A list of candy alternatives for Halloween treats to hand out to kids during trick-or-treat or trunk-or-treat events.
Years ago I worked for Oriental Trading, a novelty and gift wholesale company. For awhile I processed mail in orders, then I moved to the recruiting department, where I took applicants through the hiring process.
One of my favorite parts of the job was working for the world’s biggest toy box. In our recruiting office, whenever we hired someone we let them pick an item from our giant toy box. It was always a cheap plastic novelty toy, but that’s a big part of what Oriental Trading specialized in.
I’m remembering back to the giant toy box, because at Oriental Trading, Halloween was the busy season. A lot of the things they sold, and still sell, are fantastic choices to offer kids as alternatives to candy and other food based treats (pending age, allergy and other treat requirements).
Teal and yellow pumpkins
We have a child with a food allergy. Our Halloween trick or treating solution to her allergen is to pull any candy she can’t have and either replace it with another candy she can have or she trades with friends or family. It was because of this allergy we learned about the Teal Pumpkin Project years ago.
Rather than expecting a child to carry a teal pumpkin to identify themselves as having an allergy, or someone with disabilities to carry a yellow pumpkin, we make sure to put these colored pumpkins out on our porch and leave a sign on our door that says we have both candy and non-food treats available. It’s not fair to expect someone to carry something that labels them or might make them feel different. By taking the initiative to have non-food treats available it can make trick or treating fun for everyone.
Where to get non-candy handouts
Oriental Trading has a fantastic selection of non-candy ideas for trick or treaters, and the way they list their items for sale makes it easy to see how much each piece costs individually. However, you will pay shipping with Oriental Trading.
If you have Amazon Prime, there’s a wide selection that ships for free. If you’re looking to save money, I highly recommend comparison shopping to get the best deal.
You might also find some of these items at big box stores like Walmart or Target, discount stores like Dollar General, or party stores like Party City.
Candy alternatives for trick or treaters
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Jewelry and Accessories
Sensory/Fidget
Desk Supplies
Mini Toys
Toys for 3 and under
What ideas do you have for non-candy treats for kids?
Share your ideas in the comments.
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