There’s a lot going on in the fall with children’s schedules… particularly school events and sports team schedules. With three kids in school plus sports, I often feel pulled in several directions simultaneously. This can lead to later bedtimes than we would like, ultimately resulting in overtired kids.
This year, Halloween falls on a school night, another factor that can mess with our kids’ sleep when they are amped up by the fun, excitement, and sugar that accompany this holiday.
We can’t keep the crazy totally at bay, but here are some tips to try and minimize it and set ourselves up for a successful Halloween.
Set Expectations
Discuss with your children ahead of time how the trick-or-treating will play out. If both parents are involved, make sure you are both in agreement with the set plan.
What time will you leave to trick or treat?
How far will you go?
Set a time for turning around or when you want to be back home. Have a plan for when you return, including what time is bedtime, what the bedtime routine is, and how much candy they are allowed to have before getting ready for bed.
Make sure to give your children a warning when trick-or-treating is coming to an end so they are not surprised and know what to expect. Your cutoff time will be different from that of other families. Some families will still be trick-or-treating, and that’s okay.
“We will go to the end of this street and turn around,” or “We will go to these last three houses, and then it’s time to go home.”
Start Rested
In the days leading up to Halloween, be sure your child is going to bed at their age-appropriate bedtime. Be consistent and stick to their regular schedule.
If your children are younger and still nap, try to ensure they get a good snooze on the day of trick-or-treating. If they are already overtired going into the Halloween festivities, a late night fueled with sugar and lots of stimulation will make it harder to get back on track.
Start Early
Try to start trick-or-treating as soon as it begins in your neighborhood, especially for younger children.
Of course, we want to enjoy the holiday, and yes, it’s just one night; however, it will be beneficial for you as parents if you try not to push the entire night out too late (we are the ones who pay for children going down overtired, often with more night wakings and a possible early morning wake up).
If possible, try to sit down for dinner before going trick-or-treating so the children have something nutritious in their bellies to compensate for the inevitable sugar high that’s coming.
Prepare for Bedtime in Advance
Have your children pick out their pajamas before leaving the house and have their toothbrushes and toothpaste ready. Discuss with them ahead of time that this is a special circumstance, and tonight, we may not have time to do our typical bedtime routine, take a full-blown bath, or read the books we usually read. Perhaps tonight, we will only sing one song or read one book.
Anticipate the Bedtime Battle
After such a fun night, with the excitement of trick-or-treating and all the candy, it is not surprising that our children may struggle to go to sleep.
It is incredibly important to be firm, hold the boundary, and not entertain stalling tactics. If we suspect they will ask for one more potty or snack, we can work these into our routine to minimize the curtain calls.
Decide How You Will Handle Candy Consumption Following Halloween
Discuss how you will allow your child to eat this candy they’ve acquired. Will they be allowed a certain number of pieces a day? Try to offer their candy earlier in the afternoon, as a treat when they get home from school, avoiding candy consumption too late in the evening, which will then once again negatively affect bedtime.
My husband and I have lucked out in this department the past two years because my children decided there was something more desirable they wanted, such as a one-time slushie after a soccer game or a special baked treat they don’t usually get.
This was their idea, I swear! They chose to give up their huge bag of candy for this one-time treat, and that was it. The candy was gone, and they never asked about it again.
I doubt we will get away with this for a third year, but it was lovely while it lasted. My husband, who has a crazy sweet tooth, couldn’t have been happier!
