How to Calmly and Wisely Navigate Halloween with Kids
Halloween’s approaching and some of you may be fretting over costumes and decorations. Others of you are fretting over how much candy your child (and you) will eat. But here’s the thing - Halloween candy is only a big deal if you make it a big deal. If your household is one where sweets are monitored or limited, your kid may be fairly preoccupied with their trick-or-treating haul, but if you’ve normalized dessert in your home, you may notice that candy is just another sweet.
The way your child responds to sweets is largely determined by their accessibility to them and the messages they’ve soaked up about them.
Here’s what I’d suggest for Halloween night:
Provide a balanced dinner, early, before trick-or-treating.
At the end of the evening, let your kid(s) sort out their stash how they’d like to - maybe they’ll make piles of chocolate vs. fruity or favorites vs candy to trade.
Let them eat their candy, without counting out their pieces or telling them that’s enough - just let them eat until they say they’re done.
You can let them know that at ___ PM you’ll need them to come brush teeth and get ready for bed, but that you will be sure to save ALL of their candy for them.
After Halloween:
Offer some candy in the coming days as a snack served alongside another food group (such as a glass of milk or cut up fruit) and/or offer some alongside dinner. Serving it in this way makes it just another food, which ultimately will help your child to have a secure, positive relationship with it. Kids who don’t, often sneak food or overdo it when given access (such as at parties or friends houses).
I do not recommend using tactics such as the “switch witch” as its underlying message is that of parental fear about kids eating candy.
If they eat more than feels good, it will be a learning experience. Offer some validation: “It must feel uncomfortable to be overly full. I’m sure you’ll feel better soon, when your body has digested.”
Remind yourself that it’s just candy - it’s not poison (as diet culture messages would have you believe) and they will be fine!
What questions do you have about sweets, treats, or Halloween? If you find this topic difficult to navigate, let’s set up a time to chat about how nutrition counseling services may benefit you and your family.
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