How to Have a Safe, Fa-Boo-lous Halloween

As if 2020 weren’t exciting enough, Halloween falls on a Saturday this year AND we will have a full moon! Although a few Halloween traditions may look a little different because of the COV​ID-19 pandemic, there are still lots of ways families for families to have fun. Whether you and your family are trick-or-treating or quarantining, we have some fa-boo-lous ideas for a safe and spooky holiday!

Trick-or-Treaters

Keep these social distancing best practices in mind to keep everyone safe.

• Stay home if you are sick
• Trick-or-treat with people you live with
• Remain 6 feet apart from people not in your household
• Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose (even under/over your Halloween mask)
• Use hand sanitizer frequently while out and about, as well as before eating or after coughing/sneezing
• Wash your hands as soon as you return home

Dos and Don’ts of Giving Out Treats This Halloween

• Don’t hand out candy if you are sick
• Do wear a face mask covering your mouth and nose
• Do use glow-in-the-dark duct tape to mark 6-foot lines in front of your home and leading to your driveway/front door
• Don’t get closer than necessary to trick-or-treaters, no matter how cute they are!
• Do put a disinfected table between yourself and trick-or-treaters for distributing candy
• Wash or sanitize your hands frequently

Helpful Hints for Parents

• Anyone who is sick should stay home
• Talk with your children about maintaining safety and social distancing expectations
• Carry a flashlight after dark
• Make sure your children are wearing reflective clothing so drivers can see them at night
• Wear a face mask covering your mouth and nose
• Everyone should wash their hands as soon as you return home
• Always inspect the candy

Trick-or-Treating Alternatives

Virtual costume parties & parades

Use video chats for an online Costume party! Invite friends and family to show off costumes and play games. Outdoor costume parades are another option if everyone stays at least 6 feet apart. Masks over the mouth and nose are a must!

Spooky movie night

Celebrate with a Halloween-themed movie night as a family. Another option is to allow your child to watch a movie with their friends virtually, with everyone starting the movie at the same time.

Decorating pumpkins

Carve pumpkins as a family – just be careful to avoid pumpkin carving injuries! After carving, insert a battery-operated light rather than an open-flame candle to avoid burns. Or draw/decorate pumpkins with markers, paint, or other items.

​Halloween-themed treats​

There are loads of fun Halloween-theme treat ideas on Pinterest – healthy and not-so-healthy! Make sure the treats are not choking hazards if you have children under age 3.

Halloween scavenger hunt

A Halloween scavenger hunt across your neighborhood will get everyone out of the house and searching for all sorts of fun and spooky Halloween decorations! Have prizes for the winners – a little competition gets the family invested! This is an ideal way to get some exercise and still have some Halloween fun!