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DEL.ICIO.USHalloween: Call to Action to Parents for Healthy Alternatives
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As you know, childhood obesity is still on the rise. It seems to be a never ending fight to keep your kids away from sugar filled treats. There seems to always be parties, special occasions (that happen more than occasionally), and a lot of eating out. Halloween is the epitome of all gluttony. So, what do you do? Other than giving kids candy, there are things that they can do other than get that “sugar high.” Here are a few ideas:
Trade Candy For Toys - I actually learned this idea from a child psychologist a few years ago. This is how it works. Go ahead and do the regular door to door Trick or Treating. Once you have all the candy, you can give your child the option of trading in candy for toys. You can make each piece worth a certain dollar amount to apply to a toy or have them trade in their entire loot for onc really nice toy. Be sure you mention the idea before you actually take them out. This will give them the opportunity to think about what they want. You’ll probably be surprised that your child would rather have a toy (something that lasts), over candy.
Go To An Event - Many churches and community centers are having events on Halloween. They’ll be some candy there, but the kids are more into playing games and stuff. You know, vigorous activity. Check with you church, synagogue, or local community center to see what they’re doing.
Go To A Movie Or Rent a Movie and Have a Party - At the movie there will still be some treats, but it will be a heck of a lot less than what you would get trick or treating. If you rent a movie and have a small party of friends at your home, you can have more control over what your child eats. They may even enjoy it more than going from one house to another anyway.
Do a Combination of These Ideas - You don’t have to stick to one particular idea. My wife and I usually take our kids to the church, and then visit a couple of homes of people we know really well. It’s safer that way anyway. Plus, our kids really enjoy seeing the people they know.
Special Note: For those who want to give away something other than candy and not be a “party pooper,” my wife has come up with a wonderful idea that is actually less expensive and more fun for kids. At Wal-Mart, she bought tons of little boxes of stickers, removable tattoos, and Playdoh and put them in decorative little plastic bags. Our kids helped her put them together. They had fun doing it and other kids love them (we’ve already been giving them out). It’s just one small way we can contribute to healthy behavior, yet still have fun.
Do you have any thoughts or ideas on this subject?
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By Tray
October 9, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this
My thought-Obesity is on the rise in youths in my opinion not because of candy or bad eating habits, but because they don’t get enough exercise. Halloween is the time to gorge on candy, and it should be (it’s been that way for how long?). I can’t afford to trade candy in for toys, can’t afford to go to a movie…and on halloween night, I’d rather be traditional and go trick or treating.
Kids are obese for numerous reasons, though gorging on candy or other sweets isn’t much of a culprit. How about parents that let their kids sit in front of a TV, video game, or computer all day? Most parents are becoming lazy and don’t make their kids go outside. I can’t vouch for everyone in this case, but very rarely do i see fat kids playing soccer or baseball or football (except the center-lol). I do agree that some obesity comes from genes and some kids are born overweight. However, for the ones that aren’t, parents play a direct role in that. Halloween is the second time of the year when eating candy obsessively is ok (the other would be Easter-and for girls/women, they get an extra day-Valentine’s). All you have to do is excercise, and get your darn kids out of the house to play!!!
By Racebaiter
October 9, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this
Lighten up. Halloween is for the kids. Give them a day to enjoy candy without harping on them. How about going after the really fat woman who I saw take the elevator ONE FLOOR this morning?
By JJ
October 9, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
Two, possiblly three days out of the year, I allow my child to go into a sugar coma. Halloween, easter and sometimes at Christmas.
Let the kids be kids, and quit making them into adults the minute they are born. Enjoy these times together, and remember what it was like for you as a kid!!!!!
By jen
October 9, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
Like JJ, I see nothing wrong with letting the kids have two or three days out of the whole year to have what they want, on Easter and Halloween. Christmas they actually get some candy before breakfast out of their stockings, which never happens at any other time. They need a few days to not worry and JUST HAVE FUN. Everyone needs a break from monotony, and rules every now and then. Splurge sometimes! The rest of the year they eat healthy, eat salads regularly, and they go outside, ride bikes, play softball, and go to playgrounds a lot. I even found a park where there were some trees to climb, imagine that. Parents need to release their grip a few times out of the year and lighten up.
By Mrs. Warren
October 9, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
How about limiting the amount of candy your kid eats in a day. Take it away from them and ration it out to a semi-healthy amount. Sugar is part of our natural diet. It’s ok to eat sugar and chocolate, especially dark, has lots of anti-oxidants. We used to eat several pieces a day until we got tired of it. We usually got so sick of the candy we threw most of it away.
By Chrissy
October 9, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
I have 3 kids and you can imagine the candy haul is huge. In our house a few days after Halloween the Tooth Fairy sneaks in at night and steals the candy and leaves a new toothbrush and some money to buy a toy.
By Tray
October 9, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
Chrissy, that’s a great fricken idea about the tooth fairy, i’ll use it when my son gets older!
By Joey
October 9, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
I don’t think childhood obesity is going to be solved by prohibiting Halloween candy any more than hunger will be alleviated by feeding the hungry en masse one day a year. Some people snack all day then sit down to a huge dinner. We have friends who have their hands in the snack boxes the minute the dinner dishes are cleaned up. Eat less/move more is a healthy lifestyle we can all practice 365 days a year, together, as a family (and culture). I think the more important concern is no longer being able to safely let our kids out to ring a stranger’s bell. As a family activity, get dressed up in something silly and go trick or treating together - and why not give a treat, like a sticker or small homemade craft, to our neighbors when we ring their bell instead of always expecting to get something. What a great lesson to teach our kids.
By Perkle
October 9, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
One candy filled holiday a year isn’t going to ruin most children (and adults) If your child already has weight issues then you would want to monitor their candy intake. But for the most part, let kids be kids. We have not had trick or treaters at our house in 10 years. I would love to have some again.
By Jj
October 9, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
Oh how I miss trick or treating with my kid. We lived in a neighborhood loaded with kids, and every Halloween, we all walked around with them. The adults pulled about three wagons, two for the tired babies, and one for the cooler. We had waters and juices for the kids, and beers for the adults. It was big in my neighborhood, a huge mass of us walking around. We would hit the neighborhoods around us as well. One of my neighbors used to do a haunted house in his back yard. The kids loved it.
Now my daughter is 16 and I really miss T or Ting……I have to go find friends with kids and tag along with them.
By JJ
October 9, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
Halloween is not the day of the devil. It is a pagan holiday, which celebrates the changing of the seasons. The pagans worshipped mother earth/nature and celebrated at the changing of the seasons. The christians took their holidays and made them evil, so everyone would turn to christianity.
By Becky
October 9, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Good one Smitty..As others posted, I miss have the little ones trick or treating..We do take the grandchildren out, then we ration out the candy.. Most of it gets brought to work oer the next few days..So yes, please let kids be kids.They have to grow up to quickly for other things, let them enjoy being young…
By Jennifer
October 9, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
I love the little Play-Doh jars and little toys for Trick or Treating, but we do candy, too. My kids are pretty picky about what they will eat so it doesn’t break their hearts when I get rid of most of the candy.
And this is off-topic, but you jokers in our neighborhood were giving out last year’s candy with Christmas patterns on it. Shame! Just turn your light off if you don’t feel like buying new candy!