Belle Green

Halloween Gifts for Kids: Ideas For All Ages

Spooky season is around the corner! If you’re like many parents, Halloween means a lot of fun, but also a lot of sugar. If you’re trying to reduce sugar consumption in your household, I’m with you. But what alternatives are just as fun? You may not be able to control much when it comes to candy coming in from trick-or-treating, but you have a lot of control if you throw your own Halloween bash! Here are some 100% sugar-free ideas for Halloween gifts for kids, whether you’re having a party, giving out non-candy treats to trick-or-treaters, or sending a little something new to a child you love who lives far away. Still want a sweet treat without the sugar? I’m also sharing very favorite sugar-free candy store!
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Books make great gifts for children any time of year! Why not give a gift and help little ones form solid friendships at the same time? Read I Am a Good Friend today!

Non-Candy Halloween Gifts for Kids

Mom, dad, daughter and son gather around the jack-o-lantern for Halloween fun.It’s pretty obvious that America is wild about Halloween. So whether you’re sending gifts across the country or handing them out to the kiddos at school or in your own home, you’ve got lots of great options for Halloween gifts for kids. Grab your pumpkin spice latte and kick back for a few minutes. Here are some gift suggestions to think about, based on the ages of the kids you are shopping for. Many of these gifts easily overlap for kids of different ages, so read through them all, check the current price, and hopefully you’ll find the perfect gift or gifts for the little (or not so little) ones on your list to shop for.

  • Bibs
  • Pumpkin teether
  • Board books
  • Stuffies

As you shop for gifts for a baby or a toddler, the top concern is always basic safety. We know how much they love to put things in their little mouths, so why not just double down on that? Shop for unique, handmade Halloween or pumpkin themed toys and bibs on Etsy and support a small business! Or get a quick baby accessories gift on Amazon like this pumpkin teether. Other ideas include onesies and t-shirts, Halloween board books, pumpkin or ghost sippy cups, and stuffed animals. Avoid anything that they could potentially take apart, including glow sticks which are very popular around Halloween and have the potential to be toxic to curious little ones.

  • Interactive books
  • Puzzles
  • Stuffies
  • Rubber Duckies

For these ages, I love Halloween books. You can go the interactive route with this book that also makes Halloween sounds (without being too spooky), Hoot Howl Halloween. For years, my son’s favorite Halloween book was Countdown to Halloween, a sweet board book that not only includes an adorable kitty cat, but also helps early learners with numbers and counting as they get ready to start school.

Simple Halloween toys and puzzles like this 4-puzzle set that features a pumpkin, a cat, a ghost, and a bat engage little minds and give Halloween vibes without being too spooky.  Puzzles help build fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities, so they make excellent gifts for toddlers and early preschool ages. For a little Halloween time comfort, stuffed animals dressed up for Halloween are also always a big hit.

Last but not least, and my personal favorite, these insanely cute Halloween rubber duckies. In fact, these sweet ducks are great for all ages, including adults who are young at heart! (Yes, I own a set. Follow me on Instagram to see what we’re doing with them!)

  • Stickers & sticker books
  • Simple dress-up sets
  • Trick-or-treat bag
  • Reflective accessories

At these ages, kids are often obsessed with stickers. If you’ve got stickers on your walls, your arms, your phone case, your car, etc., you might have a preschooler. Why not channel that love for new stickers and new places to stick them with a Halloween sticker and coloring book? Keep them sticking stickers where they belong, and not permanently part of your household décor! Color by sticker books are also fun, and they give kids direction on exactly where to put that pumpkin, cat, or ghost sticker.

Halloween accessories are also perfect for this age. Kiddos always want to play trick-or-treat at home around this time or year, so make sure they have a Halloween bag, classic pumpkin bucket, or go old school and let them decorate a pillow case to use as their trick or treat bag! Kids also love low-key dress up sets that feature ears and tail like this adorable tiger. Just Google their favorite animal and “dress up set” and you’ll find tons of great options to shop for. A set like this can often be worn to school, doesn’t have a mask to impede vision, and can easily fit into a bag or backpack when the kiddo is done wearing them. (Which may be five minutes or five days, am I right?)

Speaking of accessories, safety accessories for these ages are critical and can also be fun. Consider headlamps, light up gloves, glow-in-the dark and reflective stickers for their bag, or a pack of glow sticks that they can wear around their neck, wrist, and ankles. These gift accessories are low in price and high in value, and kids love anything that lights up in the dark!

  • Art kits
  • Halloween décor
  • MadLibs
  • STEM toys

At this age, the whole range of Halloween toys, books, accessories, and other goodies is wide open. For the little artist, consider a Halloween themed art set like this rock painting kit from National Geographic. The sticker book recommendations from the previous section are also great gifts for this age, as are more advanced Halloween puzzles, spooky easy reader books, hidden picture books, and Halloween MadLibs (what better way to make grammar fun and hilarious?).

