I have a spooky Halloween secret to share with all of you . . .
OK, it’s not actually spooky at all, but it’s super practical for handling the giant piles of Halloween candy and other junk lying around your house right now.
My kids eat a normal amount of candy. A lollipop here and here, chocolate on occasion, we don’t hide or restrict the stuff. After Halloween, however, they’re coming home with PILES of it. More than any child can or should eat and I was truly at a loss on how to handle it.
As a mom and a woman recovering from binge eating disorder, I was NOT going to demonize sugar or candy to any degree. I stick firm to the idea that everything is fine in moderation and kids are able to listen to their natural hunger and fullness cues if left alone to do so.
But, what to do about all of that candy??
That’s when I heard about the Switch Witch.
Like the Tooth Fairy, she comes at night and makes a trade. Except in her case, she takes all of the Halloween candy and offers a toy in its place. Some years, we’ve also offered a new costume, which has turned out absolutely brilliantly because most stores mark down Halloween costumes immediately!
We tell our kids to enjoy their candy when they return from trick-or-treating, and they help themselves to anywhere from 1-3 pieces. Then, the rest is given to us to hand to the Switch Witch. The next day, we make a Target run and they get to choose their prize.
They love getting the option, having the choice, and “winning” a prize. One year my daughter opted to keep the candy instead but soon grew sick of it and changed her mind. Amazing.
So, if you need a way to get rid of too much candy, try out the Switch Witch. For older kids, I haven’t figured out the answer yet . . . ask me in a few years!
How do you deal with kids’ sugar cravings on Halloween?
Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash
