4 Outside-the-Box Halloween Ideas That Cut Back on Candy and Kids Will Still Love
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Yes, candy is fun and delicious but these surprising alternatives may just get your kids on board.
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Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah ScottThis Halloween season parents are feeling the pressure to make it perfect. After all, everyone wants to be the best house on the block for trick-or-treating, have the spookiest decorations, or be full of surprises.But if you want to stand out this Halloween, another idea is to consider skipping candy altogether. Hear us out, here. There are some alternatives kids are sure to love, and some do a good deed in the community. Book-o-WeenRachel "Rae" Murphy is a book lover. So much so that she spends much of her time gathering books - as many as one thousand at a time—to give away to others. While the rest of her "tight-knit" neighborhood in Glendora, New Jersey is busy giving away the traditional treats on Halloween, Murphy gives away something that lasts a little longer than a candy bar: Books. The "Halloween book lady," as she's known to some around town, will be setting up the third Halloween version of her year-round Little Free Library for the third time this October 31.
Rachel Murphy
It was 2021 when Murphy first dressed up as Belle and handed out books alongside candy outside her home on Halloween. She posted a photo of herself in a book group she belongs to and the post started being shared widely.The biggest decision for Murphy is how to dress up this year. After the popularity of the Belle costume, she dressed as the "fairy book mother" from Cinderella. This year she thinks she may dress up as Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus.
Rachel Murphy
Whatever the costume, Murphy is confident her books will be met once again with the same enthusiasm as in years past. Since seeing her post, Murphy said she's been contacted by many people who want to give books away on Halloween too. "Prices have gone up," she says. "It can be hard for families to get books. The kids will get a candy bar and pick a book. They'll remember the person who gave them access to an amazing story."Treats For TroopsInstead of giving candy, you can register your home to be a designated collection site for Soldiers Angels. The organization offers a wide range of support services for veterans of all ages. Simply sign up on the website as a volunteer.A new feature of the "Treats For Troops" program is that in many locations, volunteers can physically drop off the candy they collect, often at a VA hospital or a military installation.
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Soldier's Angels
"It adds a personal touch to the candy collections," Michelle Julazadeh Chavarin, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, told Parents. It also teaches children the value of giving to others.Volunteers are also welcome to ship their candy once they're done collecting. Julazadeh Chavarin says the organization asks the volunteers to keep their collection open until after Halloween to collect the most excess candy. Since 2016, Soldiers Angels has collected nearly 600,000 pounds of candy to send around the globe. "We can always use more," she says, noting the candy is shipped all over the world and used in holiday stockings as well.Julazadeh Chavarin also pointed out that no private home addresses are listed on the collection locator website in the interest of safety.
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Soldiers' Angels
Costume Drive For TreatsPrep for next year, do a good deed, and donate your costume to someone in need—all while getting a toy in the process? Yes, please!Designate your home as the "last stop" in the neighborhood and a place where kids and adults alike can donate their costumes when they're done with them for the day. You can also encourage friends and neighbors to stop by with costumes from past years they may have at home.Many parents will appreciate cutting back on clutter and the kids can feel good that their costumes will go to good use and live on the next Halloween. Once you're done collecting, run the costumes through the wash and box them up for donation to an organization that collects gently used Halloween costumes. As a treat, consider exchanging costumes for a token gift such as a fidget, stamps, or a small Play-Doh. It's estimated as many as 83% of Halloween costumes end up in landfills and take years to decompose. Plus, Halloween has become a frighteningly pricey day for many families, with an average spend of $104 per person, according to the National Retail Federation.Children's hospitals, YMCAs, and any local organizations that serve children are likely to accept your gently-used costumes. 'Ween Dream is a non-profit that collects costumes and distributes them to kids with disabilities, children who are homeless, kids in foster care and so many more. Fill Those Tummies With Real FoodOne simple way to cut down on candy consumption (and tummy aches!) on Halloween is to make sure kids actually eat dinner before they start loading up their bags with sugar. That's easier said than done when they're dying to get out and start banging on doors! And good luck trying to feed them when they come home—there's no way even the most delicious dinner can compete with a sack of treats. You can be the hero of your block by simply ordering a few pizzas and water bottles and handing them out to the kids and adults along your route. Double-cut the pizza to make it last longer and easier to eat with little hands. If you're friendly with your neighbors, give them a heads up that you'll be passing out slices so they can hit up your house early for a bit of "real food" and hydration before the candy corn. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
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