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AND MANAGE THE HALLOWEEN CANDY LOOT WHILE YOUR AT IT
Are you looking for something to do with all of the Halloween candy 'loot' that the kids bring home on Halloween?
You don't have to wrestle it off of them.
Here is a fascinating idea that I wish I had heard of years ago.
My kids are too old to give me even a passing chance at passing off the Great Pumpkin did it routine, but at their ages, they have a good understanding of a fair trade and cool hard cash and even entrepreneurship.
Can I get them to trade loot for cash?
I don't know, but I'm going to give it a try this year.
HINT: Hate the thought of forking over dough for candy? Keep in mind that you can hide it and then use it in baking through out the year.
But hide it well!
Try a container that you can't see into and put it in the freezer.
Label it stew or something equally hideous to kids.
And then stick to your guns.
Don't under any circumstances give them back the candy that you bought from them (even if they tell you they need a bail out when they run out of their candy:0).
And don't be afraid to trash any that you can't use. And don't eat it yourself! OK, enough and's and but's, let's get on with the story.
THE GREAT PUMPKIN STORY
We have heard of the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus, but what about the Great Pumpkin?
The only one rumored to have seen him has no corroborating witness to validate the claim. Does he really exist?
This issue needs to be resolved once and for all. It started with Charles Schultz and a little boy named Linus, but it has taken on a life of its own. Now, all kids want to know the origins of the Great Pumpkin.
According to Linus, the Great Pumpkin visits all of the pumpkin patches around the world. He appears to the one who has the best pumpkin patch in his opinion. The kids waiting for him will receive candy and treats for their efforts.
First of all, kids don’t grow pumpkins. They may have started off by planting the seeds, but most of the day to day work is done by the adults. So, why do the kids get all the fun?
The Great Pumpkin was thought up by Peanuts creator Charles Schultz. One of his most memorable characters, Linus Van Pelt, tries to convince all of his friends that they should wait in a creepy old pumpkin patch instead of going door to door for their treats.
Of course, they ignore him except for Charlie Brown’s sister, Sally. She is so love-struck that she can’t see the pumpkin poo for the starts in her eyes. But, even she has her limits.
Year after year, she is left with no candy and itchy arms from spending the night in the pumpkin patch. I wonder if her parents knew where she was.
Many parents have endeavored to solve their kid’s curiosity with a little Great Pumpkin action of their own.
Instead of waking up to the horror that their kids have snuck off to sit in a pumpkin patch all night, they have used the Great Pumpkin idea to start their own holiday traditions.
WATCH THE GREAT PUMPKIN VIDEO – CHARLIE BROWN – with your kids :0)
And here's a treat.
The Great Pumpkin – Charlie Brown video is on youtube.
Here it is
Be sure to watch it with your kids.
USING THE GREAT PUMPKIN TO GET YOUR KIDS TO TURN OVER THEIR CANDY STASH
Kids who donate part of their candy haul for a good cause will get a visit from the Great Pumpkin. He will take the donated candy and leave a toy or some cash in its place.
Hey, no one can eat all that candy in good health, and they get good stuff out of the deal.
Be sure to work the kids up to the idea a few days beforehand.
Make it look appealing to them, which it should be.
Candy is nice, cash is better :0)
And for little kids, a chance to steal a peak at the Great Pumpkin could be a lot of fun.
I realize that this is a radical idea. Especially if your kids are too old for the Great Pumpkin and you need to offer them a straight up candy for cash deal.
Keep in mind…
#1 – You don't need to offer them enough that you need to take out a second mortgage. Offer them something that is age appropriate and stress the fact that they will get to keep some of their candy AND have some spending money.
#2 – The message may be mixed, while we are trying to teach the kids, especially at this time about how everything doesn't come down to money, and how we are cutting back and paying things off, offering them money for candy may seem plain wrong.
Another way to think of it may be to take it as an opportunity to teach them that they can take an asset that they have (candy in this instant) and turn it into an opportunity (to earn money).
Take it a step farther to teach them negotiation skills.
Offer them less than you know they will want for it and make them come up with a reason that you should pay them more.
And while they are laughing all the way to the bank (be sure to open an account for them if they don't have one so that they can learn how to save and manage their money, this could be another perk for their 'sale', you can rest assured that they are not overloading their body with too much sugar that is so damaging to their health.
#3 – If you really are not comfortable with the idea, you can add a twist. Ask them to donate some of their candy to you, which you will convert to cash and donate to a kid's charity of their choosing. It is a good chance to point out your family's blessings and to make them aware that they can help kid's who aren't as fortunate, and maybe even instill a life long habit of giving. It will make them feel good, a lot better than a stomach ache!
#4 – use it as an opportunity to teach them about sugar and what it really does to their body and how trading over some of their excess will be a great thing for them. Sugar Blues is an excellent book if you can find it, I need to review it but I know it turned me off of sugar for life. I've never looked at it the same since. It's probably not a bad idea for you to go over it for yourself either to remind yourself what exactly all that candy, now and throughout the year is doing to you and your child. You may be able to get a copy at the library.
Halloween is fun, and with a little creativity, it can be a learning experience AND a not so hard on the little body.
While you are mapping out all the good stuff that you want to do with the kids this Halloween, you can get all the ideas that you will ever need to make it fantastic this year with this amazing Halloween crafts and ideas resource, it has everything you could ever want to know about Halloween crafts and decorations.
Easy Halloween Crafts Is All The Magic You Need To Create a Spooktacular Halloween.
Through this book, you will learn how to…
– Entice The Taste Buds Of Your Guests With Creepy Cuisine
– Create A Spooky Atmosphere With Yard Decorations
Once you begin to show off your Halloween decorations, don’t be surprised when you get showered with compliments.
And if you want to pass them off as store bought goods, don’t worry, your secret is safe with me!
Here’s a Sneak Peak at what you will find inside of Easy Halloween Crafts:
– What You Need To Get Started
– Creepy Things Like Bats And Spiders
– How To Create Spooky Ghosts
– Carving Pumpkins To Dazzle And Boast Edible Crafts That Please Most
– Costumes For Your Little Host
Plus MUCH More For Scares And Jokes!
