Five Tips for a COVID-19 Safe Halloween
We want your kids to have a COVID-safe Halloween because, let’s face it, it’s one of the best holidays ever, especially if your kids are into monstrous fun. But, like it does with everything, COVID-19 means having to take a few extra steps beyond a great costume and having lots of candy on hand. So here is what you need to know and do to help your trick-or-treaters have a COVID-safe Halloween.
1. Your trick or treaters should wear a mask, but not the spooky kind. Halloween masks aren’t generally good protection against the virus, and wearing a proper mask under a Halloween costume is likely to be difficult or unpleasant for your child.
As exciting as the night is, help your child remember how important it is to wear their mask properly. A mask that is frequently pulled down in order to breathe or talk, or is worn under the nose, is not effective. It needs to be able to stay in place while they’re moving, and it needs to be comfortable enough to wear without having to adjust it.
We know this next thing isn’t what anyone wants to hear, but, yes, your child should wear their COVID mask outside for Halloween. Because of the age of your child, there is a good chance they will be unvaccinated, and even if they are, many of the kids they’ll be around will be unvaccinated kids. Everyone will be excited, laughing, and the tendency will be to group together, even if they’re not supposed to. To better protect themselves, unvaccinated kids need a two-ply face mask – at the minimum.
2. Set some limits. The more limits you set, the safer everyone is:
Keep your kids’ trick-or-treater groups small. Limit your group to siblings or a close friend or two that you know have practiced COVID safety.
Keep the number of houses you visit small – just go to a few homes on your street, or in your building. Better yet just drop by places of people you know who are COVID free and practice COVID safety.
3. Stay outside. When you’re shelling out candy, do it masked, and outside of your house rather than from the inside. Speaking of candy, instead of keeping all the candy in a bowl, place the treats in individual bags. And, of course, remember to practice physical distancing.
4. Good Ol’ Hand Hygiene. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly (for at least 30 seconds) before putting the loot bags together. And ensure your children wash their hands. when they come home and after eating any candy and before eating it. Now is a great time to remind them of the basics of handwashing, and we know just the cartoon to help them do it! To help reduce the risk of spreading germs, make sure your kids hand sanitize after each visit. Good hand hygiene is super important.
5. As hard as it is, if you or your trick or treater is not feeling well, you need to stay at home and quarantine. Have a backup plan, just in case. Halloween themed movies and an indoor candy hunt in costume could end up being very special family time together without the risk of spreading (or catching) anything.
Of course, all the usual caveats apply to this Halloween. Make sure:
your child’s costume is reflective or easy to see in the dark
your child knows to stick to the sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic signal crossings
your child knows how and when to cross the road safely
your child can see and move easily in their costume -- avoid costume masks for vision and for COVID safety (do wear COVID masks)
your child is accompanied by a trusted adult if 12 or under and that they have their full attention on the children in their charge and not on mobile devices they may have with them
to check your child’s candy
COVID doesn’t have to put Halloween out of business. With a few small modifications to protect your family, you’ll make sure they have a great time.
Those are some of our top “must do” items to ensure the little ones in our lives can go trick or treating . We’d love to hear how you’re planning to balance fun and safety this Halloween. Let us know in the comments -- and from all of us to all of you, have a safe and happy Halloween!