REIMAGINE HALLOWEEN DURING COVID-19: 10 alternatives to turn a tricky Halloween into a treat for your child with autism
Halloween can be challenging for some children with autism, so opportunities to reimagine amid Covid-19 this Halloween can be a good thing.
You don’t need to ditch all the usual traditions. Decorating the house in scary or “not-so-scary” decorations and carving or painting a jack-o-lantern are Halloween traditions that you can do regardless but in the era of Covid-19 trick-or-treating may be a risky proposition.
Halloween themed scavenger hunt
1. A Candy (or any type) Scavenger Hunt - Similar to Easter egg hunts this is a great way to still enjoy some tricks with your child’s treats.
2. A Skeleton Find - Buy a dollar store skeleton and hide the bones to be found around the house, first child/team to build their skeleton wins.
3. In-door trick-or-treat - Have parents and caregivers decorate the different doors to rooms in your house. Have your child knock on each door, say “Trick-or-treat!” and get their candy. This way they don’t miss a thing. They don’t have to wear bulky clothes under or a coat over their costume to keep them warm and behind every door is a familiar face. Note you may need to run between rooms to keep up with them.
Make a game of it
4. Ring Toss with pumpkins - Make a game of your pumpkin by using rings and tossing them around the stem of your pumpkin or use a small ball and toss it into the hole a-top your jack-o-lantern (may get sticky).
5. Pumpkin Golf - Similar to the ring-toss, try to get the golf ball in the jack-o-lantern’s mouth.
6. Spider Web - Tape a spider web to the floor and make each section worth points. Then toss pretend spiders at the web. Most points wins!
Take a Road Trick
7. Tour the neighbourhood - instead of door knocking take a tour of the neighbourhood and scout out the decorations. If your neighbours are up to it, it can be a really fun way to band together as a community and provide some Halloween inspired “eye-candy” for the entire neighbourhood.
Get creative
8. Halloween egg painting - Another Easter-inspired option is to paint eggs with Halloween-themed designs Turning your favourite Easter egg tradition into an eggstravagent jack-o-lantern work of art.
9. Match the Pumpkin - Paint paper plates as pumpkin pairs, turn them over and mix up and match the lids (tops) and bottoms.
Do the Monster Mash
10. Have a spooky dance party in your costumes. Flash lights and glow sticks are optional
BONUS
Don’t forget to watch some of their favourite age appropriate Halloween movies and cartoons while snacking on some tasty candy.
If you do go trick-or-treating
Be aware of directions provided by Health Canada and follow their guidelines.
“.... if a parent and their kids think it’s too unsafe, or the risk cannot be safely managed, then do no go out and celebrate Halloween.”
If you do go out masks are a must and Halloween costume masks shouldn’t replace a cloth or medical grade face mask. Carry hand sanitizer and clean your child’s and your hands regularly. Avoid large groups maintain 6 ft social distancing at all times.
If you are providing candy or treats to kids in your neighbourhood, consider placing treats on a sanitized table separated individually so they can be picked up easily. Sanitize the space between each trick-or-treater.
Guidance from the Durham Region Public Health Department
Click below to download a useful poster provided by the Durham Region Public Health Department on how to handle Halloween during COVID-19.