Opening the pantry I was welcomed by the delicious aroma of candy my kiddos collected at our church’s Fall Festival. While I love the yummy smells, enough candy and sugar greet me to start a small candy store.
The do-not-waste-anything mentality inside of me won’t let me throw it away. But 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?
Through the years I’ve discovered ideas that can turn Halloween candy into memorable teachable moments.
1. Kindness Jar
Fill a jar with candy. Label the jar with the words “Kindness Jar.” Sit down with your children 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.
Tie this to a Bible story or use the following verses:
1 Corinthians 13:4
Galatians 5:22–23
Proverbs 19:17
Proverbs 12:25
Ephesians 4:32
2. Send Halloween Candy to Soldiers
Remove the excess candy while supporting the United States troops. Check the Halloween Candy Buyback website to discover which local businesses and dentists are participating in the program.
3. Gingerbread House
Gingerbread houses are fun to create, but a lot of candy is needed for the activity. Save the Halloween candy to make gingerbread houses the day after Thanksgiving. Thanks, Karyn, for this great idea!
4. Freeze for Later
Place the little candy bars in the freezer. When your family goes to a ballgame or on a road trip take a little bag of candy to have instead of going to the concession stand or grabbing something at the gas station.
5. Baking and Desserts
M&M’s or cutup chocolate pieces are perfect in baking cookies or granola bars. How about some trail mix? Or, use the candy in ice cream sundaes. Yum!
6. Teaching Tithing
Gather your children around a bowl of the collected Halloween candy. Explain that God made everything and everything we have has been given to us by God. Because God has given us so much, we want to give back to God which shows that we love Him and are thankful for what He has given us. Giving back to God is frequently called a “tithe.”
Dave Ramsey shares: A tithe is a portion (10%) of your income given as an offering to your local church. (Fun fact: The word tithe literally means tenth in Hebrew.) Because the custom of tithing is biblical, many Christians and Jews practice it as part of their faith. Leviticus 27:30 (TLB) says, “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s, and is holy.” And Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.”
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. Or, call a local shelter and see if donations can be made to children there. To include more in your learning, talk to your church pastor or children’s ministry to see if the church can hold a “Candy Tithe” the Sunday after Halloween. Use the candy for upcoming children and youth events. More ideas for tithing.
7. Share the Halloween Candy
Call local charities, churches, and schools and ask if they have use for the candy.
8. Regift
Use the candy in goodie bags or create a pinata for a birthday or New Years Eve.
9. Exchange
Receive too much of one candy type? Exchange your extra candy corn with a family who has too many Snickers {if that could ever be possible}.
Halloween Candy into Teachable Moments
Isn’t it amazing how God provides opportunities – teachable moments – for us to teach our children about giving and being good stewards? Even in left-over, Halloween candy.
Today’s the Day!
Have you started the Thanksgiving Activity Workbook?
If not, redeem the November season and build gratitude in your family and students.
For family use, the Thanksgiving Workbook is available for FREE in the ABCJesusLovesMe Resource Library. If you are unsure where the library is click to learn more or subscribe to receive the link!
Not interested in subscribing or desire to use the Workbook in a non-family situation (church, preschool, etc)? The Thanksgiving Activity Workbook is available to order on the ABCJesusLovesMe website.
