Here’s what you need to know to have a safe Halloween
Those words will be echoing in neighborhoods across the country as children go door-to-door in search of delicious treats this Halloween.
Going trick-or-treating outdoors is a low-risk activity, according to CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen. Families should assess if they are comfortable going to higher-risk indoor activities, she added.
In the flurry of all the costumes and decorations, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of the holiday.
To ensure you celebrate safely, here are some guidelines to follow this Halloween.
Wear a face mask
Covid-19 is a serious concern, so it’s important everyone wear face masks when trick-or-treating or attending parties, said Dr. Emily Levy, pediatric infectious disease and pediatric critical care specialist at the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center in Rochester, Minnesota.
“Surgical, medical or multi-layer masks are going to be more reliably protective and better fitting as compared to costume masks,” she said via email.
If you are invited to an indoor party, it’s a good idea to ask if masks will be required, Levy noted. Larger parties with unmasked attendees could lead to the spread of Covid-19, especially for younger children who are not vaccinated yet, she said.
Families should also weigh the risks if they have a loved one who has health complications that make them more susceptible to contracting the virus, Levy said.
Stay safe around fire
Many Halloween decorations, such as jack-o’-lanterns, use fire, and they are often placed in high foot traffic areas like porches and walkways, said Erin McDermott, a spokesperson for the National Safety Council. Try using electric candles for pumpkins to limit the chance of a fire.
Light up your costume
The risk of pedestrian fatalities from vehicles is 43% higher on Halloween compared to other autumn days, according to a 2019 study published in JAMA Pediatrics.
McDermott recommended trick-or-treaters wear reflective tape on their costumes as well as carrying glow sticks and flashlights so drivers can see children more easily.
Additionally, children should use crosswalks, not run between parked cars, and walk instead of running across the street, she said.
Inspect the candy
When children return home from trick-or-treating, grown-ups should inspect the candy to ensure it’s safe.
Any candy that is not commercially packaged or that has pinholes in it should be discarded, McDermott said.
Be mindful of trick-or-treaters with autism
For some children and young adults with autism, there are many challenges that arise from trick-or-treating, said Wendy Fournier, president of the National Autism Association.
Many people with autism are unable to speak, which means they may not say “trick-or-treat” or “thank you,” she said. Eye contact can also be challenging, and some may not be able to wear a costume due to sensory issues, Fournier added.
For people passing out treats, make sure to greet everyone with understanding and kindness, she said.
Halloween Trick-or-Treating a year after COVID-19 hit
The pandemic has changed the way many holidays and traditions are done this year, and with Halloween just around the corner, parents and officials spoke out about COVID-19 safety.
“My husband and I are talking about doing is that we’re going to walk around,” Melody Lucoski, a parent, said, ”and then if we see a home and we go up, and there’s a bunch of people crowded, we’re gonna wait.
“And then when we get up there, if someone’s a person handing out candy, if they’re coughing, if there’s sneezing or anything, we’re just going to kind of turn away, and we’re not going to not to be rude.”
Katherine Wells, the director of the Lubbock Health Department, said there’s no worry of transmission.
“We have a lot more information and knowledge about COVID than we did a year ago. But we still want to keep some distance among, you know, groups outside your household.
Wells said even though there is not as much panic in an outdoor setting, she is still concerned about any parties and indoor Halloween festivities.
“Your child can wear a mask or incorporate a mask with their, you know, with their Halloween costume. And again, keep that distancing. And, you know, good hand-washing, when you get back to the house before you start eating that candy, is always a good idea.” Wells said.
COVID-19 Vaccine Reduces Trick or Treating Concerns
Halloween won’t be as scary this year compared to last year for one big reason: COVID-19 vaccinations for those who are 12 and older.
Federal officials who discouraged trick-or-treating a year ago now say it’s OK as long as you take COVID-19 safety precautions.
