halloween
It’s time for skeletons, witches, and jack-o’-lanterns, but how do we prepare our families for a safe and fun Halloween? By Melissa Wickes
H
alloween is quickly approaching, and it’s a dose of fun every family is in dire need of right now. But considering the pandemic, is traditional Halloween fun off the table? Is trick-or-treating allowed? Can you show off this year’s homemade costume at a spooky soirée? No matter what your celebrations look like—and whether they’re in person or not—here are some ideas for celebrating safely.
TRICK-OR-TREATING: YAY OR NAY? Governor Andrew Cuomo said he won’t formally ban trick-ortreating this Halloween, but he doesn’t necessarily encourage parents to take their kids door-to-door either. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified traditional trickor-treating (where treats are handed to children going doorto-door) as a high-risk activity and instead recommends the following alternatives: • Individually wrap goodie bags and line them up at the end 28
October/November 2020 | nymetroparents.com
of your yard or driveway for neighbors to come collect in their costumes. • Create a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search in your home or backyard for family and friends. You can determine the risk-level of trick-or-treating in your area with Hershey’s new Halloween website, halloween2020.org. It tracks the risk levels (red, orange, yellow, and green) of trick-ortreating throughout the country. Most of New York is yellow, though there are areas of red, orange, and green. Based on the color of your area, the site lists suggestions of activities that are considered safe. If your family ultimately chooses to go door-to-door, everyone should wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth and regularly sanitize, especially if chowing down on some treats during the trip. Remember: Not every family will feel comfortable handing out treats this year, so be patient and understanding— and try not to ring the doorbell more than once!
