If Halloween is a big holiday in your home, you know that even a historic pandemic can’t stop the desire for spirited, spooky fun. Luckily, we can create an exciting night while keeping the holiday COVID-safe. If you’re not sure how to make that happen, we have some ideas for you.
Trick or treat?
It’s hard to picture how children can go door to door this Halloween. That said, there are some ways of ensuring your ghosts and goblins still have a pile of treats when the night is through.
Glow in the dark: If you search “glow in the dark” on Amazon, you’ll quickly find candy, stickers, small bags, and more in glow-in-the-dark packaging. These will allow you to scatter candy outside so that kids can search and find it on their own. I recommend doing this a bit at a time over the course of the night so that it doesn’t disappear too fast (or get found by an animal later that night!).
No bowls: Sure, small hands can’t dig around in a communal bowl. They can safely pick up a single piece of candy on a table, however, while you sit a safe distance away. Clean the table a few times throughout the night.
Slides, ramps, and more: Get gravity on your side and find a way to safely slide candy to trick or treaters. Or, consider “trick or treat in reverse,” where kids hang out in their yard while folks drive around and toss candy to them. There are many ways to celebrate safely if your neighborhood chooses to work together to make it happen.
Halloween Fun
My kids have been reminding me for weeks that Halloween falls on a Saturday, which adds to the need to make it special for them. Over the past few months, we’ve tried to concentrate on “different” rather than “missing out.” If trick or treating isn’t a possibility, there are still unique ways of having fun.
Festive fun: If you can’t go as big as usual, celebrate longer! Try one of these ideas for bringing a week of healthy Halloween-themed meals to your family table.
Outdoor movie: There are plenty of kid-friendly Halloween movies to choose from and feature outdoors. Even if you don’t have a projector, you can likely move a TV outside.
Bonfire: Gather neighbors in the backyard for a socially distanced get together and bonfire, complete with Halloween costumes and music. Who knows? You might just start a new tradition.
Yard games: Yup, why not pass on the slow trick-or-treat walk? Change it up with an active game of tag, man hunt, or other outdoor fun?
Starry Treats
Who needs candy when you have fun food that kids will love? Parents can get behind these ideas too. They’re a delight even on a holiday that’s all about sugar.
Play with your food: These spooky, creepy Halloween themed dishes perfectly complete a Halloween party menu and are easy to serve safely.
Better-for-you cupcakes: Individually wrap Halloween confections for safe sharing at an outdoor gathering. Try these popular cupcakes (swap out the heart shape for Halloween decoration).
Candy corn colors: Turn the well-known candy corn colors into a nourishing parfait!