Halloween Safety During COVID-19

pumpkins on porch

Keeping your family safe during COVID-19, is a priority for many families. As the fall season approaches, Halloween will soon follow. The CDC suggests that many traditional Halloween activities are considered high-risk activities for spreading viruses. Consider having your family participate in these alternative activities:

Hosting a pumpkin decorating contest with household family members
Decorating your house, apartment, or living space.
Organizing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children can find Halloween- themed items inside and outside your home.
Hosting a virtual Halloween costume contest
Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume party where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart.

With neighborhood trick-or-treating uncertain, drop candy-filled goodie bags at friends’ or neighbors’ doorsteps as a contact-free way of spreading the wealth without spreading the germs.

Although, Halloween may look different for your family this year, your child wearing a Halloween costume may still be an option. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a costume for your child:

Visibility: Make sure your child’s costume has bright colors on it. If not, consider adding strips of reflective tape or stickers to it. This will help with being visible to drivers at night.
Swapping out costume masks for face paint: Try using face paint and make-up as an alternative to masks. Costume masks can often block your child’s vision causing a potential hazard. Make sure that the face paints used comply with Govt. standards, like the FDA of USA. Read the guidelines given on the paint boxes and comply by them. Also consider water-based face paints, as they are easy to use and even easier to wash off. Be careful with your eyes when using or washing off paints.
Costume length: Make sure that your child’s costume doesn’t have any long or trailing material as this could cause your child to potentially trip and fall.
Costume Accessories: If your child’s costume comes with a long sword or cane, make sure that it is made of a soft material. Be sure to add reflective tape or glow-in-the-dark tape to any costume accessories.

Thanks to COVID-19, Halloween is going to look a lot different this year. It will be important to strategize with other parents on creative ways to minimize risk and maximize fun.

Safety Tips