national health authorities in canada have said halloween trick-or-treating can go ahead , depending on local public health direction , with careful planning and preparation to minimize risks of viral transmission. (if you live in ottawa, peel, toronto and york region in ontario , door-to-door trick or treating is not recommended.)
due to local infection numbers, some cities or regions recommend skipping trick or treating .
a recent poll conducted by leger and the association for canadian studies suggests that 52 per cent of parents won’t let their children trick-or-treat this year.
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come up with a clear plan for children to follow so they can keep themselves and others safe when trick-or-treating. write down or walk through what your child can expect and what is expected of them well before the night. when parents do this, children feel more comfortable and prepared , which helps them buy into the plan.
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although it may be hard to tell your child they can’t partake in trick-or-treating, an honest conversation about the specific reasons for why they can’t will help them process the information. research shows that parents who are open to discussion and collaboration tend to be most successful in conversations with their children.
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for example, research has shown that children are more likely to be motivated and buy into plans if they had a say in developing them. the executive functioning skills they learn through problem-solving is also good for their brain health.
although door-to-door trick-or-treating may not be an option for your family, there are plenty of alternatives. some ideas could include a candy scavenger hunt in the house or park, a halloween movie night or a virtual costume show-and-tell with family and friends. and even though you aren’t trick-or-treating, you can still have fun with other halloween traditions, like pumpkin carving and lawn decorations.
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ultimately, it will be up to parents to decide whether they are comfortable with trick-or-treating this year. if you want to take a more collaborative approach with your child, you can discuss the pros and cons of trick-or-treating and together come to a decision. this approach may be particularly important for the growth and development of older children and adolescents.