Halloween is undoubtedly going to look a lot different this year. With the ongoing pandemic still a major factor to keep in mind, it may not be completely safe in your area to trick-or-treat around the neighborhood or host a Halloween party in the same way that you usually do. However, just because COVID-19 is changing up the way we do many things, it doesn’t mean you should cancel your celebrations. If anything, it means that it’s time to think outside the box and make your Halloween celebrations even more creative. Here are a few suggestions.
Incorporate A Mask Into Your Costume
Masks will likely be an important part of your celebration this Halloween if you’re planning on doing anything with non-family members. So figuring out a way to creatively don a mask for yourself or your kids can be a fun way to make this happen. Many costumes already come with masks or helmets, such as superhero costumes or first responder/doctor costumes. Dressing up like someone who routinely wears headgear can be a creative way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, we still recommend wearing a mask under the headgear, as Halloween costume headgear is not designed to contain breath vapor that can transmit the disease.
Do Some Research
Keeping an eye on the number of cases of COVID-19 in your area can help you determine if it’s safe for you and your family to go out. You can also look into local Halloween party plans to ensure that the people involved will be enforcing CDC health and safety guidelines.
Have an Outdoor Party
If the weather happens to be good on Halloween night, you could have a party in your yard or a nearby public area. If you want to keep things small and private, but still want to give your kids a chance to go trick or treating, then you can take them for a walk outside so they can show off their costumes and then come back home to games that involve winning candy and prizes. If you decide to take part in regular trick-or-treating activities, make sure you have a bottle of hand sanitizer handy and stay physically distanced from anyone who might be giving out candy.
Only Take or Give Out Factory-Wrapped Candies
Pandemic aside, this is generally good trick-or-treating advice. As tasty as handmade treats can be, don’t let your child take them unless you know or are related to the person giving them away and can be sure that they’re safe. The same is true if you’re giving out candy on Halloween night.
Think of Creative Ways to Give Out Candy
If you decide to give out candy to trick-or-treaters, figure out a way to hand it out without getting close to the recipients of your treats. Use a long spoon, make a small slide for distributing candy or bag up portions of candy to hand out. Many people already put candy outside in a bowl if they’re taking their children out, or won’t otherwise be home. Consider making your own bowl and setting it up at the end of your driveway. The only limit here is your imagination!
Celebrate As a Family
If you decide that trick-or-treating or going out to a Halloween party is not in you or your family’s best interests, host a party yourself in your home. Play Halloween games, distribute candy or have a mini trick-or-treating session where your kids can get candy at stations throughout the home. This may even be a good time to watch a Halloween movie as a family!
Go to a Trunk or Treat Event
Trunk-or-treating, a style of trick-or-treating in which kids go around to different car trunks in a parking lot or open field, has become a popular alternative to neighborhood trick-or-treating for many people and many religious or nonprofit organizations. Since these events take place almost entirely outdoors and in set locations where physical distancing can be easily enforced, this could be a great option to look into. Just do your research and make sure that the event you plan to go to intends to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Keep Safety in Mind
Halloween can often be a busy and highly involved night of the year no matter what the state of the world is, with celebrations for kids and adults alike involving baked goods, games, hay rides, alcohol, all kinds of costumes, fancy decorations and much, much more. It’s always important to keep safety in mind during Halloween, but this year, it’s especially important. Make sure you’re modeling safety rules for your kids, and make sure they know what to expect. Don’t put yourself or your kids in potentially dangerous situations. Inspect their candy if you feel the need to make sure that what they’ve received is safe to consume.
Have Fun!
We know, Halloween is going to be a bit different this year. But you can still have fun, provided you do what you can to stay safe and be creative with your celebrations! If you have any questions about staying safe during this time, we’re here to help. Contact us today!