Should we give out candy or something else this Halloween? I’ve been watching the debate on Facebook over this issue and have shook my head over the craziness of it.
It is one day out of the year. Don’t ruin everything for kids. Let them have their candy.
Trinkets are landfill and while candy is full of evil sugar and corn syrup, not a lot of kids eat all of their candy. Those on the anti-candy side point their fingers at childhood obesity and sugar consumption as reasons they don’t want to hand out sweets. If your children are like mine, they don’t get much candy on a regular basis. Candy is for special occasions, and Halloween is one of those occasions.
Like many parenting debates, this is more about the parents then the children. Take your issues out of this, and give out a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (or whatever, but Reese’s are the best), and let the kids rejoice. Friday afternoon, when their attention wanes, quietly cut down on their candy or find another way to encourage them to give up their candy on their own (the Halloween witch still shows up at our home every Halloween night to turn candy – about two-thirds of their loot – into books). Limit how much they can have, if you wish, but don’t deny it all.
Don’t be the house that gives our pencils or raisins. It’s been nearly 30 years since I trick-or-treated for myself, but I can still point out the homes in my parents’ neighborhood that gave out raisins or pencils. Don’t be that house, the killjoy house that makes kids feel like it was a waste to walk up the driveway. There is nothing like having a six year old hate you and be right.
Don’t ruin Halloween. Let them eat candy.
That was my house. But we were totally redeemed because my mom collected up all the candy we were not allowed to eat (basically anything with artificial stuff, but not chocolate) and put it in a bowl and the last trick-or-treater got it all (we closed the doors at 9). I think Halloween in a perfect time to give out healthier stuff, when else do you get to spread your influence well beyond your own kids?
But ‘spreading your influence’ then justifies pushing any belief, right? Why not hand out anti-abortion pamphlets (if that is one’s belief)? I save the influential healthy snacks for soccer.
I went back and forth on the debate this year. If I could have found it in stock anywhere in San Jose, I would have given out the Unreal candies. I also thought of giving glow in the dark bracelets, but I honestly hate when my kids gets those things. They always seem to leak and just end up in the trash. So I decided that we’ll stick with candy this year. But next year, I’m giving full size bars… the 8 kids who come to our house can get something extra special.
I give out books.
I have the occasional child who is ungracious, but most of the children are thrilled to poke through my stash and find something. I’m also happy to help them out!
One child said, “Books are so much better than candy!”
(I buy them at the library used book sale. Its perfect, I support the local library, and I am proud of my trick-or-tgreat handout.)