Things to do

Wherever you are in the country, Covid restrictions don’t have to spell the end of a spooky night of fun for your kids.

My daughter is allowed to have four friends over to dress up and watch a horror movie (still to be decided but I’m thinking ScoobyDoo on Zombie Island if it’s not too scary for me).

I’ve said they can go out together for an hour around the local streets and park (mostly to scare the little kids) but trick or treating is not allowed.

Halloween is a big thing where we live and most people make a huge effort to create spooktacular window displays, so this year there’s going to be a Halloween trail.

Last year one neighbour wrapped the bushes in his garden with so much fake spider webbing, it was still there in December to double up as a snow-covered Nativity scene, give or take a few black plastic tarantulas.

Education expert Catherine Lynch at PlanBee says: “Halloween 2020 isn’t going to be about groups of children putting their hands into communal bowls of sweeties, but we can incorporate dressing up, community spirit, and an evening walk with trick or treating while observing social distancing.

“Many areas are organising a Halloween trail so you can take your children on a treasure hunt to see how many spooky pictures they can spot – and reward them with a treat from your own bag of sweeties.”

Throwing the kids out into a garden at night on Halloween is also a tried and trusted party method. Just don’t leave them apple bobbing for too long as I believe water boarding is banned these days.