Anyone 2 years old and older who isn’t fully vaccinated should wear a mask in indoor public places, including Halloween gatherings. However, Lori Grooms, OSF HealthCare director of Infection Control and Prevention, says that since COVID-19 is spread through the air, kids attending outdoor gatherings with others outside their own household should wear more than a Halloween mask, which isn’t designed for protection against COVID-19 transmission. But because wearing a medical-grade or cloth mask under a costume mask could make it hard for a child to breathe, Grooms suggests finding a way to incorporate it into their costume.
“Let’s say your child is going to be a cat, get a mask on which you can draw the cat’s nose and whiskers. Or if they’re going to be an angel, get a white mask. Somehow, try to incorporate it into the costume,” Grooms suggests.
Community trick-or-treating events, or “trunk or treats,” are great because they’re outside and allow for droplets from someone’s mouth or nose to dissipate in the air. But Grooms warns that kids should stay within their smaller group of friends and keep a three-to six-foot physical distance from others.
“If there’s a group of kids at the door step, you may not want your kids going up to the door, especially if you don’t know who the children are. You might want to step back and wait for them to exit before you go up; again avoiding those big, cluster groups.”
The Common Halloween Candy Mistakes That Parents Make
The annual trick-or-treating haul is a challenge for parents trying to balance holiday fun with healthy eating habits.
Growing up in Chicago, Julie Mennella recalls trick-or-treating with her younger brother Joey, and how he always managed to bring home a huge candy haul.
“I remember my brother would get more candy than the whole neighborhood,” said Dr. Mennella, who is now a developmental psycho-biologist who studies childhood taste preferences.
She also remembers that the candy seemed to disappear, and not just because her brother was eating it. It was “a little bit here and there,” she said. “It was probably my parents.”
For many parents, the biggest trick of Halloween is how to make mounds of treats disappear when the holiday is over so their kids don’t overindulge. But in the effort to keep kids from eating too many sweets, many parents may end up inadvertently reinforcing unhealthy eating habits. While every child is different, scientists who study childhood development and food preferences can offer advice.
“It’s really not so much about the candy as the larger picture of what’s happening on all the other days of the week that really matters,” said Jennifer Orlet Fisher, professor and associate director at the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University.
Halloween candy: How much is OK for kids to eat?
Billions are spent every Halloween on candy alone
With Halloween just around the corner, parents across the U.S. are scrambling to buy candy to pass out to trick-or-treaters.
Spending on All Hallow’s Eve 2021 is projected to surpass $10 billion, according to the National Retail Federation – an all-time high, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
The group’s annual survey found that about 65% of Americans are planning to celebrate Halloween, or at least participate in Halloween-related activities.
66% plan to hand out candy and the federation predicts that $3 billion will be spent on candy alone.
But, there are some things to remember before sending your little pirate, astronaut or vampire out to the house with the big chocolate bars.
Halloween 2021: Your guide to trick-or-treating in the area
Here’s a look at where to score candy Halloween weekend
Who doesn’t love Halloween? The leaves are changing, the temperatures are falling, and, of course, there’s candy.
Haunted Halloween Festival at The Boss Boxx: 4-10 p.m. Saturday, 9147 Trinity Road. A costume contest for kids and adults will be held. More than 30 vendors will be on-site offering their goods. Guests can also expect live music, food trucks, a D.J., and trick-or-treating.
Maker’s Market CLT Spooky Fest: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Tip Top Daily Market, 2902 The Plaza. Who said Halloween is just for kids? Children can come in and get their candy, but there will also be 20 local vendors on site offering sales, food, seasonal brews, and there will be a costume contest.
Morrison Family YMCA Trunk or Treat: 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday, 9405 Bryant Farms Road. The front parking lot will be filled with games, food, and spooky cars and costumes. There will be a contest for the best-decorated trunk. Front parking lot.
Trunk or Treat Fall Festival: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, 8823 Albemarle Road. Photo opportunities will be available. Food vendors will be on site. Be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Cornelius
Burn Boot Camp Trunk or Treat: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, 17036 Kenton Drive. The boot camp is offering family-friendly games, prizes and food from local vendors.
