new ideas for halloween treats: alternatives to candy

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Halloween is traditionally a time for sweets, sweets, and more sweets, but who says kids must eat candy from dawn till dusk just because that’s how it’s always been done?

This year, though my kids will certainly have their fair share of sweets (we are a sweet-tooth family after all), I’m really trying hard to think outside the box a bit as far as Halloween treats are concerned.

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Thanks to my friends from Melissa & Doug, I’m stretching the limits of treat-giving and treat receiving, and I’m going for small, hands-on toys that encourage creative play and fun.

As a Room Parent for one of my kids’ classes, I’m not planning on handing each child yet another bag of sweets to shove in their backpacks on the very day they’ll walk the streets of their neighborhood, grabbing more candy than they can hold. Not this year.

Instead, I’m mixing it up. Thinking outside the Halloween treat box. Thinking about some alternatives to candy.

I’m handing the kids a few new Halloween treats: bubbles, stickers, tattoos, crafts, and small toys. These are sure to be items that the kids–and parents–will be happy to see, as they won’t mean more sugar for our kids’ little bodies.

Here’s the skinny. . .

New Ideas for Halloween Treats — Alternatives to Candy:

Some of newish ideas for Halloween treats for home or at school. . .

Scratch Art: I think any of the Scratch Art Classroom Kits would be a great crafty activity for Halloween at home or Halloween class parties.

In particular, the Gold and Silver Scratch Art Trading Cards are super-cool for making Jack O’ Lanterns that look like they really glow!

Or kids could get funky, creating Scratch Art to complement their costumes!

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Tattoos! Kids love, love, love tattoos, and the great thing about these My First Temporary Tattoos sets are that each comes with over 100 tattoos!

We easily tore apart the tattoos on each sheet–jewels, flowers, and more in the Jewelry Set and sports, trucks, animals, and more in the Blue Tattoo Set.

These are super for goodie bags, for handing out to the Trick-Or-Treaters, or as a ‘Tattoo Station’ at a class party.

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Snakes, Bugs, & Lizards: Yes, snakes, bugs, and lizards are super fun additions to Halloween if you ask me. As a family that prefers silly over scary, these little guys are perfect for hiding around the house and seeking for extra Halloween fun or for adding to goodie bags or baskets.

They come in packs of six (Sack of Snakes), ten (Bag of Bugs), and seven (Litter of Lizards), so they totally work as affordable Halloween goodies.

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Bubbles! Kids love bubbles, and they’ll especially love these bubbles with silly animals on top. For the extra-special Trick-Or-Treaters in your life, the Mombo Snake Bubbles would be a great replacement for that larger-sized candy bar or treat!

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Scratch Art Light Catchers: These totally rock.

They really do.

I think they’d be awesome as a Halloween class party activity. No matter the shape, kids will love doing this non-messy activity (and teachers and Room Parents will, too!), and kids have a sweet end product to take home and display.

Melissa & Doug has anything from Flower Light Catchers to Dolphins, or Butterflies to Sailboats, and honestly, kids won’t care what they have. I’m willing they’ll just be excited to grab a stick, grab a sheet, and start scratching!

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That’s just what we’ve got up our sleeve this Halloween season. I’m totally thrilled.

What new ideas for Halloween treats do you have? What are your super-fab alternatives to Halloween candy? Please share!

Want a few more fun halloween party ideas?

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