Alternate Ideas for Halloween

Not everyone celebrates Halloween. For some people, it is the worry over having a child with a peanut allergy come in contact with candy that has peanuts in it. For others, it is a belief that Halloween is wrong. But if you don’t celebrate Halloween or you skip trick or treating, what do you do with your kids on Halloween night?

• Many churches have alternate activities planned for Halloween, such as hay rides, sing a longs, concerts, or campfire type events.
• Some schools and libraries have harvest festival events planned instead of celebrating Halloween. In my area, one school had a hayride and gave out treats last week for students, their friends and their families and another school is having a fall harvest event this Friday evening. These events may still be a problem for children with peanut allergies, since parents brought refreshments to both events in my area.
• You can throw your own party. Watch some silly movies, like the Mr. Bean series and serve healthy, peanut free snacks to all the guests.
• Go to a soup kitchen or food pantry. Giving out food to people in need is about as far removed from getting candy as you can get!

Photo: SXC