Many parents have become more than a little concerned about all the sugary candies that are given out each Halloween at most households. That's because they know how much harm sugar can do to children. Most parents don't realize that sugar rapidly changes the behavior in children and can often lead to degenerative diseases later in life such as diabetes and many other maladies. Even ADHD and ADD have been linked to an overabundance of sugar in children's diets.
Now, there's an alternative. A study was done asking children 3-14 years old if they would rather have candy or a toy and most of them said they would actually prefer things other than candy.
If you'd like to become more creative, here are some alternatives that we've adopted in our household for this Halloween. You might consider offering:
· coins such as quarters or baggies of smaller denomination coins
· mini-frisbees
· crayons
· stamps
· whistles
· bubbles
· boxes of raisins
· stickers
· apples
· pencils
· pens
· pumpkin erasers
· pumpkin paddleball game
· and almost anything else you find interesting at a dollar or liquidators store.
SAFETY TIPS
Here are some safety tips for you and your children for Halloween:
· Make sure that an adult accompanies young children as they do their tour during daylight.
· Have a predetermined return time for your children.
· Have your children agree on a route before they leave so you can find them and if they don't return on time, you'll have a place to look for them.
· Make sure that older children go out with a group or at least with one other friend.
· Advise your children about what types of candy they can eat without parental review (if any) and what they must bring home for you to review before they can eat it.
· If your children have braces or space maintainers, go through their candy bag and take out any candy that will stick to them. You might do this at night so they don't notice the loss.
· Make it a firm rule that your children never go inside anyone's home, regardless of how inviting it might be. This is very important.
· Consider lending your children a cell phone in case they need to immediately contact you.
· Advise them to never enter a house if they need to make a telephone call to you or use a bathroom.
· Make sure your children carry a flashlight after dark.
· Make sure each child/youngster has a reflector affixed to their clothing.
· You may even consider affixing an LED light to them or their candy bag that blinks red.
· Make sure the children know where to cross streets (corners only after looking both ways).
· Make sure the costume your children are wearing won't trip them. Adjust it if necessary.
· Opt for bright colorful costumes instead of dark ones so they can be seen by drivers.
· Make sure they can see out through the eye holes in their masks.
· Count the eggs in your refrigerator before the children go out the door. If any are missing, question them about them. This will often avoid negative consequences later.
· Check your toilet paper in your home before they leave. Same consequences as above.
· If you are driving around on Halloween, make sure to be extra careful so that you can see any children who may dart out from between cars in their zeal to get to the next house.
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