With 21st century advances, this Halloween you can delight in your candy corn without breaking your diet. Try using the small goodies in some fun kids' activities and games. And if you work at it hard enough, you could even burn off a few calories! And keep in mind, October 30th is national candy corn day. You'll be pressed to find a better way to observe the day than with some entertaining candy corn games.
Candy Corn Hunts
Children love hunting games. Conceal ten pieces of candy corn in an area underneath the piano, behind the door, on the planter. You might need to provide a few "you're getting warmer" tips to help in the process. If you leave them out in the open, even the youngest children should be able to find their bright colors.
If you'd like to to spice up the game, put the candy in little plastic bags and tie with decorative ribbon. Hide them all around - either inside or out - for a candy corn spin on the traditional Easter egg hunt.
Lay a trail of candy corn for little ones to follow. Guide them around the woods, or a maze - or through an untidy house. Depending on the order of their rooms, you might use this game to assist your kids find their dresser! If you stick a toothpick into the thick end of the candy, you instantly have an arrow. Use the arrows as clues in your hunt.
Target Practice
Try an All Hallow's Eve spin on the timeless clothespins in a jar game. Have each child stand on a sturdy chair and drop the candy corn down into a canning jar. A container with a wider opening, like a bucket or funnel might work out better for really young contestants, while a 2-liter soda bottle would present a bigger challenge when the older kids want to show their stuff.
Do you recall Bozo's Grand Prize Game? Try a Candy Corn version with several small sand pails. Rename the game after a preferred Halloween costume.
- Use a piece of masking tape or a stick to indicate a boundary line for the contestants.
- Number the pails, placing them in a row perpendicular to the line, pail number one being closest.
- Children stand behind the line and toss candy into each consecutive bucket.
- Keep score or issue prizes for making it into each bucket.
After stuffing the pieces into a small sealed plastic baggie, have a "corn bag" toss. After playing catch, try aiming at a target or throwing the bags into a container. For extra Halloween fun, sketch a scarecrow face on the front of a box, and cut out openings for his eyes, nose, and mouth. Different points could be awarded for throwing the corn bags through each of the holes.
Other Fun Stuff
On a even surface like the dining room table try some shufflecorn or "bocce corn". One person acts as the referee, sliding out the first piece of candy corn. He then marks this candy corn with a toothpick. Participants take turns sliding 4 different pieces as near to the referee's mark as possible. The referee determines which piece is the closest, awarding that player a point. Play until someone gets ten points. To reduce confusion, marking each contestant's candy pieces would be helpful.
If you really don't mind a mess - try candy corn and frosting sculptures. Obviously, a suitably covered table or other safe surface is best. Thinking about it, maybe this is better as an outdoor project. Prizes could be awarded for the most extraordinary sculpture, the tallest one, the neatest one -- or maybe the one that looks most like dad.
String candy corn like popcorn. Not only is the activity fun, but also you get great decorating material when they're finished! Tape several strands in a doorway like a 70's-style beaded curtain. Add an orange lava lamp for a funky Halloween theme. String some through a spooky tree in the yard. Hang it inside like party streamers or use it for jewelry.
So whether you are hoping to avoid the sugar calories, looking for fun Halloween activities to occupy kids wound up about the holiday, or trying to find something to do with all of that spare candy corn, you can enjoy these guilt-free pleasures.
