Does Anyone Let Their Kids Eat Candy On Halloween Anymore?
I know that childhood obesity is a huge problem, with almost a third of kids age 2-19 qualifying as overweight or obese. But I still can’t help but cringe at all the ideas I’ve read recently about how to separate children from their Halloween candy. To me, Halloween is all about excess and overindulgence, and getting a thimble-sized jar of playdo in my bag just wouldn’t do it for me.
I don’t know – maybe kids today are just as pleased with stickers as they are with lollipops. And maybe they’re excited to sell their candy back to their parents for cold, hard cash, or trade it in for a toy – strategies some parents use to convince their kids to give up their treats. But my kids get toys on birthdays and Hannukkah; they get money from the tooth fairy. Halloween is their favorite holiday because of all its sweet, sticky, manic, deliciousness – so my plan for that night is to just let them wallow in it.
Of course, no kid can eat all his or her Halloween candy in one night. What to do afterwards? We usually ration it out for a week or two, until all the best candy is gone. Then, when even the kids themselves are sick of sugar, the last few tootsie rolls and packs of smarties might disappear.
What’s your philosophy about Halloween candy?
My brother and I grew up pigging out on candy every halloween. We are both trim, active, healthy adults. Our mom was a health nut (brown bread sandwiches, veggies, and milk everyday for lunch) but she understood the need to cut loose. Parents these days are way too uptight. Halloween is a special occasion. give your kid a candy bar.
I’m a little startled that 1happymom sees no problem with giving a 1.5 year old candy, EVER. Beyond obesity issues, pure sugar is awful for the teeth, and a child so little can’t really brush the teeth that well, even with mama’s help. Of course my kid can have candy occasionally when she’s older. But I can’t think of a compelling reason to give it to a kid that can’t even talk that well yet! I’m with Manjari–my nearly 2 year old child doesn’t even know what candy is.
My kids are only two, so they won’t be eating candy this year. When they are older, I will let them eat halloween candy in moderation. Right now they don’t know what candy is, and I don’t want to let this very fun holiday change that for us. They are going to wear costumes and join the halloween parade in our neighborhood. I know for sure that this will be enough fun for them. Even as kid, I thought the costumes (not the candy) were the best part of halloween.
My son is 2 1/2, so this is his second time trick-or-treating. Last year (and what I will do this year) on Halloween night is just let him have at the candy in his bag (after I have looked it over). We trick or treat with a couple of other young cousins. They come home, dump out their treats and trade back and forth for candy they like and we let them eat more candy than they would normally be allowed to. The candy they don’t particularly like gets put in the candy bowl to be given out to the other trick or treaters who come by. After this night I let my son have a piece or two of candy as a treat after dinner. I can live with a once a year sugar rush.
for some reason my kid doesnt like trick or treating. we get a couple of bags of candy and popcorn and munch in front of a good movie instead. have at it! Besides, they give em all that crap on halloween day at school anyway. its just candy and its just one day.
My daughter is allergic to everything, so she can’t eat the candy. We’ll be providing her with a few allergy-friendly treats, though.
Childhood obsesity is not a “huge” issue. It’s actually been in decline for the last several years, and only spiked statistically after the definition of “obesity” was expanded to include thousands more.
The idea that a holiday that includes candy is somehow responsible for the health problems that young people face today is beyond laughable. Let’s stop bickering about Tootsie Rolls and start funding health care for all.
It is one night a year and all the candy they get that night is not the problem. It is all the crap their parents feed them every other day of the year because it is easy and quick, and the fact that they get no exercise that is causing the problem with their weight. At least they are out walking around on Halloween which is more than the probably do other days of the year. But by all means lets blame it on one night a year that is supposed to be fun.
People need to get a grip.
I’v been letting my (slim, athletic, healthy broccoli eating) kid eat his Halloween candy-as much as he wants-since he began trick-or-treating. Guess what? If you make no huge issue over it, neither will they. In fact, usually he eats a few pieces and then the bag sits untouched for months. It’s not so alluring when he has FULL access to it. We are generally very healthy eaters and kids pigging out on Halloween candy will not, in fact, kill them or lead to any sort of health problems; however being controlling about food issues can and will.
It’s going to be hard, but I think she’s old enough. I’m going to let my 6-year-old pig out on candy this Halloween. As much as she wants. Then it will be rationed to one piece at lunch and one piece at dinner. And she must share with her parents.
As a parent, I love the idea of rationing, buying and trading. Anything to get that junk out of the house. But I also believe that sometimes the way we learn to do the right thing is by doing the wrong thing. Like eating so much candy you feel sick. Unless you know what too-much-junk-sick feels like you won’t know how to avoid it. I’d rather she learn now, when I can hold her head and comfort her, than later.
I’m guilty on this one, but it has nothing to do with childhood obesity. I leave that up to the parents of the kids who trick or treat at my door. I stock up on Play-Doh, bangle bracelets and the like so I don’t have candy in my house . . . because I will eat it!