Halloween 2020. Like pretty much everything else in 2020, it's gonna be different. And as a mom, I'm having a little trouble deciding what is the best plan for my family. So here's a little more information from a few sources.
PEDIATRICIAN KELLY FRADIN, adviceigivemyfriends.com and @adviceigivemyfriends on Instagram.Celebrations and traditions are really important for families, and it’s worth considering how to incorporate some fun safely. Trick or treating is not a yes or a no. The reality is these are complex decisions with a lot to consider.
- First, your risk and the risk and rules of your pod.
- If you are high risk or interacting with high risk individuals, likely you need to find ways to celebrate within your pod or virtually (decorate the house, Halloween egg scavenger hunts, virtual costume competitions).
- Second, the risk in the community. It’s a moving target.
- Use your favorite number and understand the risk at the time in your community. Understand that your actions impact others often in ways you can’t predict so even if your low risk consider your responsibilities.
- Third, consider the benefits. How can you accomplish the same spirit of your traditions safely? When thinking of the details of the activity:
- Outdoors improves ventilation and decreases spread.
- Masks are essential.
- Avoiding crowds is important.
- If you are hosting or organizing considering ways to maximize safety is key.
- Limit eating together because of having to remove masks and hand hygiene.
- Goodie bags and treat shoots are going to be safer than digging in a bin of candy.
- Making plans to promote distance such as one way movement of groups or staggered times.
* Planning to trick-or-treat? The CDC has spelled out some these very specific guidelines on how to make it as safe as possible. *
LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES?Boo Bags: Make a plan with your neighbors or friends. On Halloween, get dressed up and go to your assigned house to decorate its porch or yard and deliver treats and candy. When you return to your house, your kids will find that you’ve been “booed” too!Goodie Baskets: Think Easter baskets, but with Halloween candy and small gifts.Halloween at Home: Why leave home to trick-or-treat? Go door-to-door in your own home. You could kick it up a notch with decorated doors on those bedrooms.Halloween Movie Night: Pick the right movie for your family and add the extra level of special snacks and of course lots of candy.Piñatas: The candy and fun are built right in. Spooky Scavenger Hunt: There are a ton of print outs online for this. Sometime on Halloween, get in the costumes and walk around looking for items on the list. Each time a kiddo marks an item off his or her list, give a piece of candy or prize. Trick or Treating Tables: If you have enough people in your neighborhod, set up tables outside on your block and each kid can walk past and take goodie bags.Candy Hunt: Like an Easter egg hunt where you hide candy or mini pumpkins that equal prizes throughout your yard or home. Whatever your plans are, make sure to listen to Magic 101.9 from noon-midnight to our Monster Mash!
CDC CATEGORIES BY RISK LEVELThese lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
- Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
- Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
- Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
- Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
- Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
- Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
Moderate risk activities
- Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
- If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
- Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
- Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
- Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
- Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
- Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
- Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
- Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.
Higher risk activities
- Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:
- Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
- Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
- Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
- Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
- Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
- Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
- Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19