What Do You Hand Out on Halloween?

I prefer to hand out glow sticks. I buy two tubes of 100 braclets and crack some of them and put the connector on one end, and then put them all into a witches cauldron. When Trick or Treaters come to the door, I let them choose which color they want. This is always exciting to the kids and helps make them more visible in the dark. In the past, I have also gotten the longer necklaces, but only give those to the kids in really good costumes or the cute ones.

When I was a kid, living on a military base, everyone's favorite house to visit was Rabbi Miskavich's. He handed out a FULL SIZE candybar taped to a brand new toothbrush. And the toothbrushes were always cool sparkly affairs. He was the best! :) :) :)

To this day, I don't know if he was independently wealthy, or if he got donations of toothbrushes from dentists/toothbrush companies... because if he paid for them out of pocket it must have cost him a fortune.

((He would also sneak around on christmas eve and duct tape presents to children's windows whose dad's were deployed, regardless of religion. He was a really amazing man, on of the kindest I have ever known. Again, I don't know how he paid for them.))

I hand out candy, in honor of the Rabbi & my own childhood, but if I ever become independently wealthy, it's fullsize taped to a toothbrush I'd go in a heartbeat.

:)

Sorry but are you kidding!! My kid would never go back to your house. If we were back in the day when a nickle could get you that fantastic candy bar or or a malt at the local corner store.. then that may be cool. We are in the year 2009 not 1939.

While I appreciate trying to be healthier, Halloween is once a year. Most kids' candy is rationed by their parents. I eat healthy and organic myself but when Thanksgiving is here I pig out and look out pumpkin pie. Halloween is once a year so I say let kids be kids and enjoy it. ;)

J. - While I appreciate what you are trying to do, what a bummer. My kids would be so dissapointed.
You see, they DON'T get candy all the time. In fact most of the kids I know don't get candy all the time. Halloween is the one time that my kids get a bunch of candy, which then goes into the "candy bowl". We go through their "stash" and get rid of anything that we think looks suspicious or something they wont eat. Then, they get one snack size candy after lunch. That's it.
10 cents in nickels wont buy a video game any time soon!
Even if every house on my block gave out a nickel it would still only be $1.00.
Just thought I'd let you know that there are a LOT of us parents out there that are very conscious of what our kids are eating, and do let them be kids and enjoy candy at halloween.
Have a great evening. L.

My children just turned three and this will be their first year going out and trick-or-treating. They are not normally allowed to have candy and so they are really looking forward to being able to have some. We have already had a discussion about rationing the candy and the behavior that is expected from them in order to deserve the candy. And a lot of the parents that I know are in the same situation. You seem to be looking at it as kids going crazy and having sugar overload, and sure there are some who do that. But then there are some that Halloween is a once-a-year thing and that's why it's called Trick-or-Treat, not Trick-or-Nickel.

My parents used to do this! They had very few trick-or-treaters in their neighborhood and didn't want a lot of leftover candy. My mom would cut squares of tulle (probably leftover from sewing our costumes), and we would put a stack of pennies in the netting and tie with curly ribbon. After Halloween, we unwrapped the extra packages and put the coins back in the change jar.

And the fun factor for the kids? I suppose it depends on the age of the kids in your area. My little one (almost 2) LOVES to count things and she likes to put coins in her piggy bank. It's fun for her. And she doesn't really know what candy is yet. We would like to see alternate treats (like this or the pencil and eraser idea). I'm guessing that when she's in elementary school, she'll have a different idea, though.

Hello J.

I've given erasers & pencils our for many years now and every year kids shout "MOM she has toys, pencils etc"

They are really happy, and it's not much more expensive and I feel good about not giving kids junk.

R. Magby

I appreciate you trying to make Halloween healthier for our children but like the other moms said, I don't think kids just get to help themselves to the candy like I did when I was a kid. I know my kids don't get candy all of the time. I have handed out snack size bags of chips or 100 calerie packs of cookies before. I know the kids really liked the chip idea. It costs a little more than candy, but we don't have that many kids. Then if I have left overs then my twins can enjoy a small bag for a snack or something. My SIL doesn't like her children to have a bunch of candy either. So she tells them to pick out 20 or thirty pieces of candy and then the rest they turn in for a family movie or something to that nature. Then the rest of the candy goes off to one of the parents work. Her kids seem to really appreciate that. My oldest son never really ate his candy. We used to put it in a bowl above the fridge. Having it out of sight made him not to want it so much.

