halloween gift basket ideas

Spooky and Scary

With goblins and ghosts running rampant over the next week, it’s obvious that Halloween is in the air. Halloween parties, Trunk or Treat events, fall festivals, and pumpkin patches galore…and So. Much. Sugary. Candy.

I adore Halloween, but I don’t adore the abundance of Halloween candy that comes with it. Our kids love the activities, festivities, and events, but we’re so tired this time of year that the ownership of a million pieces of candy is hard to resist – and then we feel even more exhausted after imbibing. And as if we don’t spend enough time collecting candy and treats at all the events, our loved ones love putting together little treats for the kids.

It’s sweet. They love bags of candy, but they certainly don’t need them (and we do see the dentist a week after Halloween for their six-month cleaning). The constant influx of sugar and candy isn’t healthy for us, but it’s especially unhealthy for our kids because we don’t keep sweets in the house. We only have dessert if we are hosting someone in our home or at someone else’s house, and they serve it. No one in our house has a sweet tooth regularly, and candy is no one’s favorite. We aren’t going out of our way to buy or stock candy, but Halloween candy is so tempting when that 2 p.m. afternoon crash happens (I’m convinced it’s because it is small, so you don’t feel like you’re eating much of it).

To prevent the kids from eating more sugar than they already are, I thought it might be cute to come up with alternative Halloween gift basket ideas for kids (read – for parents who are sick and tired of having candy in the house tempting the kids and our own willpower) that they’ll love and enjoy, but that won’t mean the dentist is giving us bad news. Here are some of my favorite ideas that don’t involve candy or junk food to gift this Halloween season.

Halloween Sweatshirt

There are so many spooky events this time of year, and our teens (and me!) love nothing more than a themed sweatshirt. Well, we would love to wear a themed sweatshirt in cold weather, but we Floridians don’t always have that option. This Halloween sweatshirt is simple, cute, and perfect for cooler nights by the fire pit…roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories, of course. It’s also the perfect sweatshirt for every parent taking their kids trick or treating – and teens who don’t want to dress up any longer. You can order this here – may we recommend going up a size for an oversized fit?

Don’t Be Mean to 13

Do you know what triskaidekaphobia is? Well, you will when you get done reading this cute book to your kids this Halloween. Written by Douglas Harris, this darling book explains the fun phenomenon of Friday the 13^th (which we just experienced) and the misconception that the number 13 is bad luck. Halloween is all about superstitions, and this book is a perfect Halloween gift basket for kids of any age. You can order Don’t Be Mean to 13 here.

Salem Tee Shirt

What says Halloween season better than a Salem tee shirt? Nothing. It’s the birthplace of the witch legends, and it’s the coolest place in the Northeast to visit during the month of October. Your kids will love their own Salem tee to wear around this Halloween season. My favorite is this one here.

Halloween Bracelets

Little girls, teen girls, all girls…we love jewelry, and the more holiday-themed, the better. These cute bracelets are adorable for the little girl in your life – and they’re available in Prime Shipping so you can have them delivered with plenty of time to spare to build your Halloween gift basket.

Halloween Candles

I love to give this kind of gift to my girls – but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone too young (or most boys. My son can’t have anything that inspires fire). It’s a cute decoration that also smells divine. The older girls in your life will love a few of these in their bedrooms for décor and Halloween fun.

Gift Cards

Another really simple idea for a Halloween gift basket is a gift card or two. They don’t have to be expensive. My kids love even $5 of their own to spend at Dunkin Donuts or Barnes and Noble. Buy what you feel is right for your budget, and see if you can find a Halloween-themed gift card before you purchase.

No matter the age of the child you’d like to make a Halloween gift basket for, you’re bound to find something on this list that works and doesn’t involve even more candy. For that, their parents will thank you.