Leaves are falling, there’s a chill in the air,
Pumpkin patches are cropping up everywhere.
Shopping the Internet, catalogs, or the mall,
New costume’s are chosen - last years is too small.
Pumpkins are carved, decorations put out,
You are ready for Halloween without a doubt.
But the best part of Halloween for most kids -
Filling plastic pumpkins with candy - right up to the lids.
It’s the following days that drive mom and dad batty,
All that candy can make even the sweetest kids bratty.
But parents needn’t worry, fret, or be blue,
The Switch Witch is riding her broom to the rescue!
Ahhh the fun of Halloween, can quickly turn to “arghhh!” If your kids are like mine - they trick or treat for at least an hour or so, and come home with a bucket full of candy each. And having that bucket around begins to torture them...they are drawn to the allure of the candy.
But there is no nutritional value to any of the Halloween treats, all they provide is fat, calories, and sugar - so if kids are filling up on empty calories, they might have less room for healthier foods like fruits and veggies. Sugary treats spike blood sugar - which gives kids a rush of energy, followed shortly by a big crash - which can make them tired, moody and grumpy. So encourage your son or daughter to eat candy after a meal or healthy snack - that will keep his or her blood sugar from spiking as high and will also ensure that the candy is not replacing the healthier options. Sugar also contributes to tooth decay - so try to have your child follow a treat with a glass of water to help rinse off the sugar and ward off potential tooth decay.
Research has shown that sugar does damage to our cells - which can make us more susceptible to viruses and illnesses. Just what we don’t need during this season of Swine Flu. Sugar has also been linked to increased wrinkles and aging, which I remind myself about when I hear a mini Butterfinger calling to me (in addition to the spare tire it is also linked to).
But what could a kid want even more than that bucket full of candy that they trudged around the neighborhood collecting? Nothing you might guess. Well, how about an awesome new toy/game? In flies the “Switch Witch” to the rescue. The story goes that if kids leave out their candy outside their door on Halloween night (or sometime shortly thereafter if you missed it), the “Switch Witch” will swoop down on her broom to get it. The Switch Witch is not a mean witch - she is good and fair, so she would never just take the candy. The Switch Witch takes the candy and leaves a very cool toy in it’s place, essentially making a trade. Since your son or daughter might already have a bit of an upset tummy from the candy ingested on Halloween, he/she is probably secretly glad to be rid of it, and doubly happy to have an awesome new toy!!
So tell your kids if they want to trade their candy for a new toy (game, scooter, puppy, or whatever they have been bugging you about), to put their candy outside their door for the Switch Witch to come get it and leave the new toy. If your kids are still hesitant, perhaps compromise - they can pick out 5 or 6 pieces of candy to keep (or whatever number is agreeable), and then put the rest out for the Switch Witch. But to encourage them to leave more candy - explain that the more candy that is in the bucket - the better the toy will be. The story goes that the Switch Witch eats only candy all year long, so she really needs the candy because she needs to stock up for the whole year. You can add you own details to the story, and make it fun for your family.
If your child does not go for the idea of the Switch Witch, then setting limits is a good approach. Such as allowing them 2 or 3 small treats each day, and only after meals or healthy snacks. If your child can’t control themselves with a bucket full of candy, you might need to put it away and help them to manage it. Finally, encourage drinking water after a treat, and brushing and flossing extra well before bedtime.
Good luck, and Happy Switching!!
Thanks to Jill, mom of triplets for sharing the Switch Witch with us!!!
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