“The Halloween Fairy”
October always brings great excitement and joy to children as they anticipate one of their favorite holidays – HALLOWEEN! For parents, Halloween also brings lots of joy and fun as they get caught up in their child’s anticipation of the Great Pumpkin and Trick or Treating. Deciding on a costume, decorating the house, visiting a Pumpkin Patch and planning parties are all part of Halloween enjoyment.
But, Halloween also brings the trepidation of dealing with all the sweets the children may receive when Trick or Treating or attending school carnivals/parties. Children truly take ownership of everything they collect while out Trick or Treating in their neighborhood or at school sponsored carnivals/parties. Yet, we, the adults, know that all those sweets are not healthy for children and the thought of even rationing the sweets for weeks is a daunting endeavor.
Here’s a way to allow children to partake in Halloween activities and enjoy some of their goodies yet not over do it – “THE HALLOWEEN FAIRY”. The Halloween Fairy loves candy/sweets. However, it is hard for her to get it because she can only make toys and things. So, for her to get the candy she so loves, she offers children an exchange of a gift for their candy. After Trick or Treating, children pick a number of pieces of their most favorite candy, then they put the rest in a bag and leave it outside somewhere for the Halloween Fairy. The Halloween Fairy is so thankful for the children’s gift of candy, she leaves a gift for the children as a thank you. Children can also write a note to the Halloween Fairy as to what they would like in exchange for the candy – a toy, crayons/colored pencils, a new shirt, etc.
The Halloween Fairy is a wonderful new tradition to add to your Halloween activities. Having the Halloween Fairy collecting candy is a win-win situation – the children have fun Trick or Treating and get to pick some candy, parents don’t have to fight with children about the candy, and the candy can be donated to a local charity.
As an added way of introducing this concept, there is a book called “All Hallows Eve: The Story of the Halloween Fairy” by Lisa Sferlazza Johnson and illustrated by Tucker Johnson. Reading the story before Halloween can prepare the children for the Halloween Fairy’s visit.
Let’s all make the Halloween Fairy part of our Halloween Traditions.
I like this idea! Our system for Halloween and Easter is to have a “treat jar” decorated for the appropriate holiday. All the collected sweets go in the jar, and our child is allowed to choose one each day. (Slowly, we find ourselves picking from the jar as well, and so far the “treat jar” doesn’t last for much more than a couple of weeks….)
My kids love this book! They look forward to the toy that “Eve” leaves them each year. And it takes away all the stress of too much candy in the house
Hmm… I read blogs on a similar topic, but i never visited your blog. I added it to favorites and i’ll be your constant reader.
Love it, we have been doing this for a few years now and it really works!!!