Candy Corn Activities for Halloween

Now, in the electronic age, this Halloween you can enjoy your candy corn without the guilt. Check out using the fun-sized treats in various fun childrens' activities and games. And if you work at it hard enough, you could even burn off a few calories! And remember, October 30th is American candy corn day. You'll be pressed to find a better way to celebrate than with a couple engaging candy corn games.

Candy Corn Hunts

Little people love hunting games. Conceal fifteen pieces of candy corn in a room - underneath the couch, behind the door, on the counter. You might need to provide a couple " you're getting colder" clues to aid in the effort. If you leave them out in the open, even the smallest hunters should be able to find their bright colors.

If you want to spice up the idea, put the candy in little cellophane bags and close them with decorative ribbon. Hide the bags all over - either inside or out - for a candy corn angle on the traditional Easter egg hunt.

Lay a track of candy corn for children to follow. Guide them around some shrubs, or a maze - or through a messy house. Depending on the cleanliness of their rooms, you could use this idea to help your kids find their closet! If you stick a toothpick into the broader end of the candy, you instantly create 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 kid 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 little contestants, while a 2-liter pop bottle would present a far greater contest when the big kids want to strut their stuff.

Remember Bozo's Grand Prize Game? Make your own using a few small sand pails. Rename the game after a preferred Halloween character.

1. Use a bit of masking tape or a stick to show a boundary line for the children.


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


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


4. Keep tally or issue prizes for hitting each pail.

After putting some candy corn into a small sealed plastic bag, 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 holes 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 piece with a toothpick. Players take turns sliding 4 different pieces as near to the referee's mark as possible. The referee identifies which piece is the closest, giving that player a point. Play until a player 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, an appropriately covered table or other safe surface is recommended. Now that I think about, 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 entertaining, but also you wind up with 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.

Regardless if you are trying to avoid the sugar calories, looking for entertaining Halloween activities to occupy kids wound up about the holiday, or trying to find something to do with all of that extra candy corn, you can enjoy these guilt-free pleasures.