If Trick-or-Treating isn’t a Thing this Year…

If Trick-or-Treating isn't a Thing this Year...

Halloween is my family’s favorite holiday. We love everything about it: making costumes, decorating, watching scary movies, the weather. And of course, for the kiddo, the best part is Trick-or-Treating.

When else do you and your friends get to stay up late and go around the neighborhood asking for candy? So the fact that Trick-or-Treating might not be a thing this year is kind of a bummer. In fact, I haven’t even discussed this possibility with my child yet, because I wanted to make sure I have suitable alternatives before upsetting her.

After brainstorming, talking to friends, and doing some internet browsing, I’ve come up with the following ideas. We may do one of them, or even all of them. Who knows? This year has been sheer craziness and I’m at the point where I’ll do just about anything to make my family happy.

  1. Easter-egg-style hunt for Halloween candy. I’ve already started scavenging for orange plastic Easter eggs that I can put Jack-o-lantern faces on. I figure we can invite one or two kids from our “trust pod” to come over and everyone can hunt for Halloween candy, much like hunting for Easter eggs, only wearing ridiculous costumes instead of Sunday finery.
  2. Halloween-themed pinata. I made a walrus pinata for my daughter’s 4th birthday, so I feel pretty confident that I should be able to pull off a ghost/pumpkin/witch. Again, invite over a couple “trust pod” kids, and maybe listen to spooky music and have apple cider afterwards. If you don’t want to make your own pinata, places like Oriental Trading have them available in a variety of styles.
  3. Reverse Trick-or-Treating. Kind of like “you’ve been boo-ed”. Okay, exactly like “you’ve been boo-ed”. Instead of having your child go around to neighbors’ homes asking for candy, help them pre-package some candy in goodie bags to take around the neighborhood and leave in mailboxes or on porches.
  4. Costume parade. If you live in a close-knit neighborhood, consider scheduling a time for everyone to go out to their driveways/front yards to wave and cheer as the neighborhood kids parade down the street in their costumes. Someone could even pull a stereo in a wagon (push it in a stroller?) to provide a soundtrack and let neighbors know you are coming. These could easily be social-distancing-friendly by keeping families 6’+ apart.
  5. Not-So-Scary movie night. Follow these simple instructions for building your own outdoor movie screen and host a movie night on the lawn. Some great kid-friendly Halloween movies include It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; anything Scooby Doo; Casper; and Hotel Transylvania.Are you planning to take your kids Trick-or-Treating this year? If not, what plans do you have instead?
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Ginny
Originally from Dauphin Island, AL, I am a stay-at-home mom who likes to do anything other than just stay at home. My husband and I have lived in 5 states together and are in the Atlanta area now for the second time. I have a Master’s degree from GSU in Multiple and Severe Disabilities and was a special education teacher for 8 years before deciding to work with adults with autism and then becoming a SAHM. I now work as a preschool teacher and fitness instructor. I enjoy spending time with my daughter at parks, libraries, and anywhere else that we can explore our world.