For Halloween I give out Halloween pencils. You can get them at the Dollar Store, there is usually 10 in a package. They always get too much candy, and it can be used after the holiday. The kids love it, so do the parents! I have been doing this for years now.
By Lynda from Kearny, NJ
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I prefer to give (and for my children to receive) stickers, pencils, glow sticks, etc., as well. I agree. They get too much candy. Most of our candy ends up going to their teachers for the treat buckets anyway. While I get tired of "cheap plastic crap", as I affectionately call all the kids' bits and bobs that they gather, it's better than filling them full of sugar.
I have also done this for years! I love to see the look of suprise on the kids face when I give them 1 or 2 pencils. They always say "cool a pencil", and also the parents think so too.
If you go to Wal-Mart the day after Halloween, packages of Halloween pencils will be half price. I haven't bought them to pass out for Trick or Treat but instead add to little goody bags I make up for my children's classmates.
What I've given out for years on Halloween is small bags of snacks. I can buy the big box of 50 packages at Sam's Club for around $10....they are the Frito Lay brand, so it's the kind of snacks the kids like.
I agree they get a lot of candy/goodies on Halloween but isn't that the fun of it? It's only once a year anyway! I keep my kid's "loot" put up and bring it out and let them only have so much at a time.
We've always had good comments from the trick or treaters about the bags of chips. Usually I buy 2 of those big boxes because I can't be sure how many trick or treaters we'll get. If there's any leftover then our kids will eat them for snack time or in their lunchboxes.
What is sad is these kinds of treats are no longer as safe as we make them. In July when school sales start, I buy regular school pencils, the USA made ones. They meet "No Lead Paint" issues, etc. I used to do the $ Store type pencils, etc until researching the country of origin, and the contents. Products still contain lead, BPA, etc and DO come into these stores. There are also many other things, such as crayons, etc. I used to do all these instead of candy.
For my own kids, we only went to family or neighbors we knew. They would say I am putting into your bucket... might be orange, apple, cookies, etc.
It is the responsibility of each parent to toss out what you do not know about. Just like the piece of fruit from a stranger, if you do not see the labeling on the package, do not give to children.
For me this year, I bought packs of gum. Use my free coupons year round, pop the gum into a tupperware container to keep fresh, and they each get a pack. The cost is minimal when the over all tossed out product is the only other option.
For family/good friends' children, I buy the glow sticks, maybe their TorT buckets ahead of time and give as their treat. I also pick up the fall/spring stretch gloves in cool colors (when spring comes and they are $.20 each). They are also a treat for the kids that you know.
My grandchildren this year are getting the RAYOVAC battery operated Flashlight on a wand...straight flashlight, glow stick and flashing light. MADE IN USA. $1 at hardware store this last week.
Bought extra, so giving to many of my elderly friends...keep in their car, drawer, etc. My 83 yr old mom thought that was the neatest thing as an emergency light for her car. Visually bright color to find.
Safety has moved into another lane on the KEEPING THE KIDS SAFE HIGHWAY.
What is sad that some of these items have lead in the paint on the pencils, toys. If not made in the US, you will have to read the labels of origin. Yes, some of these things still get past and are in these stores. Trinkets, bracelets, etc have been found to have lead in them. So it is not always the best, as we trusted before. Thing is, they had lead in them at that time too.
I use my B1G1F coupons through the year for multipak gum and by Halloween each year, got enough for kids that stop here. Also found one store clearing out stock of sample sized Orbit gum. Bought the 2 display boxes at 75% off. Treats for many things. I teach Sunday school too, so always have a use for them.
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