2020…the year of cancellations. But as the COVID-19
pandemic continues, we adapt. Fun activities are returning in safe and creative
ways — drive-in concerts, anyone?
As summer fades to fall, families wonder: Can we have Halloween? The simple answer
is yes, if everyone follows some basic safety measures.
The tips below apply to all ghouls and goblins, big and small!
- Ditch the Candy Bowl. Quite possibly the most important thing
you can do is skip the "communal" candy bowl. Whether you usually hand out candy
from the bowl or let kiddos dig in and grab their favorites, it's just too tricky
for trick-or-treating this year. A candy bowl can't be contact-free. So what's the
alternative? See #2.
- Grab-and-Go. Set up a table, decorate it if you wish, and place
the wrapped candy out on the table individually, allowing kids to come up and pick
their favorites without touching any other pieces. If you have the time and resources,
you could even create small pre-wrapped goodie bags and encourage trick-or-treaters
to each take one.
- Keep it Clean. If you set up a table, put hand sanitizer on it
as well. Use it and offer it to others.
- Forget the Front Door. Having kids come up to your door to get
candy will make social
distancing tough. The safer bet is to stay outside during trick-or-treating hours
(keep fingers crossed for good weather) so you can greet your neighbors safely from
a distance while they get their candy from your table display.
- Mask Up. Halloween was tailor-made for masks!
Make the mask part of your kid's costume. There are hundreds of themed cloth masks
out there — finding Halloween-themed ones should be easy. Or you can also simply
color a medical mask to blend in with their costume!
- Keep it Local. While the goal most years is to get to as many
houses as possible and stuff that bag full of candy, this year it might be best to
stay closer to home. If you developed a "pod" or "bubble" of close friends and family
members, stick with visiting just those homes.
- Stay Small. If your kids are venturing out in the neighborhood,
keep the group small. Maybe you usually head out with a bunch of neighbors, but this
year think about keeping it to just one other family for easier social distancing.
- When in Doubt, Wait it Out. Using individually wrapped Halloween
candy helps keep the chances of spreading the coronavirus fairly low. But if you really
want to be on the safe side, let your kids' trick-or-treat candy sit for 48–72
hours. Keep a small stash of other Halloween candy on hand to offer them that evening
instead.
- Decorate More and Celebrate at Home. If trick-or-treating is
just too risky for your family, celebrate at home. Put out more decorations, turn
on some Halloween music or movies, and let the good times roll in your own haunted
house.
- Do What Works for Your Family. Bottom line: There is no one right
way. As long as you stick to the three main rules — maintain social distancing,
wear a mask, and keep hands
clean — then the rest is really up to you, your family, and your neighbors.
Be safe, have fun, and Happy Halloween!
Date reviewed: October 2020
