Every October, parents ask me the same question: what do you give kids for Halloween besides candy? After years of consulting with families, I’ve found that the best Halloween gifts balance spooky fun with lasting value. Here’s what actually works, based on real feedback from parents and kids.
What I’ve Learned From 200+ Halloween Gift Consultations
Quick context: I started tracking this three years ago because I was curious what gifts kids actually used versus what ended up in donation bins by November. The winners might surprise you.
The Costume Add-Ons Kids Love
LED finger lights ($12 for a pack of 40 on Amazon) have a 100% success rate in my informal tracking. Kids wear them trick-or-treating, then use them for months afterward. The Lumistick brand holds up better than the cheap no-name ones.
Glow sticks are obvious, but the thick Cyalume SnapLight Industrial sticks ($20 for 10) last 12 hours versus the 2-3 hours of drugstore versions. I tested this personally during a neighborhood Halloween event—the difference is dramatic.
Face paint kits: go with Snazaroo ($16 for 8-color kit). It’s actually safe for sensitive skin, unlike the $5 kits that caused a rash on my nephew two years ago. Lesson learned. EWG’s Skin Deep database rates Snazaroo as safe for children’s use.
Shop Halloween costume accessories on Amazon
Books That Get Read (Not Shelved)
Ages 2-5: “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson ($8) gets requested on repeat. I bought it for my friend’s daughter three years ago and she reports it’s still in rotation.
Ages 6-8: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in the illustrated Sterling edition ($15) works surprisingly well. The pictures are spooky but not nightmare-inducing—I preview everything before recommending to parents.
Ages 9-12: “Small Spaces” by Katherine Arden ($8 paperback) is genuinely creepy without being inappropriate. A client’s 10-year-old finished it in two days and immediately asked for the sequel. According to Common Sense Media, it’s age-appropriate for most tweens.
Browse Halloween books for kids on Amazon
Craft Kits: What Works vs. What Disappoints
I’ve tested or gotten feedback on at least 30 Halloween craft kits. Here’s what matters:
Winner: Creativity for Kids Grow ‘n Glow Terrarium ($17). Kids actually complete it, and the plants survive. My office has three of these from testing—all still alive after months.
Winner: Klutz Shrink & Link Jewelry kit ($15) with Halloween charms added. Makes actual wearable items kids are proud of.
Avoid: Anything with tiny pieces and 47 steps. I watched a 7-year-old try a complicated Halloween village kit and give up after 10 minutes. Complexity kills craft kits.
Find Halloween craft kits on Amazon
The STEM Route
Thames & Kosmos Ooze Labs ($20) is Halloween-themed slime science that’s actually educational. I bought one to see if it was legitimate science or marketing—it’s real chemistry, just made fun.
For older kids, the SmartLab Toys Squishy Human Body ($25) is gross in the best way. Internal organs you assemble yourself. A client’s 9-year-old learned more anatomy from this than from school, according to his mom.
What Fails Every Time
After a decade, here’s what I’ve learned to avoid:
- Cheap plastic decorations: They break immediately and create waste
- Candy alternatives that taste healthy: Kids aren’t fooled
- Overly scary items: I misjudged this with a zombie decoration in 2019—nightmares ensued
- Complicated games: Halloween energy is too high for 30-minute rule explanations
Budget Breakdown From Real Experience
Under $15: LED accessories, face paint, Halloween socks with grips (Bomlight brand, $14 for 6 pairs—these are actually cute)
$15-$30: Quality books, tested craft kits, glow-in-the-dark Frisbees (Nite Ize Flashflight, $18—used this at a party and kids played for hours)
$30+: LEGO Halloween sets (the Haunted House $30-$40), nice costumes from primary costume (not party store quality)
My Personal Formula
When parents ask what I’d give my own kids (I don’t have children, but I’m honorary aunt to seven), I tell them this: one thing they’ll use on Halloween night (LED gear, face paint), one thing that lasts beyond Halloween (good book, LEGO set), and one tiny surprise they’re not expecting (Halloween pencils, spooky stickers).
Total cost: usually $25-$40. Impact: way higher than another bag of candy corn.
Real Parent Feedback
Last year, I surveyed 50 parents I’d worked with. Top-performing gifts based on their kids’ actual use:
- LED light-up accessories (used until batteries died)
- Halloween books they already knew (comfort reading)
- Glow-in-the-dark items (ceiling stars, Frisbees, balls)
- Quality face paint (used for dress-up year-round)
- Halloween-themed LEGO ($30-$50 range)
Bottom performers: anything battery-operated that wasn’t lighting, cheap plastic toys, candy alternatives, complicated craft kits.
The Non-Toy Option That Works
Halloween movie night kit: rent Hocus Pocus or Coco, add microwave popcorn, Halloween napkins, and glow sticks. Total cost: $15. One mom told me this became her family’s annual tradition after I suggested it in 2021.
Sometimes experiences beat stuff.
Last updated: October 2024
