We are not a big candy family. My kids were quite old before they even had their first sucker. I just found candy to be totally unnecessary. But now, realizing that we can’t keep them from it forever, we allow them to partake in a sweet treat every now and then.
Anna recently had Skittles for her first time because her teacher gave them to her for good behavior. She came home from school and showed me the little red bag and told me it was because of a MONTH’S WORTH of good behavior and well, how could I keep her from such a reward?
I watched her as she ate her first Skittle and as delightful as the taste was for her, it was just as delightful for me to watch her face light up with happiness.
Just because we don’t eat a lot of candy, doesn’t mean we don’t go trick-or-treating. We always do. When the kids come home they sit in front of their candy and they count it and separate it just like, I’m sure, most kids do. We allow them to have a few select pieces and they are happy.
But every year, I buy their candy from them. I make a deal with them that I’ll take them to the store and they can pick out a toy, (within a reasonable price range) in exchange for all of their candy.
It works out wonderfully. I don’t have to worry about the extreme levels of sugar hitting their bodies and their teeth, I don’t have to listen to them asking for candy every ten minutes for the next twenty days and THEY get a toy. I typically take the candy and send it to work with Brian. (or send it down my throat. Whichever.)
This year is no different. I have allowed them to choose ten pieces of candy from their stock pile and place it in a sandwich bag. They can then have one piece after school for the next ten days. Their school has a book fair this week and we are letting them exchange their candy for books. Books rather than candy? AND the school benefits? PERFECT.
This is the first year, however, that Anna is a little sad about this little deal, I can understand because CANDY IS AWESOME. And it’s funny because they both actually love playing with the candy. So, I’ve decided to let them play with the candy until Wednesday, which is when we can go to the book fair. Once they get their books, that candy will be in a safe place far, far away from them. (in my belly.)
I love this tradition I created and not just because I get to eat all of the candy while they’re at school.
Just catching up on a week’s worth of posts and OH MY GOODNESS YOU’VE BEEN BUSY!!!
You have a beautiful baby growing inside of you! and your kids are beautiful! And Brian is rocking the Rastafarian ‘do!
You guys rock.
That is such an awesome idea. I loved book fairs when I was young, what a trade that would have been!
Great family picture!
A fantastic idea! Although I did a twist on it. I let them pick out 10 pieces and then I put the rest in the freezer (for the husband and I). I decided not to exchange the candy for anything because we are in the midst of all three of their birthdays, my niece’s birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, so I figured they would be getting enough stuff to enjoy both eating and otherwise.
I love the fairy and the banana!
I love this idea, you smart mommy you!
What a smart little mom you are! I kind of wish we’d done that when you kids were little but how could we afford all the toys or books we would have had to buy!!!?? Anyway, I love the pictures especially the family one (however I am sorry that Noah had to remove his legs for that picture).
Fabulous! I have four children and came home with a truckload of candy. Plus we didn’t have hardly any trick-or-treaters at my house so we still have a bucket of (GOOD) candy. Most of the candy gets thrown away anyway. How many Laffy Taffy’s, suckers, Air Heads and Tootsie Rolls can one person eat?!? I think I am going to employ this “trick” to get rid of the “treats!” Thanks for the awesome idea!
I like this idea much better now because it doesn’t involve throwing away candy. It almost makes me feel guilty for just eating all of Luke’s candy without offering him anything in exchange, but he’s 2.5 and was totally content with the few suckers I left out for him.
this is such a fantastic idea!! My two older kids I was a wonderful mom not feeding them candy and lucky for me – neither like it too much. however, the little one, all hope is lost!
That is a good idea. My kids aren’t huge candy people, so they normally forget about their candy after a week or so. Boo gets one piece after school, and then it depends really.
i, like you, will eat the entire truckload of halloween candy. and i don’t want to. i kind of like the jeans i’m in! but i get rid of the candy THAT NIGHT. my kids always finish the rounds earlier than the older kids do, so we come home and eat until their tummies ache. and then i re-hand out their candy into the hands of someone else’s kids’ trick-or-treat bags. glorious!
but right now, a kit-kat sounds soooo good…
I love this idea! I’m not so sure my kids would go for it at this point (they are 4 to 12). They have as much of a sweet tooth as their mom.
I grew up wanting granola bars over candy!
So, I feel the same way! Although, you have a nice balance…and that’s good!
