http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDuSXcVjlk0
Happy Halloween Everyone! Hard to believe it’s already here. It’s been particularly special for us this year because for the first time it hasn’t been relegated to one day. We participated in a community/business trick or treat last weekend. Today we have two others available to us here in Chicago, that I know if so far. I prefer it to the evening trick or treating we had been doing for the last 11 years. I like to see everyone’s costumes, and I especially like to really see the people my kids are getting candy from.
Ah yes, the candy. Soooo much candy. I was at Costco earlier in the week and they had huge displays of candy. I went there last night and only about a fifth of it was left. Yikes! (This would be a good time to remind you all that I am the Ambassador for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Healthy Smiles Healthy Children campaign. Hint, hint go see your dentist yearly.) Speaking of the candy, there are ways to utilize it without children consuming all of it. A few years ago I published some suggestions that we employ in our house; candy trade.
10-27-07 Halloween means candy, candy, and more candy to children across
America. Which means panic for parents and dentists simultaneously.
This Halloween why not try something new. After your children complete
their “trick or treat” rounds and come home and do the annual candy
count, why not set up a little store for them so that they can use
their candy as currency to buy something bigger and better? What will
they buy? Well that depends on your particular family. In our household
children can buy museum trips, sleepovers or movie parties, computer
playtime, or they can even pool their candy together and purchase a
family overnight getaway to a hotel with a pool! There is no limit to
what you can offer. Be creative and open up a World of possibilities
to your children beyond candy.
But the best way to deal with the candy is to avoid it altogether. Ha, that’s not going to happen! However, you can cut it in half by trick or treating for UNICEF. Have your child carry a bag for candy, and a box for UNICEF. Then every other house they collect for one or the other. That way they aren’t missing out on the candy, but they are gaining a heart full of good by doing something for someone else in need.
Whatever your children do for trick or treating this holiday season make sure they do it safe, do it together, and do it with their eyes and hearts wide open.
SMILE On!
ML
Miss Lori can be found Musing from her Minivan at MissLori.TV , Wearetherealdeal.com and ChicagoMomsBlog. You can also see her Activating to Be Great at Miss Lori’s CAMPUS on Youtube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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