Thursday, October 25, 2012

ADHD at Home: Halloween

Ah, Halloween. It's the one day of the year that everything we teach our kids about health, nutrition, and moderation, goes out the window. For 364 days we've harped on the importance of limiting sweets. Then, on October 31st, we take our darlings door-to-door, filling their plastic pumpkins with loads of sugar-laden candies.

What's a Mama to do?

Here are a few tips;
  • Start with a healthy meal. In fact, don't let your little goblin put on their little goblin costume until they have eaten a balanced meal. This is a good time to load up on protein.
  • Make a new tradition. Choose something like chili and make it every year on Halloween. Soon, healthy eating will be a part of your Halloween tradition.
  • Don't buy candy. I don't know about your family, but mine eat more of our own candy on the days leading up to Halloween, than we do of the stuff we get door-to-door. Buy small packs of crackers, pretzels, Gold Fish or other non-candy sweets.
  • Buy Johnny a small candy receptical. Seriously. When I was young, I had a very small plastic pumpkin to fill on Halloween night. My sister had a large one. I loved it when mine was filled up. Hers  never got full. Give your child the illusion of having more than he actually does. 
  • Limit the number of houses you'll go to or neighborhoods you will visit. And when you're done, you're done.
  • See if there is a carnival, fun house, or corn maze you can visit. Your child will still get candy, but the focus will be on having fun, not collecting candy.
  • When you get home, have your child keep track of how many trick-or-treaters come to the door. A piece of paper, a pen and tally marks is all you need. This will keep him focused on something besides sitting with a bowl of candy in his lap. You can modify the tally by having two columns; one for scary costumes and one for non-scary.
  • Decide on your candy theory and stick to it. Most parents let their child have X amount of candy every day until it's gone. My son's dentist said she prefers that they eat it all in one night and be done with it. Whatever you decide, be consistent. 
Do you have Halloween coping skills you'd like to share? Please do. ~Karen

photo credit: correymillerphoto.com

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