Bree Wallis’ family is combining holiday traditions this year in an effort to make Halloween safe and fun for their two little kids.
“I bought some Halloween-colored Easter eggs and we are going to put them all around a park area on a nice day,” she said.
Wallis, the Sault Ste. Marie mother of a 4 year old and 1 year old, said she came up with the idea of the Halloween egg hunt out of necessity to give her kids the joy of getting candy without trick-or-treating, an activity health experts say is high risk this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The usual fun frights of Halloween have been overtaken by the real scariness of COVID-19 this year, leaving parents all over Michigan with the dilemma of how to help their kids safely celebrate. Some say they’ll proceed with normal trick-or-treating this year, while others are modifying their plans.
“It’s sad that there are a lot of things that aren’t normal,” said Stefanie Goudeaux, a Grand Rapids mother of three. “But we are trying to make it as normal possible.”
Goudeaux’s children, ages 6, 4 and 1, will trick-or-treat if people in her neighborhood decide to hand out candy, she said. But one Halloween tradition that won’t happen this year is the large party at her neighbor’s house that in years past has attracted 50-plus children for pizza and candy.
Despite the challenges, kids just want to dress up and get candy, through whatever avenue, Goudeaux said. Dressed as a vampire, The Flash and a race car, her three kids also plan to attend Zoo Goes Boo! at the John Ball Zoo, Goudeaux said.
“In all situations, we’re just trying to work within what’s available and trying to be creative,” Goudeaux said.
While many students are learning virtually this year, the joy of dressing up for school doesn’t have to be lost. Matt Flessner, a Jenison Public Schools teacher, said he’s planning to dress up to teach his virtual classes.
Flessner, a high school science and engineering teacher, does have some students learning in person, too, and is trying to incorporate Halloween fun into all learning opportunities, he said.
“I’m really excited because one of my engineering classes is programming a robot to give out candy without the kids touching it,” Flessner said. “Once it’s built, they get to decorate it.”
Flessner also is a father of two and is planning safe and fun ways for his own family to celebrate Halloween.
“As parents, we are doing everything we can to give them the great, fun experience as safely as possible,” Flessner said.
Related: Try a costume parade, scavenger hunt for Halloween this year, Jackson health officials say
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers traditional trick-or-treating a high-risk activity that can spread the virus and has suggested alternative ways to celebrate Halloween this year.
Other local health departments have also put out their own list of dos and don’ts for this year’s holiday:
- Everyone should wear a face mask covering both their mouth and nose. But a costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask, the experts said. Kids should consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask or color-coordinated mask to match their costume. Going as a mummy? Wear a white face mask to match.
- For families choosing to stay home and hand out candy to the little ones walking the streets, there are ways to social distance and stay safe while still keeping the candy flowing. Consider handing out candy from outdoors rather than inviting kids to come to your front door. You can also leave the treats on a table for kids to pick up. The table also acts as separation from you and the children.
- Mark six-foot lines on your walkway so trick-or-treaters can space out as they wait for candy.
- Organize a neighborhood costume parade while maintaining social distancing. Use door signs in the neighborhood to promote dressing up children or pets.
- Come up with creative ways of distributing candy to children and maintaining distance by using chutes, slides or catapults.
- Consider a neighborhood costume parade. It is an easy way to keep safe space between children.
- Don’t want to go out? Experts say consider enjoying a favorite Halloween movie or hiding candy throughout the house to give the kids a kind of scavenger hunt they can do away from others. Other ideas include a virtual costume party or small outdoor party with masks and social distancing.
To help you navigate this complicated fall, we’re pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up.
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