Halloween is not canceled.

The kids can be safe. Let them have fun.

When I was a kid, Halloween was THE holiday. My brother and I would scavenge the neighborhood for all the treats until we could barely carry our sacks. After we would get home, we would warm up with hot cocoa and begin the ritual of the “sort and trade.” I was even nerdy enough to make “inventory lists” of my haul and stash the candy under my bed, creating strong supportive evidence if any pieces were found to be missing. (I’m looking at you, Little Brother.)

Without question, Halloween 2020 will be different. But canceling the kid-centric holiday? Not a chance. Our kids have been champions, working through six months of upside-down with grace and flexibility. We shouldn’t take another thing away. Plus, of all the fall holidays, Halloween is prime to be the most “Pandemic-approved.” It’s outside, kids are spread out, and masks are part of the deal! The least we can do is muster up a bit of creative effort to create proper distance, wear some face masks ourselves, and give them a ton of candy. 

Remember, I’m a pediatrician. Promoting gratuitous candy consumption is not my usual schtick, but #2020.

Here are the ground rules: 

It’s up to us. Without clear direction, we can only expect our kids to revert to what they know as “normal;” herding at neighbor's doors to grab and dash, gathering groups of friends along the way. That 2019-lifestyle can’t happen, so it’s up to the adults in the room to plan a bit more, provide acceptable alternatives, and participate responsibly to keep the fun alive.

No mask? No candy. Gotta wear masks and keep your distance. Not PJ Mask. Not a Batman mask. I’m talking about all kids and adults wearing a facial covering over the nose and mouth. Most kids should be used to wearing masks to school and events by this point, so it should not be too much to ask. Adults who are passing out treats, accompanying ghouls and goblins, or otherwise interacting with other humans need to mask up, too. 

Don’t crowd the door. If you are passing out treats, create a comfy six foot distance so the kids don’t have to. Think about creating “grab and go” opportunities rather than a traditional trick or treat exchange. Toss treats from your driveway. Create a treat chute. Leave treats on the porch and wave through the glass door. Line up treats at the edge of your yard for children to come and pick up on their own. Tee-shirt cannon? Slingshot? Parade toss? Be creative. Have fun. 

Travel with your own pack. If you live in the same house, you can trick-or-treat together. In a learning pod? That’s your pack. Keep the groups small. Distance from other friends who don’t routinely share your space. Give a big wave. Say hi. Move along. 

Don’t forget the basics. Eat a nutritious meal before heading out. Stay in well-lit areas on the route. Wear comfy, well-fitting shoes. Dress for the weather. Accompany your children. Watch for cars. Don’t eat anything until getting back home. 

Hard pass on the big gatherings, school parties, indoor haunted houses, trunk-or-treat events, crowded hayrack rides with strangers, and brown candy corn. Ich. Party at a bar? Ah, hell no. 

Go Teal. For kids with food allergies, Halloween can be more trick than treat. Passing out non-edible treats is a way to make a more inclusive holiday experience. A Teal Pumpkin is the clue that your home is offering non-food items. Need a list of ideas? Here’s one.

You have to have Plan B. This will be important for the entire fall and winter season, so I’m sure sure you’ll hear me say this again. If you or someone in your home is exposed to the virus or has illness symptoms, that person needs to STAY HOME. I know it’s Halloween and your child really, really wants to go out. But if you know that your family is potentially harboring the virus, the virus needs to stop with you. This means a hard left turn to a home-bound Plan B. Turn the lights out. Throw the candy in the freezer for later. It’s not happening. Try a halloween movie night, indoor scavenger hunt, paint or carve pumpkins, or Facetime friends and show off costumes. 

Flu before boo! Get your family vaccinated for influenza before Halloween. The AAP has given the green light to both the injectable and nasal vaccines this year. And in the face of a possible #twindemic, now is the time to protect ourselves and protect each other.

Three more things: 

It’s okay to opt out. Some of my parents are done with the stress of trying to mitigate every decision, so sitting one out is best for mental rest. I totally get it. If the thought of trying to navigate this holiday is causing excessive stress, let it go. It’s okay. Enjoy a low-key Saturday night and enjoy your extra hour of sleep (fall back!) under the blue moon. 

How we do Halloween will affect how we do Thanksgiving. So, be smart. Kansas has already popped red. And, that’s not good. (Don’t live in Kansas? Sorry you are not as cool, and here’s your map.) “Red” means cases are very high in portions of our State and the “burden of disease” is ripe for outbreak. Anytime we interact with our friends and neighbors, our risk of spreading illness is greater than those in a state with lower positivity rates. The point here is that if we want to have safer holiday gatherings in November and December we have to work NOW to decrease our infection rates by being consistent with what we know reduces viral spread. 

Limit big gatherings, wear facial coverings whenever you are outside the home, wash your hands frequently, and stay home if you are sick. I feel like a broken record, but you get the point. With a disease that follows exponential growth curves, making changes to our community behaviors while numbers are climbing is too late. Because math. And before you say it… Even if a vaccine does arrive in the next 3 months, we will still need to be making responsible choices to limit viral spread. Strap in, we still have awhile. 

Any Halloween ideas I missed? Have a new tradition to try? Maybe something cool your neighborhood is doing? Leave a note below so we can learn from you.

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What’s coming up:

In the newsletter: How to handle Thanksgiving (and other family melodramas), what to do about college kids coming home, CBD in kids, and our first discussion thread will land on Friday. 

On Insta: I’ll be live on Instagram on Wednesday, October 21st at 7 pm CST with Dr. Nicole Baldwin. We started this thing a few weeks back we call “Masks Off Live” that has been well received. If you have ever wondered what two friends, who happen to be pediatricians, talk about over a glass of wine… Join us. Have a topic we have to discuss? Shoot me a DM. 

Meanwhile, be sure to subscribe to be the first to know and share this with a friend. I would appreciate it.