30 Non-Candy Halloween Treat Ideas for Kids

Here are some of our favorite ideas for fun, inexpensive Halloween treats that can be handed out instead of, or in addition to, traditional holiday candy this year.

Halloween is inevitably one of the most sugar-filled holidays of the year, but that doesn’t mean it has to be all about the candy, all the time. 

If you’re looking to mix things up for trick-or-treating this year, here are a few ideas for non-candy Halloween treats, that will still please any ghouls and goblins that ring your doorbell.

The best part is, you don’t have to look far for these items either – they can all be found at your local dollar store, party store, or most likely in the dollar section at Target (as dangerous as that section can become!).

1. Glow Sticks: What kid doesn’t love things that light up? These can be found in various forms, such as bracelets, necklaces, headbands, wands, or shaped characters. 
2. Stickers: There’s no shortage of Halloween-themed stickers around this time of year, and you can usually find a nice variety for pretty cheap.
3. Temporary Tattoos: Kids will love the idea of plastering a bat or a vampire on the back of their hand and comparing new ink with their friends or siblings. 
4. Pens, Pencils, or Crayons: Halloween-theme pencils are usually easy to find. You could also bundle up Halloween colors like orange, black, and purple with a little ribbon to make these more festive. 
5. Play-Doh: Mini containers of this stuff are sure to go quickly, and will be fun for kids to pull out and play with any time of year. 
6. Hot Cocoa Drink Mix Packets: Although not exactly low in sugar, these are a nice, self-contained alternative to giving out juice boxes or other drinks that can get messy for parents before even getting home. 
7. Key Chains: Kids will love attaching mini keychains to their lunch box or backpack to bring to school the next day. 
8. Socks: Kid-sized socks can be found for a dollar, and there are plenty of Halloween varieties that come out this time of year. 
9. Balloons: You don’t even have to blow these up – just find some black and orange ones for kids to take home and play with. 
10. Bubbles: Mini bubble containers often come with their own ghost, pumpkin, and witch themed lids.
11. Bookmarks: If you don’t find these at a store, you could make your own with some cardstock and ribbon if you’re feeling creative. 
12. Spider Rings: These are super easy to find and (we think) will never go out of style.
13. Slap Bracelets: These were so fun when we were kids, and they still make them today!
14. Whistles: Parents may not thank you for this one, but it’s a known fact that kids love things that make a lot of noise. 
15. Band-Aids: There are so many fun bandaid patterns, we’re sure you can find some in either Halloween theme or favorite kid TV characters.
16. Clementines: This is a super easy – and healthy – alternative to candy! You could even draw faces on them with marker to make them look like tiny pumpkins.
17. Crazy Straws: These make drinking anything more fun, period.
18. Koosh Balls: The mini versions of these guys are fun to mix into your goodie bag. 
19. Goldfish Crackers: A non-candy favorite for kids, these often come in holiday-themed shapes. 
20. Pretzels: This is a great, single-serving snack that are perfect for a mid-treat or treating snack break or for parents to pack in lunches the next day. 
21. Paper Masks: You can usually find packs of these for a few bucks, that come in a variety of characters and colors.
22. Silly Glasses: Kid-sized glasses come in all sorts of cute shapes and colors. You could also throw in some little sunglasses!
23. Vampire Teeth: Friends and siblings will love talking to each other with their fangs in as they sort through candy later.
24. Mini Notepads: Practical and fun, you can find mini notepads in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
25. Hair Ties: Stretchy ribbon hair ties are a nice alternative to regular ties that are softer and come in fun patterns.
26. Cookie Cutters: We love this idea because these can be used for things besides cookies, too, like PB&J sandwiches for lunch!
27. Seed Packets: These could either be veggies for an outdoor garden, herbs for indoor growing, or even wildflowers to spread in the spring.
28. Mini Magnifying Glasses: We’ve also seen tiny, plastic boxes with magnifying lids, that kids can use to look closely at things they find in nature or around their backyard.
29. Friendship Bracelets: If you remember how to make these from middle school, by all means, go nuts! Or, you can usually find these pretty easily at the store.
30. Lip Balm: During this time of year, when snow is just around the corner in many places, kids may appreciate your help in preventing chapped winter lips.

Chime In: What are some of your favorite candy and non-candy Halloween treats to give out?