Growing up, I loved Halloween. Unlike other kids, though, I wasn’t crazy about Halloween because of all the candy I could get, (that my mom would then hide away and dole out as rewards throughout the year) but more because of the fact that we got to dress up and go knock on our neighbors’ doors. It utterly fascinated me to see our neighbors and see what they were giving out and if they would dress up or not.
We had one neighbor who handed out full size candy bars and another who handed out dollar bills. Back in the day, homemade cookies were still ok and they were always decorated like pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns. Those were my favorite since we didn’t do much baking at my house. (My cookies were always burnt!)
It’s almost that time of year again when all the kids get dressed up and knock on our doors to say, “Trick or Treat!” Here are some tips that have been helpful for me to have a fun and safe Halloween without too much of a sugar high!
Find out what your local neighborhood and businesses are doing for Halloween.
Our neighborhood has a Halloween parade in the afternoon, with all the kids, that goes along the main street where there are lots of stores and restaurants. All the participating businesses have candy and treats for the kids. It’s a great way to introduce little ones to trick or treating and a fun way for older kids to get to know their neighborhood.
Have your kids help you pick out trick or treating treats to hand out.
Kids are going to get lots and lots of candy, so offer some other treats that your kids will still enjoy like pretzels, temporary tattoos, stamps, stickers, or glow sticks! Having your own kids give you input about these alternatives will help them to learn more about good choices and to have kid approval!
Do a “Candy Hike.”
After your kids get back from trick or treating, let them have a few pieces, but reserve the rest of it for a Candy Hike! Saturday morning, or whenever is convenient, head out to a nature trail where you can hike and bring their loot! During the hike, they can eat their candy AND burn off energy! After the hike (go for 30 minutes or so depending on your kids and how much candy there is), the rest of the candy will either get donated or given to the parent to be doled out at a later time.
Participate in candy buy back programs.
Many toy stores, businesses, and dentist offices will participate in a candy buy back program where you bring in your candy and will either give you a discount on a toy or even cash! The candy gets donated to troops overseas. If you can’t find a buy back program near you, do your own! Have your kids trade their candy in to you for cash, help on paying for a toy, or screen time. You can always send the candy to troops or bring them to your office.
One-A-Day.
My mom sorted through all our candy and put it in a collective bin. She would give us one piece of our stash a day. Sometimes it would be after taking yucky medicine, a treat in our lunch box, or as our “dessert.” After a while, I think we forgot about the candy and I’m pretty sure my parents ate the rest!
We can’t wait to go make our jack-o-lanterns and put the finishing touches on our costumes. This year, we will be handing out pretzels and temporary tattoos at our house and participating in our local neighborhood Halloween parade. My four-year-old has already been practicing saying, “Trick or Treat!”
Have a fun and safe Halloween!
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