Household Halloween décor items are also a big hit for older ages. Ghostly window clings, witchy LED candles, spiders and skeletons to hang from the walls, and other fun decorations are crowd pleasers and generally inexpensive. Don’t forget the fake spider webs!

If you’re in the mood to shop for some new STEM toys, consider a glow-in-the-dark marble run set or a gross science set from National Geographic. Did you know that they even make Halloween themed Lego kits and Halloween haunted house Magnetic tile set?? How cool!

Just a quick word on reviews for online buyers. Stickers, sticker books, activity books, painting books, and more abound for this age range, so as you shop, always check the reviews. When I read reviews, I like to spot check 1-star reviews (if any) to see what people really hated, as well as a sampling of the glowing 5-star reviews. 3-star reviews often provide a more balanced view of the product as well. Overall, this gives a well-rounded view of the product. Watch for reviews that state they were given a free product in exchange for their review, as it could influence the rating they give. I tend to give a lot of weight to people who give low star reviews on products they got for free. If they hated it for free, I may not like it much when I have to pay for it.)

Halloween is the perfect time to strengthen friendships while having fun! Gift I Am a Good Friend to your special child today. Shop now.

Non-Candy Trick-or-Treat Fun: Safe for Everyone!

Health concerns are leading more and more families to choose non-candy treats and toys during spooky season. Food allergies, sensitivities, and an overall excess of sugar are becoming serious problems especially in school settings where there are many kids involved. Fortunately, it’s easy and inexpensive to hand out a non-candy treat to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Here are my top Amazon finds for thi Halloween.

Sugar-conscious shoppers also looking for a reasonable price for toys and gifts can find Halloween pumpkin erasers, silly stretchy skeletons, Army-man like plastic zombie figures, and my son’s personal favorite, Army skeleton warriors. All are just right for Halloween gifts and trick-or-treat handouts!

To hold several treats together in one bag, there are many cute options, like these plastic treat bags that have both a low price and cute Halloween appeal! These are great for parties and for trick-or-treat bowls. However, this cellophane bag set is probably going to give you the biggest bang for your buck!

 

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to trinket-like giveaways, I really like ones that have a purpose. I mean, those squishy toys are cute, but…what do they DO? Besides create clutter? If you’re anti-clutter and pro-useful Halloween gifts for kids, consider these Amazon options. They are great for a wide variety of ages.

Halloween Spooky Notepads. Kids love to draw and keep little notes, create treasure maps, etc. These notepads are perfectly useful and fun! For and even more affordable notebook option, you can get non-spiral bound notepads for a lower price.

Halloween Pencils. What better to go with spooky notepads but spooky pencils? You can give away a lot – I mean a lot – of useful pencils for a very reasonable price. I love this set that includes dozens of pencils and Halloween themed mini-rulers! Talk about practical!

Halloween Coloring Books. Mini coloring books are a lot longer-lasting than a chocolate bar, with no sugar crash later! They also fit perfectly in your treat bowl for kids to grab and put in their trick-or-treat bags. Don’t worry – they aren’t too tiny – they are just right for small hands. They are big enough, though, that you might not want to plan to put them in the trick-or-treat bowl.

Mini Play-Doh. Who doesn’t love new Play-Doh? It’s perfect for a broad range of ages and since it’s not Halloween themed, you can save any leftovers for Christmas or Easter.

Healthy Sugar-Free Halloween Treats

Halloween is a candy holiday, and kids wanting a sweet treat is pretty normal. Children already tend to get lots of sugar, so why not give them a sweet taste without all the negative effects of white sugar? I’m a big fan of limiting sugar, but do not like artificial sugar substitutes. In my opinion, they are as bad or worse than the sugar itself. But fortunately, there are a few natural sugar-free sweeteners that check my boxes for a healthy sweet taste: xylitol and monk fruit.
Xylitol occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables like pumpkin, strawberries, and plums. Commercially produced xylitol usually comes from birch and beech trees. This sweet-tasting substance has actually been shown to help reduce the risk of tooth decay – a far cry from cavity promoting sugar! It’s low on the glycemic index and is lower in calories than sugar. It may even promote gut health by acting as a prebiotic! Like anything else, I don’t recommend overdoing it on xylitol. But in our house we regularly enjoy small amounts of xylitol and we love Zollipops, suckers made with xylitol, and Zaffi Taffy, taffy made with xylitol. Note: if you have pets, keep them far away from xylitol, as it is toxic to both cats and dogs!

My personal favorite non-sugar sweetener is monk fruit. An actual fruit related to cucumbers and melons, monk fruit, to me, tastes as close to sugar as possible with no weird after taste. I use powdered monk fruit to add a little sweetness to smoothies. Don’t let the price throw you off – you literally only need a tiny, tiny amount to get a sweet taste and a small bottle lasts me many months. However, finding a pre-made candy treat made only with monk fruit is rare. Many companies blend monk fruit with erythritol, another sugar-free sweetener, which I do not personally recommend and avoid it when I see it.

