5 Strategies for Kids’ Halloween Candy Consumption. No arguing required.
You know what job is really the pits? The Candy Police. You know what’s worse? The emotional roller coaster of a kid high on Fun Dip from kids.
I used to get really nutso about limiting my kids Halloween candy intake and then I realized I liked not arguing way better. In theory, none of these strategies I’m about to offer involve arguing. Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
#1 No Limits
When I was 10 years old, my mom worked for Post Cereals. Needless to say, I was very popular in school. We had Honey-Combs, Alphabits and Fruity Pebbles coming out our ears and my mom let us eat as much as we wanted. Guess what? We got sick of it and to this day, I’m not a big fan of sugary cereals. Let the kids gorge on Halloween candy and learn their own lessons of moderation. This might actually take a couple years, but that’s ok. Better to discover healthy limits now in adolescence rather than in college (“freshman 15”, binge drinking and all the other fun choices young adults face.)
#2 Kids Set the Limits
Ok, if you’re not comfortable with the “no limits” thing, try letting the kids decide how much, per day, is a fair amount to consume. This is a great lesson in helping kids communicate and negotiate their point of view. It’s also a great way to avoid being up all night with a kid who’s stomach feels like Sigourney Weaver in Alien.
This solution also allows kids to feel more in control of the outcome rather than receiving a candy limit mandate from you. Once you’ve agreed on an appropriate number of pieces allowable per day, have your child baggie up the daily allotment and boom, done. One baggie per day until you’ve thrown out what they can’t remember having.
#3 Candy Buy Back
The only thing better than candy is cold, hard cash. Many dentists’ office offer a Candy Buy Back program where they pay kids $1 per pound of candy. Call your local dentist’s office to find out if they are participating!
According to this year’s listings on Halloween Candy Buyback there are 3 local practices participating in this fun program this year. Please be sure to contact your nearest buyback dentist for specific times and dates of collection!
Applewood Family Dentistry
5 Commerce Way
Barrington, NH, 03825
Phone: 603-664-2722
Email: jonaswestbrook@gmail.com
Filler Family Dentistry
9 Hampton Road
Exeter, NH, 03833
Phone: 603-778-8407
Email: exeter@drannefiller.com
Bay Breeze Dentistry
14 Manchester Square, Suite 215
Portsmouth, NH, 03801
Phone: 603-610-8765
Email: info@baybreezedentistry.com
#4 Offer Trades
How much are five Kit Kats worth? A trip to the park? An outing for ice cream? An extra 15 minutes of screen time? Everything has a price. Find your kids’ currency and offer some healthy trades. Then throw away the candy! Do not eat it yourself!
#5 Donate It
What to do with more leftover Halloween candy? Consider bringing some to Discover Portsmouth, at 10 Middle St. The love to share and provide treats to visitors attending the upcoming Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition!
Many schools and other local organizations collect candy for Treats for Troops or Operation Gratitude. This year Hampton Academy is participating and would love your help filling up barrels of candy. They have containers in the front office to drop your candy donations in. 29 Academy Ave, Hampton, NH
Stay tuned for my next article titled, “Just Say No: A Parent’s Guide to Not Eating All the Discarded Almond Joys.” Happy Halloween!
