The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives for the foreseeable future, cancelling huge celebrations from weddings, milestone birthdays and in some cases, present for the birth of your own child. Many wonder how big holidays such Halloween and Christmas will work out - and the truth is, we just don’t know.
At present, new restrictions have been put in place in Dublin and if extended, trick or treating may not go-ahead - it’s really sad when you think about it. However, we hope that this will not be the case, and children of all ages will be able to hit the streets safely in search of sweet treats like they have done for many years.
If you’ve been wondering how we can trick or treat safely this Halloween, living alongside Covid-19, here are some of our top tips:
Stay in your neighbourhood
Some children like to go from estate to estate and try to get as many sweets as possible, but this year, it is advised to limit the number of houses you visit. Stick to a select few on your side of the neighbourhood or even just your street.
Go in shifts
If you have a neighbourhood Facebook group, try to designate trick or treating times in shifts. If a community can come together and organise certain times by area, fewer children will be out and about making it a much safer place, and there will be more room to practice social distancing.
Wear a mask
It might sound silly to some, but one of the safest ways to trick or treat this year is to wear a mask, including children if possible. This year, be super savvy and incorporate a face-covering into your child’s costume. Alternatively, you can opt for character cloth face masks to match their Halloween outfit.
Keep to your pod
We all love to meet up with all our friends and family and trick or treat in large groups, but this year it’s a no go. Instead, this year opt to hit the streets with close friends, immediate family members or children who are in your pandemic pod. Avoid mixing with others unnecessarily.
Set ground rules
For some children, it may be the first time they have been out and about in a while and may get excited when they see their friends on the street. Before hitting the road, and in order to trick or treat safely, set some ground rules for your kids and let them know what you expect of them.
Avoid parties
It is impossible to keep close contacts small if you attend a party this Halloween. New measures by the Government limits the number of people who can be in one house at once to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Don’t go to one, and certainly don’t host one.
Check their haul
Once the kids are done trick or treating remove any sweets that are loose or not factory wrapped. There is no need to disinfect their sweets but do encourage them to hold off eating any sweets until they are home and have washed their hands first.