Smart Cart: Why I Give out Play-Doh Every Halloween (And How You Can Do It for Less)

4 weeks ago 13

When you went trick-or-treating as a kid, do you remember a house in your neighborhood standing out as one you always had to visit? If so, maybe it gave out full-sized candy bars or always had the most unique treats. Today, I’m proud to be one of these houses on Halloween, having earned the affectionate nickname of “the Play-Doh House.”

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While I still have a fully stocked candy bowl, I also keep one that’s full of mini Play-Doh cans. Kids of all ages love it, and I love being able to create memories for the little ghosts and goblins who visit me on Halloween. Interested in doing something similar this year? It’s easier and more affordable than you may think!

Why Did I Start Giving Out Play-Doh for Trick-or-Treat?

Mini Play-Doh cans didn’t end up in my Halloween candy bowl by accident. It started about a decade ago after a little boy looked disappointed when browsing through my candy selection.

At first, I was worried I had picked out horrible candy and was destined to end up on the “don’t visit” list for trick-or-treaters. However, the boy’s mom told me that a peanut allergy was to blame. The little guy loved going out on Halloween but couldn’t enjoy a lot of the treats.

When the night was over, I was still thinking about this trick-or-treater and others like him. I decided I could give out little toys in addition to candy to make sure they all had a happy Halloween. After some brainstorming (and Googling), handing out both candy and mini Play-Doh cans emerged as a great solution.

To my delight, implementing my Play-Doh plan the next year was a roaring success for everyone:

Children with food allergies: The miniature Play-Doh cans provided a fun alternative to potentially risky edible treats. It was wonderful to have something they could enjoy.
Toddlers and young children: Younger children would excitedly sort through the colors and then enthusiastically shout to their parents, “Look! I got Play-Doh!”
Preteens and teenagers: The responses of the older kids surprised me the most. They were just as thrilled about the Play-Doh as the little ones, telling me how cool it was and how they remembered playing with it when they were younger.

To top it off, buying enough mini Play-Doh cans to treat the neighborhood was about the same price as adding another bag or two of candy. The low price and seeing how happy the Play-Doh made kids of all ages inspired me to offer these items every Halloween.

What Is the Deal and Why Does It Belong in Your Smart Cart?

If you want to do something different this Halloween, consider adding some mini Play-Doh cans to the mix. You probably already know where to find candy for Trick-or-Treat. However, you might not know which retailers offer miniature cans of Play-Doh. The good news is I do!

Here’s where you can buy miniature Play-Doh cans for Halloween: