How to keep the piles of candy out of their mouths (and yours)
I love Halloween! I always have. But something changed when I became a parent. Halloween took a very scary turn, and I am not talking about the zombies everyone is talking about these days. The candy. The kids. Two things that I do my best to keep separated, literally piled on top of each other. At Big Beautiful Life, Dr. Jena Hullman purposefully avoids handing out candy at all times by rewarding the kids she see’s with stickers. The reason: sugar weakens the immune system. At the office we are always talking about ways to strengthen the immune system in order to enhance health. Halloween presents a unique situation which loads kid’s up with candy and fortunately, in times such as these, the ever inventive mothers out there always save the day. Enjoy these tips from other parent’s on enjoying trick-or-treating with the kids and getting around eating all of the loot:
The Trade
Parents are smart. We often know just the thing that will cause our kids to take into serious consideration whether that piece of candy is really that important. Say hello to the offer of “The Trade”. Maybe its legos, or beads from the bead store, or maybe its cold hard cash…the point is, you know there is something they would trade for at least most of that mound of candy. And, “The Trade” sounds way better than “the bribe”, although who really cares what you call it, as long as it works.
The Re-Purpose
Taking a few pieces at first, then saving the rest for holiday gingerbread houses has always worked for us. And frankly, the amount of candy leftover is way more than I would ever buy for the project, so its really a win-win situation. No need to wait for December, or even make real gingerbread. If your kids can’t holdout a month, glue some graham crackers or plain cardboard/paper to a milk carton and create a candy decorated house, train or village. Add some leaves or acorns from a nature walk outside, and your candy house takes on a whole different theme for fall.
Candy’s bright colors also make great art. Cut flower shapes out of cardstock, stick on colored hard candy with nontoxic glue, and mount on wooden skewers for a fall bouquet. Make candy mosaics on posterboard or use wrapped candy for collages and storyboards. (Always be sure that the little ones understand that they are not to eat the candy after its glued!)
Candy can teach in other ways, too. Use your senses to learn about the candy by letting your children feel through wrappers to see if they can decipher the shapes, patterns and letters underneath. Make a “surprise box” by cutting a hand-sized hole in a small box, and letting the kids (and adults) feel the candy within to guess what it is. Try identifying flavors by smelling the candy blindfolded. Shake candies in a empty box or carton and see whether different kinds make different sounds. You can also practice math by graphing the colors in each package or using candy for counters in adding games.
The Home Science Lab
Candy experiments are new to me, and 2012 will be my first year experimenting with the experiments. Basically, the candy becomes science materials, and the candy-crazed children become scientists. Encourage children to try stretching out the candy, sticking it together, dropping it, breaking it or cutting it with butter knives. Conduct tests to see whether hot or cold water dissolves candy faster, see what melts in the oven (but never heat up a jaw breaker), or test different types
of candy to see what floats and what sinks. Even without a scientific goal, young children love putting candy in water, mixing different colors and stirring masses of candy into “rainbow candy soup.” You’ll be amazed to discover that the m’s on M&Ms and s’s on Skittles will peel off and float, melted Starbursts gleam with puddles of hydrogenated palm kernel oil, and wet lollipop sticks unwrap into long paper ribbons. The website CandyExperiments.com has many ideas to inspire your inner scientist. And don’t forget the fun aprons and science goggles if you have them!
The Halloween Witch
Though not as sweet and happy-dream-inducing as the tooth fairy, the Halloween Witch, who loves to take the little children’s candy, could always drop by for a visit. Get the kids excited, have them pick out a few of their favorite pieces and then let them leave the rest on the porch for the witch. The witch comes in the night and swaps the candy out for a gift. Make the story fun, not scary, and be sure that the witch disposes of the candy properly : )