Have you heard of this? In St. Louis, Missouri – and probably elsewhere – there is a tradition of asking kids to tell a joke during trick-or-treating. No joke, no candy. On its surface, the practice seems fun. But, as usual, adults are over-analyzing it and arguing the pros and cons. On the pro-joke side:
– It gives children an opportunity to converse with adults, promoting a useful life skill. And for some children with anxiety, it can be empowering to have safe opportunities to practice skills such as talking to strangers or reciting a joke.
On the anti-joke side:
– It causes anxiety for some kids and it’s supposed to be a fun holiday.
– Some adults go too far with it especially after drinking.