Halloween Treat Trail: 5:30-6:30 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Bailey Road Park. Pick one of two sessions for your child to trick-or-treat at local businesses and get pre-packaged, but-free candy. Games, activities, a photo area and homemade scarecrows will round out this event for kids 12 and younger.
Birkdale Village’s inaugural Treat-or-Treating Experience:10 a.m.-noon Saturday, 8712 Lindholm Drive, Huntersville. Kids of all ages are invited to dress up and stop by for the area’s first trick-or-treating event.
Halloween in Huntersville: 4-7 p.m., Huntersville Athletic Park, 11720 Verhoeff Drive. This free festival includes balloon twisters, airbrush tattoos, games, local craft vendors, and costume contests with food and drink for sale.
Trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating is a traditional Halloween custom for children and adults in some countries.
In the evening before All Saints’ Day (1 November), children in costumes travel from house to house, asking for treats with the phrase “Trick or treat”.
The “treat” is usually some form of candy, although in some cultures money is given instead. The “trick” refers to a threat, usually idle, to perform mischief on the homeowner(s) or their property if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating usually occurs on the evening of October 31.
Some homeowners signal that they are willing to hand out treats by putting up Halloween decorations outside their doors; others simply leave treats available on their porches for the children to take freely. Houses may also leave their porch light on as a universal indicator that they have candy.
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Seven families share their stories of putting together the perfect Halloween costumes for children with special needs.
Just five years ago, Jessica Bondi and Brian Steinberg couldn’t find a Halloween costume to accommodate their son Ben’s disability. Ben has cerebral palsy and has used a wheelchair since he was 3. Ms. Bondi saw photos of costumes that other parents of children with disabilities made, but she felt intimidated by the elaborate projects. Also, Ben is a twin. If he and his brother Nathan wanted to wear matching costumes, it was almost impossible to find them in stores.
Recently, Ms. Bondi has noticed adaptive costumes, which cater to people with disabilities or sensory issues, have become more accessible and affordable. Now 8, Ben can pick a superhero costume from Walmart, Target, Amazon or other large name-brand retailers and even get creative. This year, he is going to be a “samurai dragon,” with a ninja outfit for him and a dragon costume for his wheelchair.
“We’re making sure that everyone can transform for Halloween,” said Tara Hefter, a representative from Disguise Costumes, a leading manufacturer.
But many families still prefer the old fashioned approach — cardboard, glitter and a lot of elbow grease. We spoke to several families about their experiences finding adaptive costumes for their kids.
Save on spooky games to play during Halloween
Plus, stellar tech deals from this week you might have missed
It’s the spooky holiday this weekend, but you probably already knew that since Halloween decorations have likely been up in your town for the last month and a half. But what hasn’t been around as long (and will disappear faster than those decorations) are the deals below. To match the mood, we’re going to share special discounts on scary video games that you need to play if you’re trying to get in the holiday spirit this weekend. Just so you know, Steam’s Halloween sale ends Monday, November 1st, likely at 1PM ET / 10AM PT. Following that gaming-centric section, you’ll find deals on tech gadgets that we think you’ll enjoy.
Gaming deals
Okay, so Deathloop is far from being a scary game at its core (though it can become quite tense when you’re down to that last sliver of health and surrounded by enemies), but we’re highlighting it here anyway because it’s down to its lowest price yet on all platforms. If you’re on PS5, the physical version and digital version each cost $40 (normally $60). For those who’ve been reluctant to jump into the game, this price should make it a little easier to justify. It’s also available on Steam for $40.
This is Arkane Studios’ latest game, and its fast, frenetic action feels reminiscent of Dishonored. The gameplay loop is much different, though, even if some of the powers you’ll eventually acquire are similar.
Halloween
Halloween or Hallowe’en , also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, or All Saints’ Eve, is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October
, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the departed.