Comments:

1. We actually are rural enough that we don't have any Trick or Treaters. My mom always hands out candy that she likes so she can eat the left overs, LOL!
   
   I know you can order bulk toys at Party supplies, crafts, party decorations, toys: Oriental Trading and if we ever start getting lots of kids, I may do that. BTW, we used the multipacks of playdoh for goody bags for my nephews bday party one year.. they were specifically for ToTing
   
   A few other faves...
   -mini kaleidoscopes
   -small cars ($ Tree has multipacks of them)
   -those birthday things you blow out and the roll out... can't remember what they are called!
   -those little hand held games (you see them packed for party favors usually)
   -those sticky things that come in bubbles out of the machine (for a quarter, etc) that you can throw against the wall and it sticks.. my nephews got some last year when ToTing (can't remember what it is called)
   -my nephews got fruit at one house last year.. they actually thoguht that was neat! (one got an apple, the other an orange.. but it must be decently expensive to do it that way!)
   -another thing I got when younger... coupon for a free frosty, fries, etc from fast food places
   -play necklaces/bracelets/rings (mostly for little girls... but you could do play bugs or something for boys)
   -ring stampers
   -boxes of raisens (I got them when i was younger and my nephews have gotten them too)      by pink_elephant
   
2. Wow, those are good ideas, C. I was a bit skeptical at first, but it is a great list. The kids won't be a bit disappointed, and will probably be excited. I noticed as a school teacher, when given a choice the kids would usually choose cool pencil, erasers, and other prizes over candy. Kids today aren't deprived of candy anyway. They get treats from their parents all the time. More so than when I was a kid anyway.
   
   I was cheap, I got Smarties and some gummy sour things that were cheap. I won't even be home to answer the door anyway, I have orchestra rehearsal that night so it's all up to DH and B.      by B'sgirl
   
3. I always loved new pencils and stuff as prizes!!!
   
   You are right on more candy these days.. When I was little we got candy at Halloween, Christmas (stockings) and Easter (eggs), and that was about it!      by pink_elephant
   
4. Great ideas! I'm not handing out candy this year but I'll have to remember that. My husband will probably end up taking most of the candy to work, that way we wont eat it all.      by marymert
   
5. We give out alternative items, too, although there aren't many ToTers in our neighborhood. In the past we have given out bouncy balls, non-Halloween pencils (just neat sparkly ones that they can use after the holiday), fruit leather, and boxes of raisins. Kids told us, "wow, you have COOL treats!"
   
   Everybody has already mentioned most of my other ideas, but here are a few more:
   - snack-sized bags of pretzels, trail mix, animal crackers, etc.
   - dried fruit
   - juice boxes (get them in bulk)
   - granola bars
   - mini flashlights
   - toothbrushes (ha! but fun ones, and not as the only treat!)
   - packets of wildflower seeds or pumpkin seeds so kids can grow their own pumpkins next year! (you can get these on clearance at the end of the season like this, and they will keep fine until spring!)      by jana
   
6. I'm another one that's not fond of giving out candy. Last year I made goody bags with stickers, pencils, and raisins to give out. This year we're going out ourselves so I'm not going to have to worry about getting something. Though I might buy the day-after candy for myown chocolate stash.      by Summerm
   
7. I just wanted to share that Target has TONS of non-candy treats! I bought a pack of 25 mini play-doh containers for $4, and they had pencils and erasers and bouncy balls, in addition to the regular party favors in the party section.      by jana
   
8. I have to buy candy. We only get 5-10 trick or treaters here. T and D act like it's Christmas when they get to fight over the rest of the candy I have 3 kids and poor Ethan is the most mature out them      by HeavenLeigh
   
9. Ooh! Thank you for this thread! We have always given out candy, buying what we like so we'll want the leftovers. I noticed this year that everyone tends to buy the same thing, so there's not much variety. I want to do something else next year.
   
   What do you suggest for varying ages? We got kids anywhere from around 18 months old to probably 10 years old. I don't think a 10yo would be into Play-Doh. Do you get the same thing for everyone or have different things in "age appropriate" baskets. Or maybe let them choose?      by Margarita
   
10. You might be surprised! Some older kids aren't into any of that, though, sure. Others are still cool with pencils (everybody's gotta use pencils at school) and some of the other things (seeds or silly putty or something). I usually let them choose, and if they're annoyed and just want candy, they don't have to take anything. Age-appropriate baskets are a good idea...maybe set aside some cool stuff for older kids, and let them choose something from that bowl instead of the kiddy one.      by jana
    
11. My boys still like play-doe and sillyputty. They may not admit it but its true      by heather6773