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Hello, all. We have a technique for dealing with Halloween that has
worked well for us in the past. We make an offering to the Great
Pumpkin (or you could call it whatever you want). My kids
trick-or-treat. Then we sort the candy leaving just a few pieces that
we know are safe. The rest we leave out on the front porch for the
Great Pumpkin to take away (translation: mom waits until the kids are
asleep then throws all the remaining candy in the trash). In the
morning the Great Pumpkin will have left a gift for each child on the
front step in place of the candy. (Again, this involves me leaving a
gift on the front step very early in the morning for the children to
find.) It's fun since the kids get to anticipate a present and it
saves having to explain repeatedly that "no, that one has peanuts in it
so it's not safe for you to eat." You can have the kids keep as much
or little candy as it appropriate and safe for them. Maybe they don't
keep any but the Great Pumpkin offers some safe candy or treat for them
in return for their "offering." I hope this idea helps. It has really
been a life-saver for us. Good luck.
