Halloween is almost here! Ghosts, goblins, fairies, princesses and super heroes will be out trick-or-treating in just a few days.

October weekends are full of fun. Fall festivals and Halloween parties abound. My kids are already having fun planning their costumes. They will probably wear a different costume to every festival and party they attend!

The only downside to all of the Halloween celebrations is the ridiculous amount of candy we collect. With three kids and several festivals and parties to attend, the candy basket in our house quickly overflows. We enjoy sweets and will eat more than our fair share of candy this Halloween, but I certainly don’t want my kids (or me) to eat it all. Knowing how expensive candy is, I just can’t bring myself to throw it away.

If you’re like me, you may be searching for some other uses for your Halloween bounty. Here are five ideas for all of that surplus candy.

1. Freeze it. Many candies, such as chocolate candy bars, peanut butter cups and caramels, freeze well. Pull the candy out of the freezer little by little throughout the year when you need/want it.

2. Use it for fun learning. Little ones can practice sorting, counting, graphing, pattern making, adding/subtracting and much more with candy. Reward hard workers by allowing them to eat a few pieces at the end of learning time.

3. Use it for holiday baking. Add chopped peanut butter cups to your favorite brownie mix or substitute M&M’s in your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough. Use brightly colored candies to decorate a gingerbread house for Christmas.

4. Use it for birthday parties. Fill goodie bags with candy or buy a piñata and stuff with candy for a fun birthday party game.

5. Donate it. Operation Shoebox and Halloween Candy Buy Back are two programs that accept donations of individually wrapped candy to fill care packages for U.S. troops stationed overseas. Find more information at www.operationshoebox.com and www.halloweencandybuyback.com.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!