Creative Alternatives To Traditional Halloween Candy For Trick Or Treat Night
When our daughter was little, we tried to get creative with the items we would hand out every Halloween to the Trick or Treater's who would stop by our home.
Over the years, I have learnt to keep a variety of items on hand for that special night. I like to give out age appropriate items, so I make up 3 baskets of goodies filled with items for a particular age group. Inexpensive wicker baskets that can be purchased at your local dollar store are great for organizing your Halloween goodies. When the child arrives at my door, I can pick up the appropriate basket and let the child pick something out of it.
Children get a lot of candy during this time of the year, so if you are looking for some fun alternatives to handing out candy this year, I think you will find some creative and inexpensive ideas from the following list.
Travel Tooth Brushes
Travel-Size Tooth Paste
Re-useable Sports Bottle Straws
Temporary Body Tattoos (boys)
Pony Tail Holders (girls)
Hair Barrettes (girls)
Glow Sticks, Necklaces and Bracelets
Inexpensive Jewelry (Dollar Store)
Mini Die-Cast Cars (Dollar Store)
Mini Boxes of Crayons (4 packs)
Pencils
Erasers In Fun Halloween Shapes
Silly Putty (Dollar Store)
Mini Canisters of Play Dough
Mini Holiday Coloring Books and Activity Pads
Holiday Refrigerator Magnets
Holiday Vinyl Mini Window Clings
Mini Bottles of Blowing Bubbles
Mini Foam Holiday Rubber Stamps
Mini Ink Pads
Key Chains
Decks of Playing Cards
Bookmarks
Certificates for a Free Movie Rental
Character or Holiday Pins
Sheets of Stickers
Bandanas
Sports Cards
Movie Tickets or Discount Movie Coupons
Finger Puppets
Travel-Size Boxes of Cereal
Fast Food Beverage, Fries or Ice Cream Certificates
Tip #1: Throughout the year, when we eat out at fast food restaurants, we order kids meals for ourselves. We take all of those 'kids meals' toys and put them into a large wicker basket. When Trick or Treat night rolls around, we get the basket out and hand out those toys to the kids that visit our home on Halloween night.
Tip #2: Every year we get several babies out with their siblings and parents at our front door. I like to keep several jars of baby food or baby teething cookies on hand for those that visit our home. After all, a candy bar would be inappropriate to give to a child that small.
When it comes to Halloween, the most important part is to have fun and to stay safe. I believe it is important to have a variety of age appropriate items on hand to give out to the Trick or Treater's that arrive at your front door.
Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in South Central Pennsylvania who enjoys the fall holiday season. You can visit Shelly online at
Work At Home Business Options for free parenting articles and tips or her recipe site at
Shakin & Bakin Recipe Blog for free family-friendly recipes.
Creative Alternatives To Traditional Halloween Candy
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