This Halloween can still be as spooky as the rest. You just have to get a little creative. Choosing what superhero to be, carving pumpkins, and getting endless amounts of candy brings joy to many kids at Halloween. However, some activities may look a little different to keep everyone safe during COVID-19. There are still many ways you and your family can have fun while avoiding the scare of being exposed or spreading coronavirus. No matter what you do to celebrate, keep following safety precautions like avoiding large gatherings, staying 6 feet away from others, wearing a face mask, and washing your hands often. Traditional activities like trick-or-treating and going through haunted houses are fun, but some of these activities can increase the risk of getting and/or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. This year, we put our creative cap on to help you think of alternative ways to celebrate Halloween.

Halloween 101

Here's how to plan the ultimate and safest costume:

1) Pick a costume that is bright and reflective. Consider adding reflective tape to your ensemble or trick-or-treat bags for better visibility at night.
2) Make sure your costume fits correctly from your shoes to your shirt. This way, you can avoid any tripping, entanglement, or contact with flame.
3) Be sure to look for flame-resistant labels on your costume. Wigs and other accessories should clearly indicate this on their packaging.
4) Use non-toxic makeup. Always test costume makeup ahead of time on a small patch of your child's skin to make sure there are no reactions.
5) Avoid costumes that consist of sharp or long swords, canes, or sticks. These can easily hurt your child or someone else if used as more than a prop or if he/she falls while running around the neighborhood.
6) Avoid decorative contact lenses without an eye exam and a prescription. The packaging on these contact lenses may claim that they are safe and don't need an eye specialist's prescription, but they can be very dangerous and, frankly, not worth the risk.

Pumpkin Carving

First and foremost, never let small children carve pumpkins by themselves. Children can draw faces on the pumpkins with markers but leave the cutting to the parents. For the best control while carving, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (AAHS) recommends adults use a small pumpkin saw in small strokes, directing the blade away from themselves and others. The AAHS advises against using larger blades, which can become lodged in the pumpkin and cause injuries when pulled out. When the carving is done, consider using a flashlight, glow stick, or battery-operated light instead of using an open-flame candle to light your pumpkin. After your pumpkin is lit and ready to be seen by the world, be sure to place your pumpkin in a spot where visitors aren't continually passing by and might trip over like a front porch.

Healthy Halloween

A healthy Halloween? Yes, it's possible. Make a plan together with your family so everyone knows what to expect. Give your child a good meal before heading out to trick-or-treat around the neighborhood. This will [hopefully] discourage filling up on Halloween treats, but remember, kids are kids! Instead of handing out candy, consider non-edible goodies like glow sticks, spider rings, vampire vangs, bubbles, and so on. Halloween is a tough holiday for kids with food allergies. Do your part and support the Food Allergy Research & Education's Teal Pumpkin Project, promoting safe trick-or-treating options for food-allergic children. Once your child is ready to enjoy all their tasty treats, remember that candy and treats should not be anywhere that a baby and toddler can reach. Things like hard candies, candy wrappers, stickers, small toys, or temporary tattoos are all choking hazards. And we all know babies and toddlers put just about anything into their mouths! Don't let your kid eat all the candy at once. Try to ration the candy for the days and weeks after Halloween. Parents, if you keep candy guidelines realistic, consistent, and positive, your Halloween is less likely to be about arguing or controlling candy. This is also a prime opportunity to teach your children about moderation, balance, and healthful indulging.

Halloween Safety

Avoid going to indoor events like haunted houses. A local haunted forest or corn maze might be a better option, as long as face masks are used, social distancing and a one-way walkthrough are enforced. If you think some screaming will occur (if it's haunted, screaming will be close by), be sure to leave extra distance to lower the risk of spreading respiratory viruses like Flu and COVID-19. If you and your family decide to hit the pumpkin patch or go to an apple orchard, use hand sanitizer before touching your pick.

How to Create Halloween Magic at Home

Go virtual!
Have a virtual costume party! Use video chat to celebrate with friends and family, show off your costume, and play games! With the cooler Fall nights, this might be the first time you and your kids can wear a costume that isn't hidden underneath a jacket. Or, outdoor costume parades are another option, as long as everyone keeps 6 feet distance from others and wears a face mask. Remember, a costume mask is NOT a substitute for a face mask, only if it has multiple layers of fabric and covers the mouth and nose tightly. If your children plan to use a face mask as part of their costumes, they should not paint them since some paints may contain toxins.

Have a scary movie night!
Celebrate with your favorite scary movie and dress up as your favorite characters. Make it a family activity or let your child watch with friends via video chat with everyone beginning the film simultaneously.

Make a jack-o'-lantern!
This is one of the safest and enjoyable Halloween traditions. As always, be careful when carving pumpkins. You don't want an unnecessary trip to the emergency room. As mentioned above, let the adults do the carving, and the kids do the decorating. For a healthy and tasty snack, roast the pumpkin seeds in the oven!

Bake spooky treats!
The best part about Halloween desserts is that they're your favorite treats disguised as Halloween goodies. So, grab your aprons and hit the kitchen. Maybe decorate a pizza with toppings in the shape of a pumpkin. Or bake sugar cookies in the form of spiders to fulfill all your creepy-crawly sweet needs. Use your imagination or find some inspiration online.

What about Trick-or-Treating?

Trick-or-treating may be discouraged or canceled in some areas. Instead, have a family scavenger hunt inside your home or out in your yard. But if trick-or-treating is still happening in your neighborhood, don't forget to avoid large groups or clusters at doorsteps, or anywhere else for that matter. If you decide to hand out treats, consider sitting outside and hand out prepackaged treat bags for families instead of kids all sticking their hand in the same candy bowl (and don't forget to wear your mask!). Non-edible treats are also a good option, especially for kids who suffer from food allergies. It still isn't clear how much touching objects can spread COVID-19, but if your child does collect treats from neighbors, it might be a good idea to wipe the candy down or let them sit out for a couple of days before letting your child dig in. Also, good hand hygiene before and after trick-or-treating is a must!

To reiterate, everyone who is trick-or-treating or giving out treats should:
• Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters.
• Give out treats outdoors, if possible.
• Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take.
• Wash hands before handling treats.
• Wear a mask.

Don't forget…
This is an opportunity for you and your family to get creative and maybe even create some new Halloween traditions! It's also an excellent opportunity to model flexibility and a positive spirit during these uncertain times. Parents, if you show your excitement, your kids will be too. More importantly, this is a good time to teach your children the importance of protecting themselves and others. The decisions each family makes on this one day can have a ripple effect. So, it's vital to find safe ways to celebrate and create new magical memories.

  Source  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/halloween.html  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Halloween-COVID-Safety-Tips.aspx  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Halloween-Safety-Tips.aspx