D-Mom Blog

The sweet life with a diabetic child

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15+ Non-Candy Ideas for Trick-Or-Treating and Halloween Parties

Summary: Instead of handing out candy, why not consider handing out non-candy treats, which are a great option for kids with food allergies, celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes. (Of course, some candy is okay!)

Non-Candy Halloween Treats

Image Copyright D-Mom Blog

I don’t deny my child with diabetes candy. All things in moderation. Let kids enjoy childhood rites of passage such as haunting the neighborhood on All Hollow’s Eve.

So for parents looking for some alternatives for class parties, to hand out to trick-or-treaters, or to swap out for some of your child’s giant stash, here are some non-candy ideas that my kids have liked:

  1. Mini Play-doh (always a hit among the preschool set!)
  2. Spooky tattoos
  3. Skeleton stickers
  4. Glow sticks
  5. Bouncy balls shaped like eyeballs
  6. Black, orange, and green rubber bracelets
  7. Spider rings
  8. Pumpkin rings
  9. Mini pumpkins
  10. Rubber bats
  11. Themed pencils
  12. Ghost pencil toppers
  13. Spooky erasers
  14. Monster finger puppets
  15. Rubber skeletons
  16. Plastic bugs
  17. Mini notebooks
  18. Coins

Resources

Don’t Get Spooked…Tips for Navigating Halloween With Type 1 Diabetes or Food Allergies

More posts about Halloween

More posts about allergies

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Teal Pumpkin Project

As parents of children with type 1 diabetes, we can empathize with parents of children with food allergies. This is why D-Mom Blog supports the Teal Pumpkin Project to notify parents and their kids that we have non-candy Halloween treats.

Teal Pumpkin Project

Image Copyright D-Mom Blog

“Every child should be able to experience the joy and tradition of trick-or-treating on Halloween. But kids with food allergies are often left out of the fun, since most candy is off limits.”

Sound familiar?

The first Halloween after a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes can be particularly tough on both the child and her parents. The d-kid can’t just eat a bunch of candy with wild abandon. Kids on multiple daily injections (MDI) might have to get an extra injection if they are eating their Halloween candy outside of a normal mealtime. And getting an extra injection isn’t exactly fun!

Our family has long been a proponent of non-candy treats, even before Q was diagnosed with diabetes. We have fun picking out non-candy toys and trinkets to hand out. And we usually stock up when leftovers are on deep discount the first week of November.

That being said, we do not deprive our d-kid of candy. All things in moderation. It’s made a little easier with the insulin pump. And it’s even better when he adds the candy to a meal because it might not spike blood sugar as high. (Read the post Don’t Get Spooked…tips for navigating Halloween with type 1 diabetes or food allergies.) We even stash away high sugar candies like Skittles and Smarties to treat low blood sugars.

So why do I think all of us d-moms and d-dads should support the Teal Pumpkin Project even though our kids with diabetes can eat candy (with insulin to cover it, of course!)?

Because we get it.

We totally get what it’s like to have a child with a life-threatening medical condition. We totally get that some kids can’t put something in their mouths without parent approval (for us it’s for carb count, for a child with food allergies it’s to make sure it’s safe). We totally get the stress that special occasions can bring … even though they are supposed to be fun!

So let’s tell the kids with food allergies (and their worried parents!) that we’ve got their back this Halloween.

More Info…

Teal Pumpkin Project Website

15+ Non-Candy Ideas for Trick-Or-Treating and Halloween Parties

Don’t Get Spooked…Tips for Navigating Halloween With Type 1 Diabetes or Food Allergies

Here’s a great video explaining the Teal Pumpkin Project:

(Originally posted 10/16. Updated 10/21.)

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40+ Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Some parents don’t want to fill stockings with tons of candy. Here are 30+ non-candy stocking stuffer ideas for kids with type 1 diabetes or food allergies.

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers

Image: Pixabay

Update: A reader asked about ideas for older kids. Please read Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers…for teens!

My kids’ stockings usually have a combination of candy and small items. I know many parents of kids with type 1 diabetes or food allergies prefer to include non-candy items in stockings, so I’m sharing some ideas of easy-to-find and not-very-expensive toys and trinkets.

Tip: Look near the Christmas/holiday aisle for displays of specially packaged items that are often the right size to stuff into stockings.

Here are 30+ non-candy stocking stuffer ideas. For even more ideas check out 50+ Non-Candy Easter Ideas and 15+ Non-Candy Ideas for Trick-Or-Treating and Halloween Parties.

(Links to Target are affiliate links for your shopping convenience. It doesn’t cost you a penny more to shop through these links, but it helps support the D-Mom Blog website. Thanks!)

