My dd is 5 and very excited to go trick or treating tomorrow night. This will be the first year that we live in a neighborhood full of kids so I know it's going to be fun. Half of her kindergarten class lives in our neighborhood. We will be going to a neighbors for pizza before and then off to collect the "candy."

Now honestly I just don't want all the candy in the house. I want her to have some, but I'm thinking of letting her trade the better part of her stash for cash to get a toy or something. I don't know maybe it's not a good idea, but honestly she won't eat it all and I'll either eat it or throw it away. Also I'm only going to let her eat the candy from the homes of people we know.

Has anyone every done anything like this or done something different. I remember as a kid looking forward to halloween. I loved all the candy and I don't want to take it away, but does a 5 yr old really need pounds of sugar?????

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 05:50 pm:

By the time I clean out the candy my kids can't eat due to their severe nut allergies there isn't a lot left. I do limit their consumption to one or two pieces a day. After a week or two they lose interest and the rest of it either gets put away for special treats in the future or gets thrown out. It's never been a big issue in my house.

I have done the Trade In thing with my kids in the past when they've received treats at school or at parties that they can't have (allergies). Then they don't feel so badly about not being able to eat the treats. However, I don't usually do it at Halloween because there is SO much candy! LOL!

You know your DD best. Take what ever approach you think would work best in your house.

By Tink on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 05:54 pm:

I think it sounds like a great idea! I may steal it from you!

By Jayne2 on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 06:25 pm:

This is exactly what we are doing this year. Our kiddos do not need all this sugar and the red dyes... I told them they can have some candy and the rest will be sent to work with Daddy, in trade they get to go to Five Below and pick out a toy!!!! They understand and are fine about it.

By Cocoabutter on Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 07:00 pm:

For the candy my son didn't eat last year, I took it to work and put it in the breakroom for other employees to have.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 10:46 am:

Same here - I went through the candy, removed some of it, brought it to work. Monitored the consumption rate. LOL

My co-worker does this every year too. Unfortunately, *I* end up eating all that sugary stuff that I don't need!

By Nancy on Monday, November 1, 2004 - 02:09 pm:

dd had a great time last night. She was running all over the place with her friends. Her pumpkin was full and when I told her she could pick a piece to eat she picked the fruit leather. An all fruit treat. Healthy. Go figure.

I decided to not trade the candy for a toy. Instead it will just slowly disappear.

By Juli4 on Monday, November 1, 2004 - 03:07 pm:

I have actually heard that one night of a lot of sugar or candy eating is actually better than continuously eating sugar. Just as far as childrens teeth are concerned. I say let them have a night or party or whatever to eat the candy that they want and then go back to your normal routine or eating habits.