I often get asked what is my approach to Halloween. Before I delve into my approach, I just want to say, there is no right or wrong way to do Halloween. It's your choice. Whatever choice you make, be powerful in that position.
Here goes my approach. It's different to what it used to be:
10 years ago, I was anti halloween. I was only a couple of years into learning about what's in my food and I guess you could say, I may have been a little OTT. Strict even. It made the kids want lollies even more.
7 years ago, when we travelled Australia, I learnt a whole new perspective on Halloween. That we could have fun with it, making our own Halloween foods and allowing the kids to have some lollies. This was the year that I really learned the importance of empowering the kids. When I stopped being OTT, they stopped being OTT wanting the lollies.
Fast forward to this year, with the kids being 12 and 16, my approach is different again. I've been leaning in and truly listening to my kids. I've discovered for them, Halloween this year is not about all the sugary foods, it's about the friendships. The getting dressed up and hanging out together. This year is a year of true empowerment. I trust that the kids understand their bodies enough and know the point where it's enough.
So this year, Ril at 12 will be dressing up with his mates. They will trick or treat in his friends little estate where everyone knows everyone. He knows my boundaries about the types and number of lollies he's allowed to have. Ril despite thinking he loves sweets, actually has a pretty low tolerance for them and stops having them himself.
Indrani, well she's 16, and fashion (Halloween or not) can change fast, so I will wait and see. But she understands her body well and also understands my boundaries.
I see everyone of these situations around food as an opportunity for learning. As we say inside Kids Health Quest - Food Is A Fun Experiment. After Halloween, we will talk about how their body feels and also about all the waste that has been created. It's important that our kids start to understand the choices we make, and how they play out for the planet too.
The moral to this story is that as parents, we need to be flexible. Empowering our kids, means educating them, meeting them where they are at in life, but giving them clear boundaries too.
This philosophy isn't just about Halloween or about food, it could be applied to every aspect of parenting.
A couple of years ago, I recorded a live training about our different choices around Halloween. I've included the video above, as well as some other Halloween and information I think might be of value to you.
3 Steps to Deal With Halloween Hangover
If you choose to allow your kids to participate in Halloween, then it's likely that they may end up with a stash of Halloween lollies being left over. Here's an article I wrote sometime about how to deal with the stash that's leftover. Go to the article.
If you want to allow your kids to feel the Halloween spirit but not necessarily go out, why not make some of these cool Healthy Halloween Ideas from Super Healthy Kids? Jump across to the article now.