Now, in the electronic age, this Halloween you can appreciate your candy corn without ruining your figure. Experiment with using the small goodies in various fun childrens' activities and games. And if you really try, you might find you even burn up a few calories! And remember, October 30th is American candy corn day. You'll be pressed to find a better way to make merry on this special day than with a couple entertaining candy corn games.

Candy Corn Hunts

Children love hunting games. Stash twenty pieces of candy corn in a room ? under the chair, next to the door, on the counter. You may have to throw out a couple "getting warmer/colder" tips to speed up the hunt. 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 idea, put the candy corn in little cellophane bags and close them with Halloween colored ribbon. Hide them all over - either inside or out - for a Halloween twist on the traditional Easter egg hunt.

Create a path of candy corn for little ones to follow. Guide them around the lawn, or a maze - or through a messy house. Depending on the cleanliness of their rooms, you might use this idea to assist your children find their dresser! If you poke a toothpick into the thick end of the candy, you instantly have an arrow. Use the arrows as hints in your hunt.

Target Practice
Try a Halloween spin on the timeless clothespin drop game. Have children stand on a sturdy chair and drop the candies down into a canning jar. A container with a wider opening, like a bucket or funnel might be better for really young contestants, while a 2-litre soda bottle would present a far greater test when the big kids want to show off.

Remember Bozo's Grand Prize Game? Try a Candy Corn version using a few small sand buckets. Rename the game after a preferred Halloween costume.

1. Use a piece of masking tape or a ruler to give a boundary line for the contestants.


2. Number the pails, placing them in a row moving away from the line, pail number one being closest.


3. Kids stand behind the line and toss the candies into each consecutive bucket.


4. Keep score or give out prizes for making it into each bucket.

After putting the pieces into a small sealed sandwich 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, paint a jack-o-lantern face on the front of a box, and cut out openings for his eyes, nose, and mouth. Different points could be awarded for tossing the corn bags through these holes.

Other Fun Stuff

On a smooth surface like the dining room table try some shufflecorn or "bocce corn". Someone acts as the referee, sliding out the first piece of candy corn. He then marks this candy corn with a toothpick. Contestants take turns sliding 4 different pieces as close to the referee's mark as they can. The referee determines which piece is the closest, awarding that participant a point. Play until a player gets ten points. To minimize confusion, marking each contestant's candy pieces would be helpful.

If alright with a mess - try candy corn and frosting sculptures. Obviously, a well covered table or other safe surface is best. Thinking about it, maybe this is better done outdoors. 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 you are done! 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 stay away from the sugar calories, looking for fun Halloween activities to occupy children excited about the holiday, or trying to find something to do with all of that left-over candy corn, you can enjoy these guilt-free pleasures.