Get ideas for approaching October’s harvest season with mindfulness, while still keeping true to your family’s standards.
Get ideas for approaching October’s harvest season with mindfulness, while still keeping true to your family’s standards. For more insight on whether Christians should celebrate Halloween or not, check out Focus on the Family’s article on the topic.
Whenever my children receive a lot of candy — at a fall harvest party, for example — I
label seven baggies for each child and write the days of the week on them. Then they pick six pieces
of candy for each baggie. When that day arrives during the following week, they get to eat them.
The leftover candy goes into my rewards bag for when my kids do a chore beyond their normal
assignments.
—Jessica Tyson
In the fall, my family and I host a pumpkin party. We purchase several
pumpkins and turn our backyard into a little pumpkin patch. Each family who attends chooses a
pumpkin to carve.
Over the years, the creations have become more elaborate, with families bringing pumpkin plans and
decorations, such as stickers, paints and more. Once these wholesome carvings are complete, we vote
on which pumpkin wins the coveted “Best in Show.” Every pumpkin wins some award, from funniest to
most creative.
Once it’s dark, we line up the pumpkins and light the candles placed inside. I take a picture and
then send it to everyone with a thank-you note.
—Heather Goyette
How am I going to keep 5 pounds of Tootsie Rolls, Laffy Taffy and other assorted candy from boring holes into my children’s teeth? To prevent sugar overload, I’ve found a few creative uses for all that candy that makes its way into our home during this season of harvest parties:
Count down with it. Let your kids pick out 24 small pieces of candy and one bigger piece. Build an Advent chain with 25 strips of red and green construction paper. Tape one piece of candy to each link, saving the biggest piece for last. Let your kids take turns ripping off one piece each day from Dec. 1 until Christmas.
Freeze it. Chocolate stays fresh in your freezer for up to one year. Just put it in an airtight freezer bag. Pull it out throughout the year as a small treat for your kids or to use in dessert recipes.
Re-gift it. Use hot glue to attach individual pieces of candy to wooden dowels. Put floral foam into a festive mug or vase. Poke the sticks into the foam. Embellish with a little ribbon. Now you have a candy bouquet perfect for appreciated teachers, coaches, and so on.
Decorate with it. During the holidays, build a gingerbread house and use the candy for embellishment. (No one eats those anyway.) This festive decoration is a fun way for your child to be creative.
Donate it. Start a post-holiday candy drive in your neighborhood or school. Operation Gratitude sends candy to American troops serving overseas. Check out opgratitude.com for more information.
—Carey Halvala
“Candy Rations” and “Harvest Party Pumpkins” first appeared in the October/November 2018 issue of Focus on the Family magazine. “What to Do With Too Much Candy” first appeared in the October/November 2011 issue of Thriving Family magazine. The compiled article “Candy and Pumpkins” first appeared on FocusOnTheFamily.com (2018).
This article is a compilation of articles written by various authors. The author names are found within the article.
Read More About:
It’s easy for Valentine’s Day to begin and end with consumerism and gifts. But the history of Valentine’s Day combined with its connection to Christianity provides a foundation for important conversation with your kids. Explore our Bible Lesson involving God’s perspective on love to help your kids positively approach this holiday.
Need a New Year’s resolution your kids can keep? This year, resolve to intentionally listen for God’s voice in Scripture and respond to Him.
The time for mourning does not take a break for the holidays–not even Christmas.
