Safely Trick or Treat

There's no doubt that raising children in 2020 has presented many unique challenges. We're headed into the holiday season, typically a time of year when your kids want to enjoy the special treats and traditions and you want to make memories as a family. With Halloween quickly approaching, your little ones have likely already picked out their costumes and now you're left wondering where how you can make this holiday memorable. Don't worry, there are still plenty of activities you can do safely and we’ve rounded them up for you.

Trick or treat

Unfortunately, door-to-door is not a recommended activity this year, unless you can avoid having your child come into contact with other trick-or treaters. This doesn't mean that Halloween is cancelled and that you can't have fun. Try some of these new ideas to make the season even more festive:

• Halloween Scavenger Hunt - Make a list of Halloween-themed items that you observe throughout your neighborhood (a scarecrow in someone's yard, a carved pumpkin, or witches hat decoration, etc.) and take your kids out to search for them. Hand out a treat each time the item is found.
• One-way Trick of Treating - This is a new trend this year that allows for trick or treating but reduces close contact. If you typically hand out treats, this will require a little preparation. You’ll need to assemble individually packaged goody bags and place the items at the end of your driveway or on your front steps for pick up. Likewise, your trick-or-treaters can safely go house to house to gather treats.

Make sure to take hand sanitizer with you wherever you go. After any interactions where you or your children touch objects (door knobs, hand rails, etc.) or people use at least 60% alcohol based sanitizer to clean your hands.

Costume Fun

• There are many activities you can take part in to show off your child's costume. A virtual costume contest is a great way to gather with friends and family to award the best costume with a special prize.
• While large gatherings are not encouraged, a small costume parade that takes place outside can be done safely. Be mindful of the amount of people involved in the party, maintain a distance of six feet and always wear a mask.
• Costume masks are not considered a replacement for cloth masks. Cloth masks can be dangerous if worn under a costume face mask, making it difficult to breathe, so your child should only wear a cloth mask. Make the cloth mask part of the costume so your child gets excited about wearing it.
• Wearing a mask all day can be a tall order for your little one, why not make it fun with a mask decorating party! Buy a few plain masks (orange, black, or any color) and have your kids decorate them with stickers, glitter, or markers. Spooky themes are encouraged!

A Little Hocus Pocus

If you have any concerns about trick or treating and being around other families, there's nothing wrong with staying in on Halloween night. There are plenty of things you can do at home to make memories. You can create a scavenger hunt within your own house, decorate and carve pumpkins, have a special Halloween themed meal, or host a spooky movie night. Do what you feel is right for your family.

The symptoms of the flu, cold, and coronavirus are all very similar, that's why getting the flu shot this year is more important than ever. If you're planning on going out for Halloween, your child should already be vaccinated. Additionally, if someone in your household isn't feeling well (even if it's just a sniffle) you should not go out. The virus is still very present within our community and it's up to all of us to do our part to protect our families.

The pediatricians at Pleasant Street Pediatrics are accepting new patients. Please call 508-223-2474 to make an appointment for your child.