All of this candy! The do-not-waste-anything mentality inside of me won’t let us throw away a pile of Halloween candy. But seriously, I don’t want my kids eating all of it. Heaven knows that I don’t need it!! So, what do we do with it? I discovered a few ideas that I believe are perfect for character and academic training.
Gather your children around a bowl of the collected Halloween candy. Discuss how God asks us to give Him the first 10% of what we are given. God made everything and everything that we have has been given by God. Because God has given us so much, we want to give back to God. By giving back to God, we show God that we love Him and are thankful for what He has given us.
Because we want to give back to God first, have each child count their Halloween candy and put the first piece of every ten aside.
Discuss ways that your child can give the candy "back to God". It may be to give the candy to someone who was unable to trick-or-treat due to sickness. Call a local shelter and see if your children can take the candy to children there. I even read of churches who have a "Candy Tithe" the Sunday after Halloween.
Here are a few verses to read from the Bible about giving:
Act 20:35
2 Cor 9:7
Fill a jar with all of the candy. Label the jar with the words "Kindness Jar." Gather your child and explain that your family is going to help each other show kindness by using the "Kindness Jar."
Every time someone is "caught" being kind, he or she gets to take out a sweet treat from the jar. Encourage the kids to look for other family members being kind.
Save the candy to make gingerbread houses the day after Thanksgiving.
Some dentists pay children a $1 for every pound of candy they bring in. Then the candy will be shipped to servicemen overseas. More info...
(I have not personally done this activity so check all details.)
Get ready for a Halloween experience that emphasizes faith with our Pumpkin Gospel Packet! This resource provides a word-for-word script for engaging pumpkin carving activities, delightful songs, and practical tips to share the message of salvation in a way that’s perfect for kids.
Keep freezable candy, such as candy bars, in the freezer for later use. When your family goes to a ballgame, takes a walk in the park, or enjoys another outing, bring along a small bag of candy instead of buying snacks at the concession stand.
Sort the candy by type, shape, or color.
Practice counting or making groups of 5 or 10.
"I create bags of candy for the staff at local nursing homes (firehouse, police station, etc) with a thank you card. Every time I’ve done this, they are so happy to get it."
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