Tired of your tot eating their weight in bite-size sweets every Halloween? This may be the year to introduce the Switch Witch!
We all know that the Tooth Fairy swaps baby teeth for cash. (How much? That’s a story for another day.) Like the Tooth Fairy, the Switch Witch leaves a present for a child in exchange for a significant portion of his or her candy.
To avoid a massive tantrum, be sure to discuss the Switch Witch’s visit in the days leading up to Halloween. Ask your child what toy s/he might like to receive in exchange for leftover candy. Make the reward roughly equivalent to the amount of candy traded. Prizes don’t have to be big, expensive items. Stickers, crayons, or decorative erasers all make fantastic trades, especially for younger children.
If the experiment goes well, you can even purchase your own Switch Witch plush toy for next year!
In the meantime, make a plan to get all that extra candy out of the house. Donate it to a food pantry or shelter; give it to the teenagers who ring your bell after your kids are fast asleep; find a store that collects candy for the troops overseas; or take it to work and share the wealth.
We wish you a wonderful Halloween full of new and healthy family traditions!
