Once again, my friend Julie over at The Naptime Review and I have teamed up to bring you...
The Mom Connection
Join us every Saturday for this NEW series!
We're always wondering how other moms handle certain issues or dilemmas,
so each week we are going to tackle the questions of motherhood.
Next week we will discuss
How do you get your kids to clean up and pick up their toys?
If you have some thoughts or advice on next week's topic please email
Cassie at twoindiapers@gmail.com
We would love for you to be part of The Mom Connection!
Now on to this week's topic!
Do you ration your kids' Halloween/holiday candy?
If so, how?
Here is what a few of us had to say:
Welcome! I'm Julie over at Naptime Review. I am a mom of 2 wild, crazy and beautiful girls. My oldest is almost 4 and my baby just turned 1. This is how I handle Halloween candy:
So far, I have been lucky when it comes to sugar overload around Halloween. The baby doesn't know better and the 3 year old is more of a "collector" than an eater. I think she still has some Easter candy in a purse somewhere. I definitely believe in rationing the amount of candy a young child should have. I can see my daughter go from normal to crazy in seconds when we are out to a restaurant and she orders chocolate milk made with chocolate syrup. I can see major meltdowns after spending the weekend with Grandma where she was spoiled with chocolate and S'mores all night long.
This year, I will put some regulations on the amount of sugar consumed. I believe in fun but with moderation. My friend gave me this awesome idea years ago. I think I might use it one day. It's called the "Switch Witch". She comes around on Halloween. After the children are done trick-o-treating they put their collection by their bedroom door before they go to bed. While they are sleeping the "Switch Witch" comes and exchanges ALL that candy and sugar for a desired toy. Then Daddy and the "Switch Witch" sit on the couch and indulge in Reece Pieces and Snicker bars all night long. Ha!
So, I am going to try to monitor the amount of junk that goes into my children's mouths this holiday. I want my children to have fun but also learn choices that will benefit them in the future. I have just started to pay more attention to labels and I think it is only right to be cautious this Halloween as well. I am also purchasing healthier choices for our neighborhood guests to enjoy. I just got some Utz cheeseballs and Pretzels and Annie's Homegrown Hallowen Snacks at Target. My husband asked if we were getting a "Tofu Turkey" for Thanksgiving. He is so funny!
Hi! I'm Cassie from Two In Diapers, and I'm a mommy to three sweet babies, ages 4, 3, and 18 months.
Hooooboy... Halloween candy. Everyone knows that it's really for the moms, right?? ;)
Well, I was hoping not to have to be the only one to admit that I don't ration Halloween/holiday candy as much as I should, but here's the thing.
We really don't usually keep sweets at our house, period. Besides the fact that I don't want my kids eating junk all the time, I have the worst sweet tooth in the whole world, and my husband doesn't eat any sweets whatsoever. This means that any sweets in our house usually end up being eaten by moi. So, while I have complete control over the situation, I just don't buy dessert or candy.
As a result, when holiday candy makes its way into our home, it's a big exciting ordeal! I do keep it up on top of the fridge and out of reach, but I will admit to handing it out a piece at a time randomly throughout the day. Luckily for me, my littles usually forget that it exists within a couple of days, which gives me the chance to... um... throw it away. Yeah... that's what I do. ;)
Hey Y’all!
My name is Roni from The Home Payge. I am a Mommy of two kiddos.
Teagan (my girl) is 5 years old, and my baby Parker is going on 3! They both
drive me absolutely crazy and I love every minute of it, even if I’m hiding in
the closet with a glass of wine!
Halloween brings a whole other level of crazy in our home. Not just Halloween, but all major Holidays in general. It’s as if the kids KNOW that something special and fun is about to happen and they literally turn into Thing 1 and Thing 2 and bounce off the walls like little Dr. Seuss characters.
During Halloween, I try to minimize the “bouncing” as much as possible. I do not really “ration” candy, but I do pick through it and give them what I choose for them to have. I keep them away from the tacky, gummy, sticky stuff. It’s just NOT good for their teeth and no matter how much you brush, it never comes off entirely. So anything that isn't tacky and sticky, they can enjoy! And Mommy and Daddy get the rest! I KNOW I am not the ONLY one that invades the kids candy, right?
