Ways to Celebrate Halloween During These COVID Times

Candy. Pumpkins. Costumes. Halloween is rapidly approaching, but what happens to the magic of the holiday when we’re still social distancing? Is trick-or-treating possible and safe? Who can you show off those costumes to if you’re taking safety precautions? The answer is that you don’t have to sequester yourself in your home! There are plenty of opportunities and activities you can still do to celebrate Halloween during these COVID times.

Pumpkin Farms and Corn Mazes

Ask your friends, family, or simply look up nearby pumpkin farms on your Maps app on your phone.  Find the nearest pumpkin patch and corn maze, load up the kids, and prepare for a day of fun. Not only do your kids get to enjoy the fun of picking out their own pumpkins, but oftentimes, these places have other activities for you and your family to partake in as well. My husband, son, and I recently went to Tolmachoff Farms in Goodyear, Arizona. We spent the entire morning petting animals, whooshing down slides, racing little tractors, riding a train that circled around the farm, getting lost in a corn maze, and eating hot dogs and cotton candy. Meanwhile, everyone was courteous of the six feet of distance rule while also wearing their masks. There were plenty of hand sanitizer bottles spread throughout the area and also porta-potties that had a hand-washing station. It was a fantastic time, so much so that I wouldn’t mind taking the family back there again before the Halloween season ends!

Lights and Decorations

What better way to celebrate a holiday than to decorate for it! It really gets you into the spirit when you’re surrounded by ghosts, pumpkins, fall leaves, and cobwebs hanging from your house, trees, and walls. Plus, kids will love the crafts that can be done to spruce up the house. Your little ones can make leaf handprints from Fall colored construction paper. Or perhaps they’d rather go on a leaf and pinecone hunt, bringing all their treasures inside afterward to glue into a collage. Pumpkins and ghosts can be cut out and colored then proudly displayed. Once you’ve finished decorating inside and outside, strap the little ones into the stroller or tuck them safely into their car seats, gather the rest of the family, and check out your neighbors’ decorating skills. Even better, take along some Fall snacks to munch on.  Anything pumpkin, maple, or cinnamon tasting are the flavors you’re looking for!

Carving Pumpkins

One of my favorite activities, other than eating unhealthy amounts of candy, is carving pumpkins. Grab those pumpkins your kids picked out at the pumpkin patch, set up a carving station, and get to work. Remember to plan for your kids that aren’t able to work with knives yet. They will be able to scoop out the “guts” with a spoon, though. Or for those that don’t have a problem with texture, they can be put to work sorting out the pumpkin seeds that can later be washed and roasted. After the inside of the pumpkin is cleaned, your kids can pick out what face or design they want carved into the pumpkin. After carving is done, place a small candle inside the pumpkin, light it, choose the perfect spot for it to rest, and let your family admire their work. Then, do it again!

“You’ve Been Boo-ed”

I won’t spend time explaining this one because MapsCookingKids.com has an article specifically dedicated to this activity. Read more about You’ve been boo-ed. However, I will say it sounds extremely fun and allows neighborhoods to get involved from a socially-safe distance.

Trick-or-Treating

This is the hardest Halloween tradition to accomplish during these insecure times. However, with everyone’s safety in mind, I think it can be accomplished. If you plan on handing out candy yourself, instead of having one enormous bowl full of goodies, pack the treats in individual bags. That way, kids can grab a bag and not worry about putting their hands into a bowl that multiple other hands have touched. Though it is fun to listen for the doorbell while munching on goodies while you watch your favorite Halloween films, perhaps the candy could be set outside with a sign beside it instead of kept inside the house. That way if parents don’t feel comfortable coming up to the door and greeting you in person, their kids are able to take their treat bag without worrying about possible contact. If you and your kids are trick-or-treating door to door, masks are a smart way to feel safe as people answer their door and dole out their candy. Another precaution could be to add gloves into your child’s costume. Finally, make sure to bring along that hand sanitizer you carry with you everywhere; if you or your child comes into contact with anyone else, squirt some sanitizer on your hands and continue on your way.

Halloween is an exciting time for kids, and it would be a shame to lose the joy of it completely during these COVID times. If you’re too worried about taking your children out to the festivities and door to door trick-or-treating, try the first few options I mentioned above. However you decide to celebrate the season, I hope your family stays safe and well, and the only repercussion is a bellyache from the amount of candy you ingested. How do you plan to celebrate Halloween?

Do you have any ideas for ways to keep the holidays safe and fun for your kids? Connect with us on Instagram @MapsCookingKids or on Twitter @MapsCookingKids. Until next time, Agape, be kind, and happy parenting.