Books For Treats: A Candy-Free Halloween
Giving Out Books Instead of Candies Becoming Popular
Oct 31, 2009
Health-conscious parents may feel a twinge of guilt when they hear how the number of diabetes and obesity children is increasing. However, nobody wants to feel like they are denying their children their youth; the nostalgia of dressing up and anticipating sweets are part of Halloween's fun.
Shell Out Children’s Books for Halloween Instead of Candy
Peer pressure from neighbours, commercial influence and vague memories of egging houses that had less-than-desirable treats in the loot bag may make some nervous about participating in a candy-free Halloween. However, one woman in 1995 made a social experiment out of handing out gently used children’s books, and hasn’t looked back since.
Rebecca Morgan house has not been egged, or toilet-papered; in fact, the responses from neighbourhood kids and their parents’ were so positive that she was encouraged to try to build a grassroots movement to spread the (written) word. “Our program encourages individuals and communities to think differently about how you can feed kids’ minds, not their cavities at this sugar-focused holiday.”
Books For Treats: A Grassroots Movement
Originated in her hometown of San José, California (USA) Books For Treats has expanded, gaining the support of the American Diabetes Association. Morgan has partnered with city officials in her hometown of San José and is now an integral part of a Halloween trick-or-treating program. Last year Books For Treats gave out 3500 books in 4 hours before they ran out.
Comparing candy consumption to book consumption is alarming: Recent statistics show that annually Americans spend $950 million on Halloween candy, whereas gifts of books are seldom made for children. The average person spends nearly $15 on the Halloween candy; multiply that amount by the number of people shelling out for Halloween, and one can see how childhood obesity is growing in North America.
Why Books Are More Popular Than Candy
The Books for Treats website cites the National Endowment for The Arts report which reveals that the average 15- to 24-year-old spends seven minutes daily on "voluntary" reading. “If we are to kindle children's excitement about reading before they are teenagers, they will continue the habit into adulthood.”
Many parents also often eat the Halloween candy well before the holiday, making weight issues a family problem, aside from a dental concern. Morgan’s website states: “Books feed children's minds, while candy only feeds their cavities. Books encourage children to read, and parents to read with them and/or ask them about their books. Many children rarely receive books as gifts, so even gently read books are special treats.”
Cost-Effective and Eco-Friendly Halloween
Some consumers would say that the cost of a bag of candy might cost less than several children’s books. To this, Morgan argues that people who recycle do so not because it’s an effort, but because they see value in preventing landfills. Books For Treats may be more effort than picking a five-pound bag of high glucose corn syrup laden treats, but the value in sharing literacy is priceless.
Give Books Without Going Broke or Looking Cheap
Here's some advice for those who would like an alternative to handing out candy without going broke:
- Check out thrift stores and garage sales
- Ask friends and neighbours if they are thinking of giving away or selling children’s books
- Try “Freecycle” or other community-based online bulletin boards to ask for donations of children’s books
- Weed out your children’s bookshelves – save shelf space and reduce clutter!
Check out their website for more information on giving age-appropriate books to your neighbourhood. Included is a guideline to determine what books are appropriate for various age ranges.
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