Treats Too Tricky? Try Some Sweet Charity

Halloween can be a problem for kids with diabetes or food allergies. Trick-or-treating is a rite of childhood, and you don't want your little one forced to miss the fun. But collecting a bagful of treats they can't eat is a pretty spooky prospect. Instead of collecting candy, then, have your child collect coins for charity. Those orange boxes from UNICEF that you may remember from your childhood are still around. You can order them from the UNICEF site, or print out a wrapper to put on a coffee can for collecting. However, there's no rule that says UNICEF is the only charity you can trick-or-treat for. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network also offers boxes for donations, and gives gifts and prizes to kids who contribute. Bringing coins to a Coinstar machine to donate to the Red Cross is another fun option. Be sure to support your child's charitable efforts by having treats he or she can eat available as a special reward.