WORDS BY ERICA NEWTON, MYFIRSTGYM CO-FOUNDER

I grew up in America where Halloween wasn’t just a fun afternoon: it was pretty much a competitive sport. My brother and I would map out our neighbourhood routes like coaches planning a grand final campaign. We knew exactly which houses gave out king-size candy bars (heroes), which ones tried to fob us off with single-serve Mentos (evil villains), and which cruel dentist handed out floss and toothpaste (I mean, why?). By the end of the night, I’d be dragging home a pillowcase stuffed with enough sugar to last until Christmas. And yes, I saved it for months.

Fast-forward a few decades, and here I am in Australia, where Halloween wasn’t really a thing when most Aussie parents were kids. I was chatting with another mum at the school gate who admitted she never went trick-or-treating, and still finds it a bit odd that her kids now roam the streets in costumes, knocking on strangers’ doors for lollies. She railed against it for a few years but has now conceded to the sugar heist of 31^st October. Her greatest complaint was how to balance all that sugar with, you know, not having the kids bounce off the walls (or worse, melt into tears after the inevitable crash).

How do we help our kids enjoy Halloween without turning it into a sugar free-for-all?

Sometimes Food vs. Everyday Food

One of the best things I’ve learned (and actually managed to stick to most of the time) is the idea of ‘everyday foods’ and ‘sometimes foods’. Everyday foods are the good stuff: fruit, veggies, protein and wholegrains. These are the things that fuel our kids to run, jump and actually concentrate in class. Sometimes foods are, well… pillowcases of candy. They’re not evil, they’re not forbidden, but they’re not for breakfast either.

By framing lollies as a ‘sometimes’ treat, we can help kids understand balance without sucking all the joy out of childhood.

A Few Tricks to Balance the Treats

• Set expectations early: Before trick-or-treating, talk about how much candy they’ll get to eat that night (hint: not the entire stash).
• Let them choose: Giving kids some control like “Pick your three favourites for tonight” makes them feel empowered, not restricted.
• Pair it with movement: Trick-or-treating is actually a sneaky workout! All that walking and running between houses while carrying a bag of sweets is real movement. If they’ve been doing our Parkour classes, you might get to see some of their moves in real time!
• Spread it out: Lollies and chocolate don’t have to (and shouldn’t!) be a one-night event. (My kids also use the “stash it for months” method… although somehow theirs never seems to last as long as mine did.)

The Bigger Picture

Halloween is a perfect chance to remind ourselves, and our kids, that food is meant to be enjoyed, as is movement. It’s not about perfection; it’s about balance. One night of candy doesn’t undo a year of healthy habits, just like one salad doesn’t undo a week of chicken nuggets.

In a few weeks I’ll be lacing up my kids’ sneakers, arming them with costumes, and embracing the chaos. They’ll collect their loot, I’ll probably sneak a few fun-size Snickers, and together we’ll laugh about the houses that hand out toothpaste.

Because in the end, the real treat isn’t the candy; it’s the joy, the movement and the memories.

Halloween and MyFirstGym (it’s not all about the kids!)

Before the trick-or-treat sugar rush, bring the kids in for some Halloween-themed movement fun. Our October programs even have a spooky Date Night so Mum and Dad can chill out before the cascade of candy! Check with your local MyFirstGym branch for more details and see what’s on: because balance looks a lot like lollies and laughter, costumes and cartwheels.

For more School Holiday tips and ideas visit our Ultimate Budget Friendly Holiday Guide