When more is less: the importance of setting limits
Initially here in HEALTHY HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN we focused on preparing for the holiday event by considering alternative treats to offer at your door. Then we offered recommendations for good food and water intake in advance of the trick-or-treat adventure itself. Today let’s think about rules and guidelines for behavior that you can set in advance to promote a healthy approach to collecting those holiday goodies offered by the neighbors.
In advance set a limit of only one Halloween treat to be accepted from each household that is visited. Just in case someone tries to give your children more, make sure that everybody in your party of wee beggars fully understands that children should be thankful — and should say so too — however, you can very simply and courteously inform the adult who is too lavishly handing out treats that you and your children have already agreed to a limit so that other kiddies can enjoy the generosity and holiday spirit as well. And perhaps consider also limiting your travel route to only the two or three blocks closest to home to cut back on the “wretched excess” that can otherwise accumulate all too fast. After you return back to home base, allow the little ones to keep their costumes on, and then encourage them to help you to distribute treats to all the other children who will be ringing your door bell later on. As everybody will soon see, GIVING can be fun too!
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And please stop back here at HEALTHY HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN tomorrow for a look at innovative ways to incorporate more healthy activity into your door-to-door trek for treats. Yes, as you will see, exercise actually can add to the fun for you and for those little ghosts and goblins in your traveling party too!