Halloween can be stressful for people with diabetes. The whole holiday centers around candy and sweets, and it can feel isolating for children suffering with diabetes. You can make Halloween fun and exciting for all members of the family, including anyone suffering with this condition. By choosing some non-food activities and being as flexible as a child’s diabetes will allow, the whole family can have a wickedly fun Halloween.
Tips for Keeping Halloween Fun for Children With Diabetes
1. Make activities the focus. Keep busy and active. Take the kids to the pumpkin patch, carve and paint pumpkins, or get dressed up and go to a 5K. Make Halloween more about how much there is to do and less about the “treats.”
2. Find an activity that doesn’t involve trick-or-treating. Find events to do on Halloween instead of trick-or-treating. Go to the movies or a bounce center. Go on a scary house tour, or get to every haunted corn maze. Check for more Halloween events such as those at the local aquarium or museum. You can find a lot of Halloween fun without the sugar.
3. Be flexible. Go trick-or-treating, but make a trade for the candy. Allow your child to “cash in” his or her candy for other things—a new stuffed animal, a new game, or a puzzle. This lets your child enjoy trick-or-treating without the worry of candy.
4. Use candy for special occasions. Let your child choose his or her favorite candies and spread them out through the week, month, or year! As long as your child is medically able, let him or her enjoy responsibly. Allow a few pieces, and freeze the rest for extra special occasions.
Be Safe and Have Fun
You want to teach your child to enjoy sweets responsibly. It can be very hard to preach and teach that he or she can never, ever have sweets. Also, make sure you treat all kids in the house the same. Don’t isolate your child with diabetes, or you can make the whole holiday lonely and disappointing.