With childhood obesity on the rise it's easy to see why some parents and caregivers and most dentists cringe at the idea of a pillowcase filled with chocolates, gummies and sours on Halloween. Candy may never completely be eliminated from this holiday, and as long as it is consumed in moderation by children who are getting enough exercise, practicing good oral hygiene and an otherwise balanced diet this mom doesn't want to take it out of the orange-and-black picture entirely. But with everyone from neighbors to local stores throwing handfuls of sweets at my kids I do like to offer alternative ideas to my children as well as the trick-or-treaters who seem to come in bus loads through our neighborhood.
There are also many children who have medical conditions, dietary restrictions and/or whose caregivers take a radical anti-sugar approach to life, so non-candy offerings can really help these little ones (and not-so-little ones) enjoy the holiday, too. Many times I see the ghouls and goblins on my doorstep getting even more excited about the non-candy treats I pass out than if I were to give them yet another pumpkin-shaped confection or lollipop. Here are my suggestions for the Top 5 Trick or Treat Candy Alternatives. Feel free to use my list to inspire you to come up with your own ideas.
Top 5 Trick or Treat Candy Alternatives
1. Trading Cards - whether it's good old-fashioned baseball cards or one of the current trendy card lines like Bakugan for boys or Bella Sera for girls, a pack of trading cards has a lot of possibilities inside that small package. Some trading card battle games even help kids practice math, memory and classification skills, which is certainly sweet. Small decks of playing cards or card games are also available in packs of party favors and offer long-term play value instead of a quick sugar rush.
2. Pencils - most school districts are struggling with budget cuts and lack of funding. Halloween or other themed pencils are inexpensive and can be used to add interest to long school days and even longer homework assignments - look for pencils decorated with cartoon characters, sparkly glitter, space aliens, sports teams and much more. Again, pencils can be bought in packages meant for party favors or even in bulk from party stores and office supply shops. Also in this category are small note pads, erasers, activity and coloring books and crayons.
3. Bubbles - you might think bubbles only appeal to the younger set but I've seen even tweens have a blast blowing these around and at each other. It's also a favorite pre-concert and nightclub activity, making tweens feel a bit like the big kids.
4. Temporary tattoos - you can find these in Halloween designs, superheroes, princesses, clever sayings and much more.
5. Stickers - kids love to cover themselves in these, which is why doctors, dentists and teachers always have them at the ready as rewards.
As you can see, you really do have many alternative choices instead of candy this treat-or-treat season - this list is only the beginning. Modeling clay, bracelets, glow sticks, stamps, bookmarks, key chains....the list just might be endless and is limited only by your imagination. Happy Halloween!
