16 Non-Candy Halloween Treats Kids Actually Love
Updated: Dec. 14, 2021
Skip the same old candy that everyone else is handing out this Halloween and give trick-or-treaters an awesomely fun and spooky surprise.
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Time to get in a spooky spirit
With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to bring out the tricks and treats (with an emphasis on treats). While everybody knows that candy is often Halloween’s biggest star, there are still plenty of treats out there of the non-sugary kind. Scroll through to get some ideas on how to create a tricked out (or treated out?) Halloween sans candy. After, find out why passing out candy on Halloween even became a tradition in the first place.
Note: Prices listed were accurate as of press time; pricing fluctuations may occur.
Haunting glow sticks
$19.99
Light up Halloween night—and any kid’s face—with these Halloween-themed glow sticks. Way better than the regular straight-stick variety, these non-candy treats (which come in a pack of 25) feature bat and spider designs in glowing orange, blue, and green. Trick-or-treaters will gladly pass up yet another handful of candy to get their mitts on these festive favors. Speaking of those traditional treats, don’t miss these 14 mind-blowing things you didn’t know about Halloween candy.
Scary stampers
$13.99
Stamps are always a hit with kids, and this Halloween pack comes with 25 different designs, including pumpkins, ghosts, mummies, Frankenstein, witches, and more. Once the trick-or-treating is over, the little monsters who visited your house can use the stampers on cards, random artwork, their homework, and even themselves. (Don’t worry: The ink is non-toxic and washable.)
Play-Doh in Halloween colors
$12.68
You can’t go wrong with Play-Doh on Halloween or any other day. These 15 one-ounce containers come in orange, black, white, purple, and green. Not only will the trick-or-treaters’ parents love you for not adding more candy to the bucket, but they’ll also love you tomorrow when their kids have a post-Halloween activity to keep them happy and occupied. Another bonus: All of these non-candy treats let children with food allergies enjoy the holiday, too. This is how long Halloween candy is good for.
Adorable wind-up monsters
$7.99
Who says everything about Halloween has to be scary? Kids will get a kick out of winding up these cute little toys and watching them waddle, trot, and jump. Siblings will probably even race them against each other! This 12-piece monster mash includes vampires, mummies, and skeletons, as well as creepy things like eyeballs and skulls. Ever wonder how certain monsters got so popular? Here are the hidden origins of Halloween’s spookiest creatures.
Halloween pencils with giant erasers
$13.49
Who doesn’t love a good novelty pencil and eraser? Kids are no exception—and these will come in particularly handy when they’re doing their homework after the big day. With this Halloween package, you get 36 pencils for just $13. The designs include six different classic spooky characters, such as a witch, bat, black cat, ghost, and vampire. These Halloween puns will have you laughing ’til you’re coffin!
Squishies
$11.99
Soft, smushy, and oh-so-oddly-satisfying, squishies are wildly popular with kids. And these Halloween versions will make your house the must-visit one on the block. So, what do you do with a squishy? Exactly what it sounds like: Just squish them in your hand and then watch them slowly return to their regular shape. They also make great prizes for these 25 Halloween party games.
Bouncing balls
$8.99
Add a bit of bounce to their treat bag. These colorful balls feature Halloween favorites—like pumpkins, spiders, and ghosts—and make the perfect non-candy treat that kids can use to burn off some energy after stuffing themselves with candy. Plus, this is the deal of the season. You can get a whopping 72 of these balls for only $9. (Yes, you read that right—talk about a treat!) These are 12 things you probably never knew about Halloween.
Noisy slime
$13.89
Let’s be honest: There are some sounds that always evoke a fit of laughter—and not just among the younger set. Still, kids will particularly love this neon-colored noise putty slime, which they can play with right in the container. An added bonus: It won’t stick to furniture or leave behind a sticky residue, so it’s a win all around. For more kiddie enjoyment, here are 15 easy Halloween crafts your own kids will love to make.
Ninja-like fidget spinners
$10.99
Fidget spinners were all the rage not that long ago—and they’re still a kid favorite now. These mini spinners (which come in blue, yellow, and green) are the right size to buy in bulk to pass out as non-candy treats. They come in a variety of shapes and colors, and they provide hours of amusement. Just don’t give them to the really little ones knocking on your door, since even the big fidget spinners’ little parts could be a choking hazard for them. Are you superstitious? Find out about the 14 spooky Halloween superstitions and how they came to haunt us.
LED flash rings
$16.99
Glow-in-the-dark bling is always a hit on Halloween—and not just for kids. Parents may want to steal these kitschy oversize rings from their kids’ Halloween bags! Options in the 50-piece bag include pumpkins, spiders, and skulls, and the LED lights last for hours (but can be switched off with the touch of a button). They will definitely be a trick-or-treating favorite.
Glow-in-the-dark critters
$13.99
Creepy-crawly things and trick-or-treaters are a match made in Halloween heaven. But get creepy-crawlies that glow in the dark and you’ll have a bonafide hit on your hands. And even better: Since you’ll get 120 fake cockroaches, scorpions, flies, centipedes, fingers, bouncing balls, and the like for under $14, these non-candy treats are a particularly economical choice if you get a lot of trick-or-treaters. These are 13 ways Halloween is celebrated around the world.
Temporary tattoos and stickers
$10.99
We dare you to find one kid on the planet who doesn’t like temporary tattoos and stickers. These Halloween versions feature colorful ghosts, pumpkins, skulls, cats, bats, and many more. With more than 600 pieces for just $11, this is another incredibly affordable choice for a large crowd on Halloween night. To keep your spending down this holiday season, check out these 16 cheap Halloween costumes for adults basically anyone can make.
Mini bubble wands
$9.95
Bubbles always get a party started. These mini bubble wands, which come in eight colors in a 32-piece pack, will get a definite thumbs-up from trick-or-treaters of all ages. If you have leftovers, stash them in your closet and hand them out at other upcoming holiday gatherings to make any visiting kids wildly happy. Looking to get a little reading in during the holiday? These are 15 spooky, silly Halloween books for kids.
Stretchy skeletons
$14.97
These stretchy, sticky skeletons are great sensory toys. Stretch and enjoy—or launch them at the walls and see what happens. These individually wrapped skeletons are four inches long but stretch up to two feet, and they come in a variety of colors in this 48-piece pack. This was the most popular Halloween costume the year you were born.
Grumblie Miniacs
$4.66
Everyone loves a scary surprise come Halloween. Each Grumblie Miniac Mystery Pack contains a miniature cranky monster with shapeable hair that can be used as a pencil topper or stacked and displayed. Ever wondered why black and orange are the colors of Halloween? We’ve got you covered.
Magic springs
$9.99
Drop these Halloween coil springs into treat bags this year for big smiles. The pack of 40 is decorated with a variety of designs including jack-o’-lanterns, ghosts, bats, and more and comes in a range of colors. These are sure to give trick-or-treaters some solid entertainment as they recover from their sugar comas. Ever wonder why we celebrate Halloween in this way in the first place? Here’s how Halloween became the wonderfully spooky holiday that we know and love today.
For more fun facts, costume ideas, traditions, candy inspiration, spooky entertainment, and updates on how October 31 will look different this year, check out our Halloween Guide.
