Halloween is near, our homes will soon be filled with sugary treats. Besides eating your kid’s Halloween candy after they go to bed (or in the bathroom where they can’t find you), we have some excellent ideas on what to do with all the treats.
- Check out which local dentists will buy back candy. Cha-Ching!
- Donate candy to local nursing homes, homeless shelters or food pantries. Call ahead to ask if they are accepting donations, and if so, if they have any restrictions.
- Share the wealth with your coworkers! What looks more inviting than placing a big bowl of candy on your desk for your office mates?
- Stash a bucket in the pantry to pull out on family movie nights!
- Have your kids make goodie bags for public servants. What mail carrier wouldn’t appreciate a bag of goodies when delivering your mail? And don’t let the surprises stop there, garbage and recycling workers, lawn crews, teachers, the sky’s the limit!
- Think ahead to gingerbread house making season. Store smaller candies to use for decorations in a few months!
- Trade it! Know a kiddo with food allergies? Have your kids trade candy with them so they can enjoy more!
- Have a birthday party coming up? Save the candy to fill a piñata!
- Cook with it. What kid wouldn’t want M&Ms in their Saturday morning pancakes or homemade cookies?
- Use excess candy for math practice. Smaller candies are perfect to use as “counters.” And smaller kids can practice sorting, counting and colors.
- Use Google and Pinterest to find science experiments you can conduct with candy.
- Utilize the wrappers for crafts!
