween. There is no big meal to prepare. No gifts. No religious conflict (unless you’re really cranky) and no pressure to perform since everyone has a bedsheet/ashes/ mother’s nightie with which to make a perfectly good costume. Grown-ups have a chance to be purely benevolent, doling out riches for no good reason. For the price of a few bags of Smarties, neighbors can be Bill Gates for the evening. When it is over, parents can compost the pumpkins while secretly enjoying the candy; no Visa bill or thank-you notes looming. If you think about it, we usually spend much more for far less, education-wise.
Send comments to the My Turn contributors in care of the Kenosha News, 5800 Seventh Ave., Kenosha, WI 53141 or send e-mail to myturn@kenoshanews.com.
Sue Sommer operates a kennel and a dog grooming business. She lives in Brighton.
