Thread: 14 Lucky TOTs...

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...who visit my house this year will get an extra cool treat.

My local thrift store often gets clearance and discontinued new merchandise from a major retail chain. I don't think the person pricing the items knew quite what they had and priced 9 BRAND NEW plug-n-play games at $1.00 each. I checked out the store website and found the games had sold for $26.99! Better still, at $2.00 each, I also picked up 5 new Hot Wheels accessory kits which sell for $34.99.

I am half temped to just sell the stuff on ebay to fund future TOT goodies...but then I wouldn't become a neighborhood LEGEND! LOL!

Now the only problem is figuring out just HOW to distribute them amongst 100 TOTers.

I'm sure others will have a better idea than me, but how bout askin a halloween triva question?p.s. nice find!

I'd've never though of THAT one! Brilliant! If I don't do that with the toy giveaway, I may incorporate a Halloween trivia question into the teen treat giveaway. (Only 12 and under vie for toys at my house.) Maybe have one DVD player or something for that crowd...hmmmm.

Now the only problem is figuring out just HOW to distribute them amongst 100 TOTers.

I buy those McDonalds coupon books for the free ice cream, pop and fries. How I determine who gets that litle "extra" (along with the regular candy baggies I give out).... is that I give them to the tot's that are dressed very well, and are brave enough to come up to the front door after they didn't want to go in the first place. It usually turns out to be the very young tot's that get the extras.... they are usually the ones that are the most scared.... so why not reward them for their bravery? That's how I do it.

Make a simple spinning wheel, one that only spins for 5-10 seconds and has 12 sections. Make every other section regular candy, 3 sections mini candy bars, 2 sections regular candybars, and 1 section "Prize". When you run out of prizes, just go back to handing out whatever (or have other prizes).

Originally Posted by boo who?

...who visit my house this year will get an extra cool treat.

My local thrift store often gets clearance and discontinued new merchandise from a major retail chain. I don't think the person pricing the items knew quite what they had and priced 9 BRAND NEW plug-n-play games at $1.00 each. I checked out the store website and found the games had sold for $26.99! Better still, at $2.00 each, I also picked up 5 new Hot Wheels accessory kits which sell for $34.99.

I am half temped to just sell the stuff on ebay to fund future TOT goodies...but then I wouldn't become a neighborhood LEGEND! LOL!

Now the only problem is figuring out just HOW to distribute them amongst 100 TOTers.

I have an idea on how you can distribute them. Why not give them to the kids you know? Or you could give them to the elder people that rick or treat. Lol.

heh heh Giving to kids I know would feel like 'cheating.' I'll do the Wheel of Fortune thing for kids 12 and under. Actually, I am happy to have the addition of the new 'boy toys' since I also give away large stuffed animals that are usually more of a girl fave.

I will probably follow LV Scott's advice and section the wheel SOMEHOW amongst:

Large stuffed animals
Hot Wheels Timer/Radar Gun sets
Hot Wheels cars
Plug-n-play Flight Simulator Games
Medium Stuffed animals
Dollar store toys
Small stuffed animals
OTC Paddleballs
small OTC gift bags
Pewter skull rings
walkie talkies/FM radios
decks of 'magic trick' cards
Plus other assorted small toys.
mini Halloween gift baskets

I'll try to have both boy toys and girl toys of the same 'value' in each catagory. The only problem with TOO many choices is that TOT's take FOREVER choosing their 'prize.' Unfortunately, I don't have enough helpers to restock throughout the night...so everything needs to be out at the beginning of TOT.

Im with childofthenight. Halloween trivia. Make it easy though.

Unless you already have a spinning wheel, you might make a trip to your local swap meet or junk yard for a bicycle front fork & rim. You can mount the fork up-side-down and easily tape posterboard to the spokes. You'll just want to add some kind of friction, otherwise you'll end up waiting 10 minutes for it to stop spinning!

I have an empty cable reel approx. 24" in diameter, 7" wide, with a 4" PVC center. The sides are smooth plastic. I was thinking of using a 3' - 4' length of gas pipe flanged and lagged to a weighted wood base. Maybe a 90 degree elbow at the top with a short extension through the center...with either pins or a flange to keep it in place.

The other alternative was to build a triangular wooden base with a 90 degree fin support...but that would take up a bigger footprint.

Better suggestions DESPERATELY wanted!

I may throw the whole thing away in favor of the bicycle thing if I can't figure this out. Great idea!