Dr. Colleen Russo Johnson – Chief Scientist and co-founder of The OK Company, makers of the OK Play app share tips for parents to safely celebrate Halloween this year.

A developmental psychologist with an expertise in children’s media and technology, Colleen is passionate about applying best practices from science into tech and media products to enhance the lives of families everywhere.

According to Colleen, Halloween during COVID-19 offers many ways for parents to encourage their children’s social and emotional development. Costumes and spooky themes are great opportunities to explore reality vs. fantasy for children who are still working to understand the difference.

Colleen’s tips for people and parents celebrating Halloween include:

Address Halloween + COVID-19: Address with your child why it may not be safe to trick or treat the same way this year; and how they can share the season from a distance by making Halloween cards, video chat while in costume and putting up decorations.

In-home trick or treating: Create a family Halloween party and trick or treat throughout the rooms in your house.

Go on a Halloween walk: Take a walk during the day and check out the different decorations in your neighborhood. Can you count all the pumpkins and skeletons that you see? Which decorations do you see the most of? Which are your favorite?

Get creative: Decorate masks. We are wearing masks anyway, so why not have some fun decorating your COVID-19 masks! Can you incorporate it into your costumes?

Play pretend. While dressed up, indulge in your child’s fanciful stories. Scary stories of monsters and villains are an appropriate and exciting way for children to explore feelings of power and fear. They are also a great way to discuss reality vs. fantasy for children who are still unsure of the boundary.