Last year we did not give out candy for Halloween. Instead we found a package of 80 mini play-dohs in a variety of colors at our local Costco. It was nice to give out something different for a change, and the neighborhood kids were really excited to be getting items other than the same old traditional candy.
This year I was hoping to find another interesting, yet affordable alternative. If only I had stocked up during some of the back-to-school sales this fall! There were bins filled with fun pencils, erasers, mini-notebooks, crayons, and stickers for cheap. Now, they’re no where to be had. Party store favors would be a good place to check – a flyer that came today featured a 60ct bag of plastic spider rings for 99¢ (although these might be a possible choking hazard). And Target sells this pack of 24ct party bubbles for $3.99.
Anyway, today at Costco, I decided to revert to candy. Despite this post, I’m not against candy. I’m just against the boring, uninspired kind. For $8.99 comes this pack of 90ct individually wrapped Absolute Sweet “Eye Ballzz” gummy candy. Aren’t they so funky and gross? David tried one, and yes, they’re edible. I don’t know how many parents will actually let their kids eat them, but I’m sure the kids will get a kick out of getting them!
Meanwhile, for those of you who would truly like to give candy alternatives, here is a list compiled from nationalserviceresources.org and palmettohealth.org.
- Temporary tattoos
- Stickers
- Pencils
- Fancy erasers
- Pencil toppers
- Crayons
- Coins (pennies, nickels, dimes)
- Small novelty toys
- False teeth
- Superballs
- “Slime”
- Miniature magnifying glasses
- Plastic jewelry/decoder rings
- Necklaces
- Glow-sticks
- Sugar-free candy
- Tiny decks of cards
- Plastic medals
- Fake money
- Origami paper & instructions
- Bubbles
- Granola bars
- pretzels
- cheese and cracker packs
- sugar free gum
- packets of instant hot chocolate or cider
- miniature raisin boxes
- single serving nut packets
paperseed.wordpress.com 
You are the house I would have avoided. =) GIMME CANDY!!!
Dear David:
You may have avoided this house, but you had a whole bag full of stomach-turning candy to make up for it. After the brush with the toilet bowl having eaten so much sugar, you could have sit in the bed and had something to show for all your pavement pounding–coloring books and crayons–toys toys toys! My young daughter snuck so much chocolate between trick or treating, when she got home shew threw it up all over her bed. Give me the coloring books and raisins.
I think those are great ideas. I just posted about the same thing. I wouldn’t have been a fan of playdoh but the others are great ideas. I have two toddlers and eating a gigantic candy bar is not fun for anyone.
Thanks for the great ideas! I’m just trying to think outside the box. I love the “slime” idea. Not sure where to get that, but fun non the less. 🙂