Hy-Vee® KidsFit™

Halloween doesn’t have to spook our health.  In fact, dressing up and trick or treating can be rewarding and even help kids stay healthy.  

Use these 4 reasons as a tool to guide a healthier conversation about the holiday with your family.

1. Promotes imagination and creativity
   • Costumes let kids be creative, enhancing brain development and problem solving skills
   • Costume choice allows personality expression and exploration of being different
   • Allows kids to forget about stresses of school and be kids a little longer
2.  Improves social skills and self-esteem
   • Teaches kids about saying “please” and “thank you” when asking for/accepting a piece of candy
   •  Helps them understand patience
   • Develops social etiquette (like walking on the sidewalk instead of running across the neighbors’ lawn while trick or treating)
   • Builds kids’ confidence in speaking up for themselves and introducing themselves to neighbors
   • Allows kids to be proud of their choices (how their costume looks, the story behind it, etc.)
3. Fosters connection & community
   • Helps kids understand the importance of environmental safety and walking with people you trust
   • Encourages connection with friends if trick or treating in a large group, and lets kids get to know their neighbors
   • Grows connection and communication with parents/caregivers, which can reduce childhood stress
4. Creates opportunities for positive conversation about food
   • Opportunity for families to teach moderation
   • Teaches lessons of how foods make us feel and what kind of energy they give us (sometimes too much candy can hurt our stomachs)
   • Candy is OKAY to eat and not “bad”

Talk to your kids about a healthier Halloween, and most importantly: have fun!