I can appreciate your efforts but I just think maybe a handful of children would appreciate it.

Love that idea! Thanks for sharing. Halloween is so fun for the kids that I feel I can't say no to all the candy, but all the candy drives me crazy - I'm always thankful when people do something a little different!

Appreciate the suggestion... but I truly remember *that* house when I was growing up! Passing the word on to other kids, "skip that one, they're giving out pennies (nickels)" My parents didn't even let us have chocolate milk they were such sugar phobes; but Halloween was a special time, and the only time (aside from candy canes on Christmas from Great Aunt Ruth) candy consumption wasn't heavily regulated.

It wasn't about being unappreciative as others have suggested, it's about being a kid and being excited about the fun of it all! What kid seriously ponders the generosity of others while dressed up in a costume and running around the neighborhood getting FREE candy!!

We offer typical Halloween fare, and have a "safe" bucket of halloween toys, etc., for kids who can't have chocolate or whatnot. Last year we did Annie's organic Fruit Snacks and they were a big hit.

little bags of carrots, little boxes of raisins

We've been debating this in our house due to some GMO-laden candy nonsense...and we have some 'special diet' kids in the neighborhood. I usually always have stickers on hand for those kids; I think we're going with boxes of raisins this year.

For what it's worth, I know that Halloween is once a year, however, having nannied for families, I also had a glimpse into the behavior that goes on around 'getting' the candy once it's home...all the negotiating: when they can have it, when they can't, who's got what, etc. It was a gigantic pain in the butt, frankly. I don't think there's anything horribly wrong with treats, but I know that when my son's old enough to trick or treat, the Halloween Fairy will be visiting to make a trade: most of the candy in exchange for a book or desired (inexpensive) toy or novelty. It just beats the tears and tirades of the children who have ingested too much sugar, and all the tiresome bargaining that goes with it.

My parents have an apple orchard and they give out apples. (We are from a small community, so people are not to worried about "tainted treats" back home) One house I went to as a kid gave out popcorn and another gave out Halloween stickers. I agree with your concept, but I think there are lots of options (plus I think video games are just as unhealthy as candy) in regards to alternatatives to candy. I really like the responder who suggested pencils and erasers . . . that sounds like a fun idea.

Have a great Halloween, and thanks for being aware of our community's health!!

You should feel totally free to give out whatever you want!! any child that is "disappointed" wasn't raised properly by their parents to be happy for what they are given. My children know to say thank you and that these people don't have to give them anything so be happy that these neighbors wanted to give them something whether it was candy, pencils, coins or whatever. no matter what kids will get plenty of candy and if some houses give out something else then that just makes it more fun. some kids will be thrilled that they are getting money. one of my neighbors had a basket of old mc donald toys and let the kids pick a toy. i think if your kids are at the point where they are "disappointed" by not getting candy maybe they are too old to trick or treat because little kids love coins! heck, my daughter is 10 and gets excited when she finds a coin on the ground. good for you for having some imagination and not just doing the same ol' same ol'!!!

I have been struggling with the whole candy thing too! I think the kid's get more than enough! I love the non-candy options! The glow bracelets would be so fun! Tattos & stickers are good ideas too! I've been doing Weight Watcher's, so not having to buy candy is very appealing.

Thanks!

Goodwill has jars of goodies: those glass decorator pebbles, sometimes marbles, sea shells, mardi gras jewelry ... any small things that kids can't keep their hands off of, would be good stuff, too.

Myself, I found organic lollipops (and I'm told there is one company putting out organic halloween chocolates but their rep didn't contact my store's buyers early enough to get the order), and I will probably supplement with non-candy choices.

Not a bad idea for kids over three, else a potential choking hazard.

Hmmm...we've not ever gotten coins as a Halloween treat. I don't really like the idea.

Now other non-candy items like mini playdough, pencils, a tatoo, stickers or more of that kind of thing is good. Really like the glow-stick idea!

It is a night of instant gratification too. The ones handing out treats get to see the costumes right then and the trick-or-treaters get something yummy or fun in their pail.

Happy Halloween!