Do you remember the days when we-of-a-certain-age were kids, and would go out trick-or-treating for hours, pillowcases bulging, parents clueless as to where we were, and no one worried? I grew up in a town about twice the size of Dansville, and the worst thing I can remember happening on Halloween was a bag of candy being stolen, or getting in trouble for soaping car windows.
We all know it’s different now. Ever-vigilant parents accompany their kids trick-or-treating, visit only the homes of people they know, and check the candy stash for any suspicious looking items. Also, many of us are more concerned about the quantity of candy consumed in the days and weeks surrounding Halloween than our parents ever were, and well we should be, considering that 17 percent of American kids ages 2-19 are overweight, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is three times the number in 1980.
Most of us know the basic safety precautions surrounding this holiday. I have run across a few that are new to me, or just good ideas that never occurred to me, so I thought I’d pass them along to you.
- As well as carrying a flashlight, give your kids those cool glow necklaces to wear and apply reflective tape to their costumes or their treat bags.
- Stay on the sidewalks and only cross at crosswalks. Besides being safer, you may step in fewer surprises that way.
- Make sure costumes don’t drag on the ground, and shoes should fit well, even if they aren’t the ruby slippers that go with the costume.
- Parents, know where your teens are going and when they will return. Make sure cell phones are charged up.
- Think about hosting a Halloween party in your home for your kids and their friends as an alternative to trick-or-treating. It’s safe, warm, dry and you can offer apples and cider as an option to some of the sweeter items that are traditionally eaten at gathering like this.
Now, about that candy ...
- First of all, try to feed your child a well-balanced meal before setting out for the evening.
- Agree on an amount of candy to be consumed on Halloween night before the kids go out.
- The day after Halloween, have your child choose 10-15 pieces of candy to save. Get rid of the rest. (Don’t eat it yourself, either).
- Put what the child has chosen in the freezer, and allow one or two pieces per day. Some kids even forget it exists after a few days.
- Allow the treats after dinner, then follow up with a thorough tooth-brushing and flossing. That will minimize the effect of the sugar on your child’s teeth.
- Consider handing out alternatives to candy: single serving packs of crackers, pretzels, raisins, popcorn, or non-food items like rings, pencils, stickers or erasers.
If you really think about it, contrary to what our culture would have us believe, Halloween is more about having fun dressing up, going out at night, visiting neighbors and friends and making memories than the haul of candy that comes home. Maybe this could be the year to shift the focus a bit for your family’s health.
Pam Maxson is a health educator at Noyes Hospital in Dansville. If you have questions or suggestions for future articles, she can be reached at pmaxson@noyes-hospital.org or 585-335-4327.
Do you remember the days when we-of-a-certain-age were kids, and would go out trick-or-treating for hours, pillowcases bulging, parents clueless as to where we were, and no one worried? I grew up in a town about twice the size of Dansville, and the worst thing I can remember happening on Halloween was a bag of candy being stolen, or getting in trouble for soaping car windows.
We all know it’s different now. Ever-vigilant parents accompany their kids trick-or-treating, visit only the homes of people they know, and check the candy stash for any suspicious looking items. Also, many of us are more concerned about the quantity of candy consumed in the days and weeks surrounding Halloween than our parents ever were, and well we should be, considering that 17 percent of American kids ages 2-19 are overweight, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is three times the number in 1980.
Most of us know the basic safety precautions surrounding this holiday. I have run across a few that are new to me, or just good ideas that never occurred to me, so I thought I’d pass them along to you.
- As well as carrying a flashlight, give your kids those cool glow necklaces to wear and apply reflective tape to their costumes or their treat bags.
- Stay on the sidewalks and only cross at crosswalks. Besides being safer, you may step in fewer surprises that way.
- Make sure costumes don’t drag on the ground, and shoes should fit well, even if they aren’t the ruby slippers that go with the costume.
- Parents, know where your teens are going and when they will return. Make sure cell phones are charged up.
- Think about hosting a Halloween party in your home for your kids and their friends as an alternative to trick-or-treating. It’s safe, warm, dry and you can offer apples and cider as an option to some of the sweeter items that are traditionally eaten at gathering like this.
Now, about that candy ...
- First of all, try to feed your child a well-balanced meal before setting out for the evening.
- Agree on an amount of candy to be consumed on Halloween night before the kids go out.
- The day after Halloween, have your child choose 10-15 pieces of candy to save. Get rid of the rest. (Don’t eat it yourself, either).
- Put what the child has chosen in the freezer, and allow one or two pieces per day. Some kids even forget it exists after a few days.
- Allow the treats after dinner, then follow up with a thorough tooth-brushing and flossing. That will minimize the effect of the sugar on your child’s teeth.
- Consider handing out alternatives to candy: single serving packs of crackers, pretzels, raisins, popcorn, or non-food items like rings, pencils, stickers or erasers.
If you really think about it, contrary to what our culture would have us believe, Halloween is more about having fun dressing up, going out at night, visiting neighbors and friends and making memories than the haul of candy that comes home. Maybe this could be the year to shift the focus a bit for your family’s health.
Pam Maxson is a health educator at Noyes Hospital in Dansville. If you have questions or suggestions for future articles, she can be reached at pmaxson@noyes-hospital.org or 585-335-4327.
