Any ideas on how to safely hand out Halloween treats?

[FredaFrogspawn]

My dc have grown up but I always enjoy our little visitors at Halloween.

Any thoughts on how I can hand out treats with minimum risk to them and myself? Of course they may not come this year, but in case any do, I’d like to be prepared.

I'll be leaving a bowl of treats outside the door with a note to help yourself

@Fredelliottisayfredelliott

I'll be leaving a bowl of treats outside the door with a note to help yourself

That would last all of 5 seconds where I live. We can't let the kids help themselves when we answer the door.

We live in Wales. I'll probably throw a bag of harbio out the window if anyone comes around.

Someone on my local group has shared this picture of what they've done. I thought it was a really good idea!

I’m thinking of doing party bag type things.

I had planned to stick lollies into a pumpkin - far enough apart that the child should only need to touch their own. I'm now not sure about it so probably won't do anything. That seems to be the general consensus in our estate

I'm doing party bags so when they knock I can just hand them a little bag each.

I’m doing lollies in a pumpkin but what about dropping out of a window?

I’m worried that the contents of a party bag can’t be seen by parents of the little ones. Perhaps a clear freezer bag/ziplock bag might work.

I have one of the rubbish picker sticks - maybe I could clean and sterilise it, and use it to hand bags out!

Why not just be sensible and not take part this year? You are encouraging the spread of the virus, the more people that refuse to participate and don't answer the door, the better.

I'm just going to pop a few sweets in each kid's bucket (rather than letting them put their hand in my bucket).

I can't believe that anyone thinks this is a good idea. If parents think their children need treats, they can have a party at home.

They have missed out so much - just trying to think of a way to support this safely.

Use tongs?? Or a gloved hand?

Use tongs??

@FredaFrogspawn

They have missed out so much - just trying to think of a way to support this safely.

There is no way to support this safely. That's why it's been banned in so many areas. The more people that give out sweets the more people there will be out and about mixing together.

Gloves are a good idea.

If parents and children come to your door, they aren't going to be worried about Covid.

Just do what you normally do.

I didn't think this was going ahead anywhere.
I'm interested, in what ways is a gloved hand cleaner than a washed/sanitised one?

Most areas have asked families not to do it, but I think if you want to the litter picker is a good/fun idea.

I am taking DS pumpkin spotting. Every pumpkin he spots I’ll give him a treat. Think a lot of people are doing that as an alternative this year.
I think leaving the sweets out is a bad idea just because there’s always that one kid that will take the lot.

There is no way to support this safely. That's why it's been banned in so many areas. The more people that give out sweets the more people there will be out and about mixing together.

Maybe you’re right. I was hoping children would be just in their family groups and socially distance. But there are no guarantees of course.

I'm interested, in what ways is a gloved hand cleaner than a washed/sanitised one?

It's not. Unless you change your gloves between every child.

If you put a bowl out all the kids will be touching the stuff and risking sharing the virus.

Just don't do it.

@Slightlybrwnbanana

I didn't think this was going ahead anywhere. I'm interested, in what ways is a gloved hand cleaner than a washed/sanitised one?

Glove on washed and sanitised hand. Changing gloves between each handout.

I've decided not to give out sweets. I'll take my kids out for a walk and give them a sweet each time we see a pumpkin. Not a huge fan of Halloween and the begging aspect anyway.