Yes, your child can trick or treat safely in 2020!

Raising kids with LOVE ♦ October 26, 2020 ♦ 1 Comment

Halloween is just around the corner.  As with everything in 2020, things might be a bit different this Halloween.  Children have sacrificed greatly over the last 8 months with remote learning, loss of graduation celebrations, sports that have been cancelled, birthday parties that were different, play dates cancelled and so much more.  Halloween celebrations are such fun for our children, what can we do safely?  In my opinion….Halloween does not need to be cancelled, let our children have fun with costumes and Trick or Treating by adding just a few safety changes.  I know I will be masking up and eating a few Snicker Bars! Don’t let Covid-19 take this fun from your child!

Costumes:

• Incorporate a cloth mask in your child’s costume. Super heroes wear masks….so does everyone else during 2020!  Be careful adding decorations to the mask like paint because of the risk of harmful fumes.
• Masks which are part of a purchased costume should not replace a cloth mask for your child. Be careful about putting a costume mask OVER your child’s cloth mask, it may make breathing difficult. 
• As always, be sure that your child’s costume allows your child to see well and for others to see them.  Reflective tape/material, flashlights, and the use of face paint or masks that allow children the ability to see well are the safest!

Trick or Treating:

• Trick or Treating outdoors is best. Indoor haunted houses and parties are not as safe.  Replace haunted houses with outdoor corn mazes or spooky outdoor scavenger hunts with prizes.
• Do not congregate in large groups on the street or on porches, maintain social distancing.
• Make sure your kids are washing hands/using hand sanitizer frequently.
• It is ALWAYS safer to check your child’s treats at home before they indulge.  Have them wash hands or use hand sanitizer after opening treats and before eating or wipe the treats off before opening  the packaging.   
• When giving out treats, don’t forget your costume and mask! Wear a cloth face mask! Use hand sanitizer or wash hands before giving out treats.
• Place a bottle of hand sanitizer out on the porch for families to use.
• Consider sitting on your front porch and watching the kids walk up to your home and pick up their individually packaged treats.  You can enjoy the Trick-or Treat parade of kids without close contact.
• I always love to have treat options for children who have food allergies such as bouncy balls, stickers, crayons, spider rings, etc. This year non- food items may be a great safe option for all trick or treaters!

If Trick or Treating is cancelled in your area or you are not comfortable participating, there are still many fun activities you can do with your child.. 

• Decorate or carve pumpkins
• Roast pumpkin seeds
• Decorate your yard with Halloween spookiness
• Have a scavenger hunt inside with family or outdoors with a few close friends with clues and hidden treats
• Watch Halloween movies
• Hold an outdoor Halloween movie night with social distancing
• Decorate Halloween themed treats such as sugar cookies and cupcakes
• Have hot cider and donuts at home or on your porch with a few friends who are distanced
• Have a virtual Halloween Parade via Zoom with friends and family

Share other ideas!

2020 has brought so many changes to our lives. Many celebrations have changed and there have been many disappointments for our children. Let’s not make Halloween be another….let our children celebrate safely…

I know I will be eating my share of chocolate and drinking some cider.  Enjoy.

Take a breath, enjoy the joyful moments of each day, and remember you don’t have to be perfect to be the perfect parent.

Cindy

Helpful website:

http://www.healthychildren.org