Halloween brings a whole other level of crazy in our home. Not just Halloween, but all major Holidays in general. It’s as if the kids KNOW that something special and fun is about to happen and they literally turn into Thing 1 and Thing 2 and bounce off the walls like little Dr. Seuss characters.
During Halloween, I try to minimize the “bouncing” as much as possible. I do not really “ration” candy, but I do pick through it and give them what I choose for them to have. I keep them away from the tacky, gummy, sticky stuff. It’s just NOT good for their teeth and no matter how much you brush, it never comes off entirely. So anything that isn't tacky and sticky, they can enjoy! And Mommy and Daddy get the rest! I KNOW I am not the ONLY one that invades the kids candy, right?
Hi! My name is Debs from Learn with Play at home. I am a mum of 2 kids aged 12 months and almost 4 years. I don't actually have any Halloween celebrations where I live in Australia, but if we did, I would definitely ration my kids' Halloween and this is why.
I am a firm believer in everything in moderation and that includes celebrations and at holiday time. With my 3 year old we have always talked about foods as either an "Anytime food" (most vegetables), "Everyday foods" (like bread, fruit etc) and "Sometimes food" (cookies, cakes, candy etc).
She is very understanding and
responsive to this. Like most kids, she loves "treats" and sweet foods but she
also loves and is more than happy to snack on cucumber, lettuce leaves and
frozen peas. Whenever we get a "treat bag" to take home from a party, I'm happy
for her to choose one of the treats to eat now (they've usually eaten tons at
parties and celebrations anyway) and then we put the bag away. If she remembers
about the candy in the bag the next day, she usually asks for one and so long as
she's been well behaved and it's a reasonable time of the day, it's generally
fine if she has it. Often, she forgets about it. Out of sight, out of mind and I
feel no concern, as her parent, in not reminding her.
I believe that as a parent of young children that it's my responsibility to teach my children a healthy and balanced attitude towards food, eating and their bodies.
We also talk a lot about "energy in and energy out." All foods contain energy. Some more than others. Our bodies require a certain amount of energy depending on our age, weight and energy levels. My daughter knows that on days she is going to/has burnt a lot more energy, I am happier about her eating some higher energy foods. Hopefully, if we continue with this approach as a whole family then both my children will grow up with, (at the very least) a good understanding on how food and our bodies are related and hopefully a healthy attitude to carry on with in the years where I'm not in control of what goes into their bodies.
(You can see some of the ways that I make healthy food a bit more fun for my kids here)
I believe that as a parent of young children that it's my responsibility to teach my children a healthy and balanced attitude towards food, eating and their bodies.
We also talk a lot about "energy in and energy out." All foods contain energy. Some more than others. Our bodies require a certain amount of energy depending on our age, weight and energy levels. My daughter knows that on days she is going to/has burnt a lot more energy, I am happier about her eating some higher energy foods. Hopefully, if we continue with this approach as a whole family then both my children will grow up with, (at the very least) a good understanding on how food and our bodies are related and hopefully a healthy attitude to carry on with in the years where I'm not in control of what goes into their bodies.
(You can see some of the ways that I make healthy food a bit more fun for my kids here)
I do ration my kids' Halloween, and this is how/why: Okay, so Halloween only comes once a year and it's a FUN holiday... luckily, Memphis isn't much of a junk food lover and isn't overly anxious to get through his haul once a night of trick or treating is over. Ruby, however, has a HUGE sweet tooth and would probably make herself sick if we didn't ration her Halloween candy! Basically, my kids are still young and we only go around 1 block... so it's not like they have 5 bags of candy to go through... phew! We come home, take off our costumes and sit through to sort & inspect their goodies. There is some trading involved, of course... and usually it is sorted by chocolate, hard candy, chips, etc. They are allowed a few pieces a night until all the candy is gone... (no hard candy for either! I'm super paranoid about someone choking!!) I've noticed after the first 2 nights, there aren't as many requests for sweets... I think they get over the hype of it pretty quickly!
Your Turn:
Do YOU ration your children's Halloween candy
or let them have more freedom?
Do you have any tips or advice?
Love to hear from you!