Dr. Clatch Speaks On: Avoiding the Valentine's Day Sugar Rush

Valentine’s Day usually means sweets galore, which can drive both children and parents crazy. Children, of course, go bonkers from snacking on candy at school, and parents not only have to weather the inevitable sugar crash, but also figure out how to limit their kids’ sugar intake for the remainder of the month. This can be tricky, especially if your kids know all the hiding spots where you normally stash candy. There is a bright side to all of this, though - it can be a golden opportunity to help your child develop new, positive habits.

Children often struggle with self-control, especially in the face of temptation. Instead of exclusively managing your child’s candy for them, let them pick seven pieces of candy for the week. They can have one a day, or eat all seven pieces the minute they pick them, but once the candy for that week is gone, they can’t have any more until the next week. This will help them to start realizing that they can have candy every day if they want to, as long as it’s in small amounts.

You can also use this as an opportunity to teach your child about charity. If your child comes home with a large bag of candy, let them pick their favorite candies to keep, and donate the rest. Military personnel always appreciate mail, especially on holidays - help your child prepare a care package or two and send them to an organization like Soldiers’ Angels.

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