If your LO is obsessed with "treats"

McKee3

We didn't give DD sugary candy or cookies until she was 2 1/2 - 3. Now she's obsessed with any treats it's driving me crazy! She gets dessert (a cookie, popcorn) after dinner and sometimes something during the day. I just left Michaels with her having a screaming fit becuase I wouldn't let her get one of the 100's of treats lining the checkout aisle.

I see so many other kids just standing with their parents and not begging for candy or listening when they are told "no, not today". What am I doing wrong? Ugggg....

 

kmhunt11

Maybe think of some criteria or ground rules you are ok with and communicate them to her.  I.e. We will only get a treat at a store once a week, or only at a certain store and if she behaves a certain way, or only if she earns it by doing "chores" at home (you could make a sticker chart).  I tell DD that the candy by the register is old and gross and she wouldn't like it  Discuss before going into a store whether you will be buying a treat, and how she will act.  I get DD to agree with me going into a situation I know she might pitch a fit about (before going to the park, we discuss how she will act when I say it is time to leave).

And I guarantee those other kids pitch plenty of fits.  It's not just your kid  Hard to remember in the midst of a tantrum, I know!! 

Court0026

I don't know what to tell you except that I feel your pain.  My 3 year old doesn't really care one way or another.  We waited to give him treats, but my almost 2 year old has been obsessed since Halloween.  Like she literally cannot stop thinking about candy.  And she is too young to understand any of the "wait until later, tomorrow, etc".  It makes me CRAZY. 

McKee3

This is a great idea. I haven't been talking to her before we go into a store but I definitely will start. Thanks!   

howleyshell

We have a fairly hard and fast rule that we never, never, never never ever buy ANYTHING from the stands by the check out counters.

Treats, candy, toys, even gum for me.  I do it when they're not with me.

That way the answer is simply that we don't buy that stuff and their experience confirms the message.

Beyond that?  

I think it depends on the message you're sending at home.  For us daily candy or cookies isn't in our game plan.  They know they get them on special occasions and hence they are called "treats".

If they ask for candy of some sort I'll offer them fruit instead.  Believe it or not they're often just as happy with grapes or apples as they are with the candy they think they've got to have.

 Family history of obesity and diabetes = not a lot of sugar consumption around our house.  I just don't want it to be their norm if I can avoid it.

I'm sure it's more challenging if they have it regularly to understand why they can have it some times and not at others so if there's a logic behind when you let her have and it and when you don't perhaps you could explain that to her and help her understand it better?

 

KatFCo

We try to talk a lot about healthy foods (and preschool emphasizes it too), so she understands the difference between healthy and not healthy. It doesn't stop her from asking for "something not healthy," but we've set boundaries for what snacks she can have.

We also almost never do impulse buys, so she's learned, for the most part, the candy at the checkout stays at the checkout.

KathrynMD

We've never been big on candy or treats and she gets them rarely - we don't have dessert every night or anything, so its never been a big deal. 

I try to keep an acceptable "treat" in my purse, so I can always offer her something - normally Teddy Grahams or Goldfish, etc.  Nothing too exciting, but its rare enough that's it exciting.  Any time she gets candy - Halloween, Easter, etc. she gets to have 2 or 3 pieces a day for the first 2 days and then I either throw the rest out and don't mention it again. 

jlw2505

Ground rules - we do not have dessert or treats daily, they are for special occasions.  We have at times used a Skittle for a treat and my kids love it.  In the summers, we will get ice cream on Sunday evenings and we split 1 or 2 among the 4 of us.  Sugary treats are just that - treats, not an every day thing.  If the kids are hungry after dinner, we do fruit or yogurt or cheese and save the treats for special occasions.  I will never be a "never let the kids have sweets" person but I think as with most things, that you need to teach moderation and good eating habits and not let sweets become the focus of every day.