With all the problems going on in the last two decades, wehn taking or letting your kids out for Halloween, do you let them eat the candy? Do you check it out and throw away the questionable items? Do you take it to a hospital to be x-rayed (I know some hospitals have done this in the past). How careful do you check these "treats" out?
Lauren
Favorite Answer
I am not a parent, but I have taken care of many children and know that the thrill for most kids is the actual Trick or Treating and not so much eating the candy. I know that every child has had that one Halloween where they eat ALL of their candy in one night and become so sick they never want to see a Snickers again!
Seriously, I think that what you could do is ask to go through the candy bag. Definitely take out anything that is questionable or unwrapped. If you know your child's favorite candy, buy a few before hand and, if you are concerned with the amount of candy your children are eating, you can swap a 5:1 ratio (5 pieces of various candy for one piece of their favorite).
Hopefully, the children will be happier with a moderate amount of their favorite candy versus gorging on random, potentially harmful candy. Have a safe and happy Halloween!
Anonymous
I am a kid and I eat all I can till it goes bad. I live in a small town so there are no big problems and it always is candy from the store obviously. I don't go trick or treating anymore because all the good costumes I've already had and none of the stores even have any now. The last time I went was 2 years ago.
Anonymous
I am a young parent to 2 young children. My kids are 2 and 3 and I am 20. I remember what it was like growing up and having my parents check my candy before I got to eat it.
I do check my kids candy when it comes from people we dont know. If you only go to houses of friends and family then there is no real need to worry. If your kids are going to strangers houses then you need to impliment the no candy before its been checked by an adult rule. I do not let my kids have anything that is open or torn even if it looks okay. I also dont let them have any homemade goodies unless it was prepared by someone we know. And when I say someone we know, I dont mean casually. I mean I have been to their house and inside their home and I would consider them friends of my family not just the neihbor across the street who I have only had a casual, we are passisng each other checking the mail convesation. I like many other parents want my kids to be safe and have a fun halloween.
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Yes, but I pick through it first and throw out anything questionable. I haven't ever taken it to the hospital and wasn't aware one could even do that! Imagine that hospital bill ;-) What do they do to it? x-ray it?
We (along with a large group of her friends) usually only go to houses we know and to halloween parties or haunted houses.
Also there are plenty of ways to have fun that don't involve eating candy. Here are some local things we've tried.
Roaring Camp. There is a steam engine train which runs through the Redwood forest where actors re-enact the legend of Sleepy Hollow. http://www.roaringcamp.com/
The Winchester Mystery house has special holiday trick-or-treating in its gardens. http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/events.html
www.mamasclay.com has a build-a-bat workshop where kids can get crafty without the sugar. I personally think this is a great idea
Halloween should be a creative holiday.
Finally, many people hand out coupons or non-edible treats to avoid possible dangers, including allergies. I'm fortunate that my kidlet doesn't really like candy much, she just enjoys dressing up and going trick-or-treating.
Guy
God forbid any parent not let their kid not eat halloween candy!!! I remember always being sick on Nov. 1 from all the candy, but I was a skinny kid, so I guess my parents let it slide. Then I would go to Eckerds and buy a pile of Halloween candy that was 75% off. What do I care if it's Halloween candy and its already November? Its still candy and the store had to get rid of it.
Anyways, yes I will let my kids eat candy. And no, anything homemade from a stranger goes in the trash. You'd have to be a moron today to eat that. I don't remember my parents ever saying anything about not eating homemade candy or cookies or anything that could be bad. But, then, I don't ever remember getting anything that wasn't factory sealed. Except from the bank, the bank used to do a haunted house and they made cookies. But it's the bank, must be safe.