What is your idea of a fun COVID Halloween? On one hand, your kids have been looking forward to it for a long time. On the other hand, you have to keep them safe considering the ongoing threat posed by the coronavirus.
Halloween is a potential super-spreader event for COVID-19. For starters, kids mix together in large groups where the virus can spread easily from one child to another. Additionally, there is a lot of contact between your little one and other kids and strangers as they exchange candy.
As such, it is important to take the necessary safety measures to keep your kids safe this Halloween. Here are some simple, fun, and effective Halloween safety ideas to get you started.
Alternative Ideas to Keep Kids Safe During Halloween
Halloween creates the ideal conditions for spreading the COVID-19 virus, as mentioned. To this end, many health experts have recommended skipping the holiday this season.
However, the kids must have fun, so it is prudent to engage in other fun activities to avoid crushing your kid's spirits. The standard requirements for these alternative activities are that they should be safe and fun – ideally, they should minimize risk factors such as mixing with strangers.
Here is an overview of some fun Halloween ideas during COVID that fit this bill:
- Decorating your home based on the Halloween theme to bring the holidays inside, where it is safe.
- Carving pumpkins with other members of the family to see who comes up with the best.
- Watching a scary movie as a family to really get into the Halloween spirit.
- Organizing an exciting scavenger-style search where the kids have to look for their trick-or-treat delights.
- Organizing a virtual Halloween costume party with other parents.
These options are simple and minimize the risk of your little one getting exposed to the COVID-19 virus. You can do them indoors and with members of the household, eliminating contact with potentially infectious strangers.
Your kids may not understand why Halloween has to be different this year. As such, have a chat with your little one to explain the situation in the simplest terms. However, you can invite a close friend to make things more fun. You can also conduct some of these activities outside in your yard.
Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe When Going Out
Some kids love Halloween too much to imagine skipping the holiday. Fortunately, your little one can still enjoy the holiday and stay safe by taking the necessary safety precautions. Here are some tips to help keep your little one safe when going out:
Mask Up
Wearing a mask is one of the best ways to limit the spread of the coronavirus. As such, ensure that your child wears a mask before going out – and keeps it on the whole time.
You can get creative and get your little one a COVID-themed mask to make the COVID Halloween complete. For example, many children will jump at the idea of wearing a mask with lights, and most will not want to take it off when interacting with the other kids. As such, consider getting scary light up masks to go with your child's outfit.
Limit Group Sizes
Social distancing is one of the main safety measures for limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Kids normally collect in large groups when going treat-or-tricking, but that has to change this year. As such, it is advisable to limit the large groups into small groups of two or three kids. Additionally, it is prudent to supervise the kids to avoid risky forms of contact.
Keep it Local
Halloween involves exchanging treats with strangers, making it easy for the virus to spread. As such, it is advisable to keep the even local by limiting it to the neighborhood. Additionally, it is advisable to have the neighbors pre-pack the treats and dispense them with minimal contact to prevent the likelihood of the virus spreading through the treats.
Practice Good Hygiene
Good hygiene is as effective against the coronavirus as wearing a mask. Your kids will be touching many foreign objects and surfaces, including treats and strangers' doorknobs. As such, it is advisable to keep their hands clean by bringing a sanitizer and using it every time they interact with a stranger.
Final Thoughts
Your kids deserve to have fun this Halloween, but their safety comes above everything else. As such, it is advisable to practice these COVID Halloween safety tips, including getting a safe and cool-looking mask for your little one.
