Trick-or-Treat ... and Give

My preschooler knows all about “giving” on Halloween.

“No, you can only take 2 pieces. Give the rest back, please.”

“Can you give Daddy all of your Kit Kat’s because you know he’ll just eat them when you’re not looking?”

“No, you may not sleep with your trick-or-treat bag. Give it back, please.”

Let’s face it, Halloween isn’t exactly known for acts of service but what better way to kick off the holiday season than by introducing some of the following ideas to your little ghosts and goblins?

1. Sight Night: Collect used prescription glasses and non-prescription sunglasses through traditional trick-or-treating (or set up your own collection). The glasses are then distributed to children and adults in developing countries. For more information, visit here.

2. UNICEF: Each FEED trick-or-treat bag purchased generates funding to supply one child in developing countries with an entire year’s worth of micronutrient powder (a substance rich in nutrients and vitamins). You can purchase bags through this website. Another option is to have your child go trick-or-treating with UNICEF boxes to collect coins to help benefit their global humanitarian relief: For more information, visit this website.

3. Contact a local home for the elderly and offer to help decorate the hallways for Halloween; have your children create crafts with the residents; get a group of children together and coordinate a parade.

4. Halloween Candy Buy Back: Participating dentists “buy back” kids Halloween candy and send it to Operation Gratitude or other military support groups. Operation Gratitude then sends the candy to U.S. deployed military. Simply put in your zip code and find a participating dentist in our area. For more information, visit this website.

5. If hosting a Halloween party, have your guests bring canned food that you can donate to a local food pantry or shelter.

6. Animals deserve “treats,” too! Have your child use part of their allowance to buy dog/cat food and bring the bags to a local animal shelter.

7. Go through your old Halloween costumes, books and toys and consider donating them to the pediatric ward at your local hospital so that they can enjoy the holiday, too!

For more ideas and suggestions, please feel free to comment!