I take it your kids don’t read your blog or you would not be giving away where their candy ends up! I do the same thing and I need to take that candy soon, they’re starting to get attached to it.
“in my belly” HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! priceless
I understand your point completely but I just could not take away the candy. I do love being able to take my pick while they are at school. But as my kids are grown and only one left at home there isn’t much for me and the hubby to snack on.I think it’s only one night a year and it’s so much fun, let them have it and make em brush twice that night.
We have a similar standpoint in our home but instead of throwing the candy out, we find someone who knows of a relative or friend serving overseas so we can send our candy to those serving in the military.
That is such a great idea! Thanks for the great tip!
You are hilarious. And I may try this.
My kids have to hand over the candy too. They have their bags that they get to pick their 10 special pieces they want all to themselves and the rest goes either in Mom’s stash or to work with Dad. I have to you are much nicer because there is no buy back program here. I figure they get a costume for all of their hard work of supporting my chocolate habit! They also only get to eat a piece on a designated dessert night (a night when there is no school the next day), if they knew about you they’d be begging to live with you!
What a great idea! There would be a revolution at my house if I tried that.
That’s a great idea and those are two cute kids!
I read your post at lunch and thought what a good idea it is to get the candy out of the house. We have the compilation of candy from a local homecoming parade 2 weeks ago, a haunted house last weekend, 2 of my 3 girls visiting a nursing home with their school where the candy haul was unreal and then the actual trick-or-treating thing. Even though I took a bunch to work today, there was still a ton.
After lunch, someone told me about a local dentist who is paying $1.00 a pound for candy and sending it to the troops. I told my 4, 5 and 7 year olds about it and they were excited. We saved out plenty (a little more than your 10 piece rule but that’s because there were things I couldn’t part with). I warned the kids that they probably wouldn’t get too much money and my 7 year old responded, “I don’t care. I just feel like we’re doing something good.” Their candy weighed in a 8.15 pounds and the nice lady gave them 9 crisp new one dollar bills and told them she would send their candy to the troops. Talk about a win-win!
What a sweet photo. I may just have to copy this idea.
Genius!
Many others have said it before me, this is really an awesome idea! I used to give away school supplies instead of candies during our halloween parties here. But this year, I went for a few chocolates, and then cookies. They didn’t get much candy from their rounds anyway. The bigger kids and adults helped themselves to the lil ones’ stash so it was all gone by the next day! haha
i’m not keen on candy, either, mainly because I don’t care for it. But everyone around me has been systematically undermining me, so now Evan has a piece of candy every day. I can’t fight it. But I don’t let him have more. That’s just dumb.
So umm, I’m boring and I’m just going to say what everyone else said – awesome idea.
Also, I have told this to other people who think it is awesome too. And if I ever get to have kiddos of my own, I am totally doing this so people will call me awesome too, but I promise to give you all the credit. Promise.
I love this idea. I am going to try and buy my son’s candy when he gets home from school today. Every year he gets so much candy. This year, we told him we were only going trick or treating on 3 streets instead of 3 neighborhoods. He was OK with this. We trying to eliminate Red 40 and sugar from his diet. So, buying the candy is a great idea!!
Cute costumes!! But I’m really commenting because I love the idea of buying their candy. Awesome idea!!! THANKS.
I do the same thing (kinda), I let my boys have whatever they want on Halloween day/night…until bath time. They hang their goodies on their doorknob and in the morning the “Halloween Fairy” has replaced it with a toy. When they are too old to fall for that I will probaby let them pick something out in trade. I find that they usually just take a bite or two of several things then move on. We do this for any candy event such as parades, valentines, easter, etc.
That is a VERY good idea. I might just have to steal it from you
I think candy is — well, it tastes so good, but it really is so bad for our bodies. There’s nothing good about sugar… cept it takes so darn good 
Nell
You. Are. A. Genius.
I LOVE the banana costume – TOO Cute!!!!
What a brilliant tradition!!!
I’m just annoyed that my 2-year-old picked out such rotten candy choices when he was allowed to choose his own. Gobstoppers, Milk Duds, a gazillion lollipops, and 4 Almond Joys? Seriously? Some of us have to eat this candy, you know! (Throwing it away would be wasteful…) Here’s hoping next year he’ll be more successful so I can enjoy the leftovers more.