The only company I can personally vouch for that produces high- quality delicious candy and chocolate sweetened with monk fruit and made with clean ingredients is ChocZero. These caramels are just right for Halloween, and you’ll never believe they aren’t made with sugar. All of their chocolates are absolutely delicious and the Oreo-like Dunkies cookies are so, so yummy! You can order ChocZero from Amazon, but honestly I recommend ordering directly from their website. They pack shipments with ice packs during warm weather and I’ve never had a bad experience with a shipment directly from the company. I cannot say that about shipments directly from Amazon. You may also be able to find ChocZero products in some Whole Foods, Sprouts, or Walmart stores.

 

Creating a Fun and Safe Halloween Experience for Kids

I have so many great memories of Halloween from when I was a kid, and each year I make new ones as a parent. But we want to do everything we can to make sure those new memories are good ones, and nothing that involves a trip to the ER. Because as much fun as Halloween is, there are many dangers to consider and plan ahead to avoid. Here are some quick tips to keep your spooky season safe and fun.
As you shop for Halloween, keep safety solidly in mind. One of the biggest dangers around Halloween is children being out in the dark, often in dark colored costumes. If you don’t already have them on hand, make sure to add to your Halloween budget the price of new flashlights, a set of glow sticks, reflective tape, anything glow-in-the dark, and other accessories to make sure your child is easy to see on dark streets, especially with black clothing. Many of these safety accessories will be featured prominently in stores or on Amazon where you’ll be buying other Halloween gear, toys, costumes, treat bags, and so on.

Just like any other holiday, during Halloween there’s an influx of new things coming into your house – and you might not know about all of them. When your other children come home from school Halloween parties with trinkets and small size candies, it’s important to be extra aware to put them up right away where your baby or toddler cannot get to them. With all of the distractions and demands on our attention that come with Halloween, it’s a great idea to plan ahead to keep things out of the baby’s reach until you have time to go through all the new toys, candies, stickers, and so on. Enlist help from your older kids to help keep an eye on the baby while trick-or-treating, too. As we all know, if a baby can reach it, a baby will put it in his or her mouth!

 

Wandering around trick-or-treating in new or unfamiliar neighborhoods in the dark can be a set up for disaster. It may be tempting to visit that neighborhood with a reputation for the best treats, but if you decide to do so make sure to take a few practice strolls through the streets, plan out your route, and make note of any potential obstacles. These might include construction areas, pot holes, and trees or bushes impeding on the sides of the street.
Personalized items are very popular, and kids love to see their own name (don’t we all!). However, there are dangers associated with backpacks, bags, shirts, and toys with a child’s name on it. Even when it’s not Halloween with all it’s hustle and bustle and distractions, strangers with ill intent like it when they already know a child’s name thanks to personalized items. Limit or keep these items under wraps. If you want to shop for a personalized gift, new décor items like a sign for their bedroom door is the perfect spot to put their name and keep them safer. Etsy is a great place to find these types of personalized and seasonal gifts.
Even if you’re going to be sticking close to home, kiddos get tired quickly. Even children of older ages can get worn out and need a riding break, and bringing our wagon has saved us a ton of hassle in Halloweens gone by. It’s also very handy for carrying water bottles, blankets (if it’s a cold night), filled buckets of candy, the baby bag, and other necessities.
Friends are a priceless gift, and the best Halloween nights we’ve ever had were those spent hanging out and trick-or-treating with friends. So gather pals from your neighborhood, school, preschool, church, and anywhere else to join in on the festivities!
Costumes sometimes come with dragging capes, clunky shoes, and awkward or bulky accessories. Make sure the kiddos can walk safely on their own, or take steps (haha – take steps) to ensure they won’t trip or snag on anything that could ruin their night. Make sure shoelaces are tied tight, or opt for laceless shoes that still fit snug. (Check out this article if you’re wondering when do kids learn to tie shoes.)
Wait, don’t click away! Hear me out! Pumpkin carving is a grand tradition, and I don’t want to rain on anybody’s witch’s hat. But let’s face it: who actually carves the pumpkin? Mom or dad. Who cleans up? Mom or dad. Why? Because carving a pumpkin can be very dangerous, and, well, kids don’t like to clean up. So instead of breaking out the knife this year, why not go pick your pumpkin from the patch and then decorate that lovely pumpkin with paint, googly eyes, markers, or a pumpkin face decorating sticker set? It’s easier, cleaner, and much safer. Save the pumpkin carving until they’re older.
In the excitement of Halloween and being out past their bedtime, kiddos can quickly forget their basic safety rules. Remind them that no matter how well-lit the area or how many reflective accessories they are wearing to always look both ways before crossing the street and to try to make eye contact or communicate with drivers to ensure that they are seen. Children should not take candy from others walking around in the street, and of course, ever, ever go into a stranger’s house or get into their car.
You can find more Halloween safety tips from the National Safety Council.

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