A few years ago I experimented not giving our candy for Halloween (Gasp! Shock! Horror!) and instead I gave out an alternative to Halloween candy: small treasures. I wasn’t sure how it would go over, but it was s smashing success! I’ve done it for the past few years. Instead of buying expensive bags of candy, I give away the extra party favors and prizes that we’ve collected from birthday parties and our own leftover party favors. The kids love this, and I’m glad not to be wasting my money and eating candy myself. Below is my original post where I explain how it works.
Tricks, Not Treats: The Alternative to Halloween Candy
Trick or treat is a question, isn’t it?
OK, maybe it’s a demand, but there are two choices given, and this year–PREPARE FOR A FRIGHTFUL SHOCK!–
WE ARE NOT GIVING OUT CANDY!!!!
This is what happens most years:
I buy candy to give away. I eat most of it. It doesn’t matter if I buy a candy I don’t like; I am weak. Additionally, we take our kids trick-or-treating around our block. Because they are toddlers in very cute costumes, people drop handfuls of candy into their little pumpkins. They are not allowed to eat candy. Half of it is a choking hazard. This year they will probably be allowed to eat one or two pieces of chocolate.
Guess who eats the rest?
I don’t need the calories, torment, or price tag Halloween candy brings; however, I do have a junk drawer full of never used party favors that needs to go. We are going to give away our leftover favors and the favors we received in birthday goody bags over the past two years. Most of these toys are choking hazards, redundant or made for bigger kids. I’ve kept them stashed in a just-in-case drawer for little guests because it seemed wasteful to throw them out.
I think it’s brilliant. I always love it when my kids get something they can play with in their little pumpkins. Some little boy will be thrilled to get a choo-choo whistle, a little girl: a tiara. By the time the older children ding-dong our door, we will have sleeping children and pumpkins of candy to raid.
Happy Halloween!
That is brilliant! I don’t really have a stash of that kind of stuff, but maybe I’ll start one for next year. Happy trick-or-treating!
Thanks, Kirstie! They really do have fun with it.
I hear you, Lauren. I can resist buying sweets, but once they are in my house, forget about it. I feel like a saint at the grocery store, but a sinner at home. Ha ha!
Yes, or bulk treats from Oriental Trading Company. Often times I find things there, but don’t want to pay for shipping and don’t have the minimum order. Then I find the same thing on amazon and get it sent with Prime. Just a little party favor hack!
Absolutely! Kids really do love getting treasures.
I remember a dentist gave out little tubes of toothpaste and I thought it was the coolest thing ever!
There is a quote from Oscar Wilde that sums it up perfectly, “I can resist anything but temptation!”
It’s amazing how much kids love it!
Go for it, Stephanie!
Yes, they do!
In fact, if you go to Oriental Trading Company or a dollar store, it could be significantly cheaper.
Wonderful, Justine! Big kids do prefer the candy. We just trick-or-treat so early that I raid the kids’ stash. A number of parents have written that they appreciate this for allergies.
Absolutely, Allison! And as a mom, I take away most of their candy anyway, but they can keep all their treasures!
Anna, so many parents reached out to me about this regarding allergies, and I honestly can’t believe I never thought of how great this would be for kids with food sensitivities. I love the tradition of trick-or-treating, but even without an allergy to contend with, it’s just too much candy.
I LOVE this idea!! As the parent of a child with major food sensitivities, Halloween is always interesting territory to navigate. Just leaving the big basket ‘o candy out of the equation entirely makes things so much easier!
Yes! I do the same type of thing, except I do buy a little bit of candy, btu then I add in all the other goodies too. Plus, it’s better for kids with allergies!
This is a wonderful idea! I know Oriental Trading and Dollar Tree are great places to find little treasures of you aren’t already stocked. Kids get so many multiples of the same candy anyway, I have no doubt they will love to see a treasure in place of a treat. I fill the treat box in my Pre-Kindergarten classroom with these kinds of favors and toys, and my students choose them over the candy 90% of the time!
This is a really good idea! And it’s perfect for kids with food allergies!
This is such a fantastic idea! Even for those who don’t have party favors saved, it would be just about the same amount as buying bags of candy!
Love this! Target has so many options for affordable “tricks” too that it makes it easy. Thanks for sharing !
Lots of great ideas! Thanks!
Awesome idea! I’ll have to save this for when my little starts going to parties!
Love this idea! I will be trying it this year.
Love this idea! I think I may try this, the kids always end up with far more candy then they can eat!
I love this idea! I get tired of all the candy and I too end up eating it when I don’t need it. I would love my son to get something he could play with instead.
Cool tip! The kids would love it too. We get away with the calories. It’s a win-win for all.
What a great idea! I do remember sometimes getting erasers on halloween and thinking that was pretty cool.
Brilliant! Way to go Mom coming up with an alternative. I hear ya about eating the candy weakness! haha
the How-to Guru
This is such a great idea! I always end up eating way more candy than I originally plan as I wait for trick or treaters, or stare at all the leftovers.
I like this idea. There is also time to get things from Oriental Trader. I have a weakness for candy, too and my toddler doesn’t need it either. I don’t know any kid who doesn’t like stickers or some kind of little toy T here are also a lot of kids (and adults) with allergies or sensitivities. Best to stick to non-edibles.
Love this idea! Leftover party favors are the best!
We always offer non-candy alternatives like pencils, stickers, etc.. Guess what? Those almost always are gone first! I think it’s “something different” that makes them reach right past the candy offerings.
Wonderful idea, so I am guessing the dollar stores is where you find all or most of your treats.
uhh I always eat the candy before we give it out too! One of the main reasons I try not to buy sweets, I can’t control myself haha This is a great alternative!
Who wouldn’t want a choo choo whistle?! I think this is great, and helps cut back on all that unhealthy sugar that we’re all so addicted to. Kids get to use their imagination for play instead – love it!