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Dolls and Minatures

Building

  • Lego Minifigures
  • Lego Mini Sets (Jurassic World, Unikitty, Friends, City, Chima, Duplo)
  • Minecraft Minis
  • Hot Wheels
  • Mayka Toy Block Tape
  • Army Guys
  • Tonka Trucks

Creating

  • Play-Doh
  • Duct Tape
  • Washi Tape
  • Crayola Pip Squeaks Markers

Self-Care

Games

Entertainment & Tech

Misc.

  • Silly String
  • Flashlight
  • Camping Headlamp
  • Magic Wand or Fairy Wand
  • Glow Sticks
  • Hexbug Nano
  • Bouncy Balls
  • Gift Cards (Book Stores, Favorite Restaurant)

Read more posts about the holidays and see my suggestions for non-candy stocking stuffers for teens.

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Winter Holidays With Diabetes

Here are some tips for celebrating winter holidays, such as Christmas and Hanukkah, when your child has type 1 diabetes, including non-candy stocking stuffers, carb counting for candy, and gift ideas for T1D kids and the school nurse.

Winter Holidays Diabetes

Image: Pixabay

The holidays can be daunting, especially for parents of children recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. You may think that you need to change some of your traditions, especially if they are food-based. The reality is that you can make almost anything work.

You just got through Halloween and Thanksgiving. Maybe things went smoothly; maybe you learned a thing or two.

Here are some posts that I have written that I think will be particularly useful for newly diagnosed and veteran diabetes families alike.

Pancreas Plush

Stocking Stuffers and Gift Ideas

Don’t forget to thank the school nurse or other staff who care for your child when you are purchasing holiday gifts for teachers. Read 10 Holiday Gift Ideas For School Nurses.

School Nurse Gifts

I always find holiday candy in our pantry months later that has gone uneaten. I’m sure at Valentine’s Day there will still be some leftover Christmas candy. Many parents (and this has nothing to do with diabetes!) are reducing the amount of candy they give their kids and substituting non-candy items. Read 30+ Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas.

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers

Teens aren’t too old for holiday traditions and stockings stuffed with goodies. Read Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers…for teens!

Got a busted pancreas? How about a new stuffed one. Need a way to carry supplies? How about a cute bag. Here are some gift ideas for kids with diabetes. Read Holiday Gifts For Kids With Type 1 Diabetes.

turn-diabetes-trash-into-holiday-treasure-1024x536Holiday Decorating

Why not deck the halls with ornaments made from diabetes supplies such as used pods? We’ve been hanging these ornaments on our tree year after year. Read Holiday Decorating With Medical Waste.

We had so much fun creating these crafts for T1 Everyday Magic. Take a look at the tutorials for making reindeer ornaments and a wreath using diabetes supplies. Read Turn Your Diabetes Trash Into Holiday Treasures on the T1 Everyday magic website.

Pumpkin Pie

Image: Pixabay

Carb Counting and Christmas Candy

Much of the food served at Christmas and other winter holiday celebrations is the same as that served at Thanksgiving. Here is a list of carbs counts. Read Carb Counting At Thanksgiving.

Read more posts about holidays.

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Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers…for teens!

Looking to fill your teenager’s stocking and need fresh ideas? Here are 30+ non-candy stocking stuffer ideas for teens (with or without type 1 diabetes).

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers Teens

I shared my 40+ Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas with you recently. Q is now a teenager (what?!). A reader asked for ideas for teens and here are a few we came up with. These would also be great for college-aged students.

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers For Teens & College Kids

(Links to Target are affiliate links for your shopping convenience. It doesn’t cost you a penny more to shop through these links, but it helps support the D-Mom Blog website. Thanks!)

Technology

Entertainment & Books

  • iTunes Gift Cards
  • CDs
  • Graphic Novels
  • Movie Theater Gift Cards (AMC, Fandango, Cinemark, Regal)
  • Entertainment Gift Cards (Hulu, Netflix)
  • Books (Teens’ Best Sellers, YA Books)
  • Book Store Gift Cards
  • Barnes & Noble Membership

Gaming

Food & Drink

Self-Care

Clothing and Accessories

Toys and Games

  • Play-Doh (I’m not even kidding…when we hand it out at Halloween the teens go crazy for it)
  • Lego Minifigures
  • Card Games (deck of cards, Uno)
  • Dungeons and Dragons Dice
  • Funko Pop!
  • Lego Brickheadz
  • Rubik’s Cube

Creativity

Older Teens and College Kids

Miscellaneous

  • Sunglasses
  • Camping Headlamp
  • Magazines
  • Cash!

Read more posts about holidays and my 30+ Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas, which may also interest older kids.

Diabetes Awareness Month: Day 26

“When a child’s blood sugar is high or low, they may also have extreme emotions such as crying easily and being short-tempered.”