The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every part of our lives this year, including favorite childhood traditions like Halloween and Fall festivals. While such treasured activities such as trick-or-treating or large gatherings may not be possible this year, you can still help your children enjoy Halloween and Fall safely if you follow these new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC has split traditional Halloween and Fall activities into three categories: lower risk, moderate risk, and higher risk. Lower-risk activities recommended by the CDC include:
- 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
- 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 include any small, local gatherings that are held outdoors, with all participants wearing cloth face coverings and keeping a safe social distance. Examples of moderate-risk activities include neighborhood costume parades and socially distanced trick-or-treating where families leave wrapped goodie bags at the end of their driveways.
Higher risk activities, such as trick-or-treating door-to-door, trunk-or-treating in crowded parking lots, indoor costume parties, or visiting a public haunted house or fall festival, should be avoided.
With a little planning and creativity, you can make this an enjoyable holiday for your family and children while avoiding unnecessary risks.