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superb idea!

Sorry to be a stick in the mud, but involving food in any reward system with kiddos is not a good idea. Healthy eating habits and the desire to engage in "fun activities" with the people we love are not intrinsically linked...unless we encourage them to be.

I'm not perfect, by any means, but this idea does not sit well with me because of what it teaches on a deeper level.

Sorry. If it works for you, great. Wouldn't work for me.

Our son isn't old enough to hassle us about candy yet but I prefer the idea of a visit from the Switch Witch who takes all the Halloween candy and leaves a small present in it's place. Seems like a great opportunity to give a book or art supplies, tickets to an activity the family can do together or some kind of game or sports equipment that encourages exercise.

But they're giving up their candy, the candy isn't the reward. I'm totally with you on not using food as a reward system, but I think it's different in this case. Kids love candy, but they're choosing these coupons because they love something else more.

My friends allow their pre-teen kids to binge on the candy for 30 minutes the day after Halloween. All other candy is given away (the parents usually bring it to the office.) Their kids love the idea, and after 30 minutes of eating everything in sight, have no problem giving up the rest of the candy. They don't even want to look at chocolate for a while. . .

the notion of "trading-in" the candy for something more valuable sounds interesting. we don't tie food in with rewards either, but this seems a little different. as the reward is time spent or favorite activity or . might try this with other things.

but really though, just get rid of the candy. we got rid of more than half of her booty when we got home and checked it out. let them pick their favorites (5-6 pieces) and stash them in a treat box for a rainy day. the rest... just throw it out.

How about limiting the amount of trick-or-treating in the first place? If you really don't want your kids getting all that candy, don't get all that candy. Seems backwards to purposely take kids around to collect candy and junk knowing you aren't going to let them have it...

Um...or you could just say "no". Maybe I'm the meanest mom on the planet. Candy is for special occasions, otherwise, it's just plain "nope".

I think this is a great idea too. I've also heard of the Switch Witch and think that is brilliant. Some of my friends buy their kids candy. Depending on the age of the child you can use pennies all the way up to quarters. Then they can save that money or use it to buy a little toy or donate it (my son put some of his coins in the UNICEF box at school)

Now how do I convince my husband that he doesn't NEED all of their leftover candy!!?? :)

Love the Switch Witch idea. In fact I have a friend who did that with her kids. She got a couple neighbors to do the same and they sent the candy to the troops!

burnttoast-maybe you could make him some adult coupons?

lyndsea-when my husband was a teacher he collected the candy from his students and did the same thing-just don't send chocolate to the dessert since it melts into a mess before arriving.

Two things, which seem more reasonable:

1 - Don't go to very many houses when trick-or-treating, to keep the candy count low. Better yet, skip the trick-or-treating and find a community center or church that is having a special Halloween games night. The kids come home with some candy, but generally a lot less - they just enjoying winning and eating it that night as part of the games (and still get to dress up). Don't build up a stash that you then have to dispose of. It is wasteful and a rather unkind temptation for kids.

2 - Use your authority as a parent. When we had candy stashes after events as kids, we knew that the rule was we could chose one piece each evening after dinner. That was it. It wasn't hard to tell when the rules were serious and we didn't push it (consequence for begging at other times would be to lose the after-dinner piece). This meant we could enjoy our candy for a few weeks afterwards, we didn't succumb to sugar comas, and Mom and Dad didn't go crazy. It also taught us about treating food wisely and not giving into the temptation to binge on treats.

What's wrong with a little structure enforced by parents? I'd personally rather just plan hikes and fun activities with my kids without trying to work bribery into it.

I like the idea, as well as the Switch Witch, especially if you wind up with a lot of candy.

I love Halloween, but I've never been into begging for candy, even when I was a kid. I've always limited the number of houses we visit so we don't wind up with heavy bags. Once we get home, I let them pick a few favorites and the rest go into a communal bowl that we all gradually partake of while it lasts. Ten days out and we still have a good bit of candy in the bowl. Many times I've even tossed the excess into the bag of candy I'm passing out to those who visit our house.

To each his own definitely, but the one thing I totally disagree with in the comments section is allowing the kids to binge. Even if it's only for 30 minutes on the day after Halloween. I don't think it's ever a good idea to encourage binging.

Our dentist offers $2 per pound of candy (and then sends the candy to the troops overseas). My husband, to save himself a drive to the dentist's office, gave my son $3 for half of his candy. So now my kid still gets much of his candy, plus $3...what kind of lesson was that? And my hubby is chowing down on the other half. Next year we're collecting for UNICEF only.

Halloween here in Switzerland isn't big -- but despite that, we still ended up with more than we wanted.

After finishing what was in their single PotteryBarn pumpkin (split btwn the 2 of them), they attended a Halloween party (on November 7th!) and wound up with even more candy.

Our 6 year old gets the idea of healthy foods and limits -- she was allowed 1 small piece of candy today, but our 3 year old is more of a challenge. But, this is a teaching opportunity.

Still, can we have a discussion about not giving out so much candy in the first place?? People give out too much! Everyone wants to be generous, but the result is disastrous!

(and *I* am the one who winds up eating the snickers bars -- my daughter is allergic to nuts, and my son hates them -- takes one bit and says "Here Mamma", and like a sheep I chew and swallow...).

We go only to a few houses to collect and then we come home and give it out to the trick or treaters. My daughter (she's 4) picks out her 10 favorite pieces of candy. The rest of the candy gets mixed in with the prizes we give out to the trick or treaters. We don't give out candy, other than what she collected. Instead I give out play doh, small packs of crayons, stickers, etc. My daughter enjoys giving out more than she does collecting. Besides, there's something a little off about sending our kids to collect "treats" from people who are nearly strangers- even if it is just one night a year.

I don't think I could get my son to trade his candy for a real spaceship or motorcycle.

It's once a year. Let the kids eat it! I let them gorge themselves for two or three days (secretly removing candy at night, by which I mean eating it myself!) They brush their teeth like crazy, and then it's over and done with!

I like the idea of trading lollies for things they like more, agreed LinnyBee. And limiting the amount of lollies you collect? Also a great idea! But in my opinion, a little bit of something you like is not a bad thing at any age. Lollies ARE fun and I plan to let my kids enjoy them for what they are. I think its a more valuable lesson for my kids to realise that lollies are sometimes foods, and by that I don't mean once a year, I mean once a week. Food will always play a part in celebrations, and thats the way I like it!