Goodies

Who wants their kids eating buckets of candy in a few weeks? Raise your hand.

Who wants their kids to miss out on all the fun? Raise your hand.

That's what I thought. This is a dilemma many of us are facing so I would like to share with you an idea from an expert.

Thresa has two little boys, Kaleb, 4 and Jude, 3. Last Halloween, Thresa went out and bought fun, inexpensive toys like yo-yos, puzzles, play dough, finger paints, and bubbles. She also purchased sugar free treats that she knew her boys like, such as sugar free pudding, Popsicles and yogurt. Then she put a candy price tag on each item. She told Kaleb (Jude didn't really get it yet) that if he wanted, say, a yo-yo, he had to give up 5 pieces of candy. Something like a monster truck might yield a higher price of 10 pieces of candy.
You could tailor your prizes to your child of course.
Thresa found that her 4-year-old eventually gave up most of his candy in exchange for toys and, after she explained that candy is not healthy for our bodies, gave up the rest for healthier snacks.
Healthy bodies is a talk Thresa has often with her boys which may be why this was so utterly successful for her but I believe that even those of us who have never once had this talk with our children can benefit from this little bartering system.
Now, what to do with all the candy? We certainly should not eat it ourselves! Although we may be tempted to stash in the closet or on top of the fridge in a non see through bag, why don't you take it to work or give it to someone to do so? Place it in a big bowl on a counter or desk. There are usually so many people in a work place that if everyone takes two, it will be gone in a day or two and everyone's happy, healthy and CALM. For the most part, anyway.
And you don't have to spend tons of cash. Hit the dollar store for your treats and you'll get more for your money.
Thank you, Thresa!
By the way, I don't think there's any harm in stashing a few pieces of candy, do you?