Every year, my kids come home from trick-or-treating with bags stuffed full of candy. They’re thrilled that night, sorting through it all, trading with friends, and sneaking a few bites before bedtime. But here’s the thing: most of it sits in the pantry for weeks—sometimes months—until I eventually throw it out. The truth is, they just don’t eat it all. And honestly, I don’t love having mountains of sugar hanging around the house either.
That’s why I get so excited when they come home with non-candy treats. The glow sticks, the silly straws, the little toys—they actually play with those longer than the candy lasts! Plus, with allergies being such a big deal for so many families, non-candy options feel like a win all around. Enter the Teal Pumpkin Project—a simple way to offer fun, allergy-friendly, and lasting alternatives to sweets.
Here are 100 non-candy Halloween treat ideas I’ve gathered (and tested with my kids!) that they actually love.
Small Toys & Trinkets
1. Glow sticks
2. Mini bubbles
3. Sticky hands
4. Halloween erasers
5. Bouncy balls
6. Finger puppets
7. Temporary tattoos
8. Mini slinkies
9. Halloween-themed rings
10. Plastic vampire teeth
Arts & Crafts Fun
11. Mini coloring books
12. Crayons or pencils (Halloween designs!)
13. Stickers
14. Stamps
15. Washi tape rolls
16. Bead bracelets
17. Foam craft kits
18. Stencil cards
19. Scratch-off art cards
20. Play-Doh mini packs
Practical but Fun
21. Pencils with fun toppers
22. Pencil grips
23. Notepads
24. Highlighters
25. Mini rulers
26. Bookmarks
27. Keychains
28. Coin purses
29. Reusable straws
30. Fun band-aids
Outdoor & Active Toys
31. Sidewalk chalk
32. Mini Frisbees
33. Bubble wands
34. Yo-yos
35. Parachute men
36. Water guns (for warm-weather areas)
37. Whistles
38. Jump ropes (small)
39. Silly straws
40. Glow-in-the-dark bracelets
Halloween-Themed Goodies
41. Pumpkin stress balls
42. Mini cauldrons
43. Spider rings
44. Skull keychains
45. Pumpkin stickers
46. Ghost-shaped erasers
47. Witch finger puppets
48. Bat gliders
49. Glow-in-the-dark skeletons
50. Mini pumpkins (foam or real!)
Games & Puzzles
51. Rubik’s cubes (mini)
52. Puzzle erasers
53. Tic-tac-toe boards
54. Maze games
55. Playing cards
56. Dominoes (travel size)
57. Mini checkers sets
58. Dice with instructions for simple games
59. Word search booklets
60. Connect-the-dot pages
Wearables
61. Glow-in-the-dark bracelets
62. Beaded necklaces
63. Costume jewelry
64. Halloween masks
65. Temporary hair chalk
66. Bandanas
67. Socks (Halloween patterns!)
68. Stick-on mustaches
69. Hats or headbands
70. Shoelace charms
Sensory & Squishy Fun
71. Stress balls
72. Slime (pre-packaged)
73. Putty
74. Fidget spinners
75. Pop-it keychains
76. Mochi squishies
77. Kinetic sand minis
78. Water bead packs
79. Sensory rings
80. Bubble wrap pouches
Just Plain Fun
81. Fake bugs
82. Mini flashlights
83. Magic trick cards
84. Joke cards
85. Fortune teller fish
86. Paper airplanes (pre-folded)
87. Kaleidoscopes
88. Mini magnifying glasses
89. Whacky wall crawlers
90. Fake tattoos (Halloween & non-spooky)
Healthy Snack Alternatives
91. Mini pretzel bags
92. Goldfish crackers
93. Raisin boxes
94. Granola bars (allergy-friendly brands)
95. Apple chips
96. Popcorn bags
97. Fruit leather
98. Pumpkin seeds
99. Trail mix (nut-free)
100. Veggie straws
How I Like to Hand Them Out
I usually keep two bowls by the door: one with candy (because let’s be honest, kids still love the classic stuff) and one with these non-candy goodies. The funny thing? My kids and their friends almost always reach for the toys first. Glow sticks and squishy toys seem to win over a mini Snickers every time.
Halloween will probably always be about candy, but it doesn’t *only* have to be about candy. I love offering up little surprises that kids can enjoy long after October 31st. And knowing I’m helping kids with allergies or parents who’d rather not have another bag of sugar sitting around makes it even better. So this year, I’m filling up my teal pumpkin and making Halloween about smiles, not just sugar highs.
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