Edmonton mom creates twist on Halloween tradition

As many children are sorting throughbags of candy, some Edmonton kids are counting different kinds of treats they acquired at a unique Halloween store.

Josh Englert, 6, has Type 1 diabetes and cannot dig into bags full of candy, but his mom, Laurel Aplin, came up with a solution three years ago. She turns the dining room into a Halloween store stocked with toys, books and games.

On Wednesday night, Josh, his two siblings and his friends went trick-or-treating and returned with their bounty to trade for items in the store.

Dressed as Harry Potter, Josh bought a dart board for 20 pieces of candy.

"We wanted Josh to be able to be normal kid, just like everybody else, to go out trick-or-treating and gather the candy," said Aplin.

She's not aloneas aparent whois changing Halloween traditions for kids with allergies or diabetes.

"If at least some of the focus could be taken off food treats, it would certainly make it a lot easier for the kids out there with food restrictions," said Lilly Byrtus of the Allergy Asthma Information Association in Edmonton.

Aplin said she spends about $75 on items in the store but points out parents can easily stock up at the dollar store.

Josh's sister and brother also visit the Halloween store, which means they aren't eating as much candy.

"You really don't need to eat all that candy," said Aplin. "Some is just being part of a kid. But I do think that if you can trade some of that candy for other things, some healthier choices … I think it's a good thing to do."

Aplin donates the traded candy to two youth crisis groups in Edmonton.