Are you ready for the candy-fest that is coming this Halloween season (and with the extra neighborhood parties on the weekend and the classroom parties the week before, it is a season and not just a day anymore)? Instead of pulling tricks to reduce the amount of candy your kids eat, like trading it in for toys, put it to good use. Here are three alternatives to eating it all or throwing it away:

Decorate

Halloween is perfectly timed for candy recycling. Stash away an assortment of candy, or just the stuff no one likes, for November and December holiday decorating. Use the candy for decorating holiday gingerbread houses, making tree decorations, and adding special touches to holiday cards and wrapped presents.

Experiment

Did you know that you can use all sorts of candy to do science experiments that will amaze the kids?  Get instructions for making lifesaver lights, playing sink or float, getting the "m" off the m&m's, and lots more at candyexperiments.com.

Make a Teacher Happy

Teacher appreciation week isn't usually celebrated until spring. Show some appreciation now with an overflowing candy dish in the teacher's lounge! Or, maybe a classroom needs some supplies for their own decorating projects or experiments.