Several years ago, I was chatting with a neighbor about Halloween and the mountain of candy that enters our lives every year. “The Switch Witch comes and takes some of our candy,” she said slyly.
Say what?
As I came to find out, the Switch Witch is a strange and wonderful enchantress, who arrives on Halloween night after the kids have gone to bed. They set out some of their candy for her. She takes it and deposits something special in its place.
Sometimes the Switch Witch leaves my kids a toy. One year she left them some money. More often than she’d like to admit, she races to Target on Halloween night before it closes because she forgot to plan ahead.
My boys love the Switch Witch. They love the mystery of it. They love waking up the next morning to see what she’s brought. They love dividing their trick-or-treat stash into piles: Keep Pile. Trade Pile. Switch Witch Pile.
I love the Switch Witch because she teaches them an important lesson: How to put a value on what you really like–and not to waste your time on the stuff you don’t.
At our house, the Switch Witch doesn’t steal candy. She doesn’t pilfer what they really love. She only rides off with two things:
- The stuff they feel kind of “meh” about–what they’d probably eat if it was there but don’t prefer (in other words, I imagine the Switch Witch’s broomstick is made largely of Mounds, Good & Plenty, and Necco Wafers).
- The stuff they have in surplus. If they got 15 packets of Skittles, they’ll donate a few to the Switch Witch.
In the end, my kids are still left with a sizable pile, which they’ll eat a little bit at a time over the course of many weeks–or in the case of my older son (who still has candy from LAST Halloween) many months.
I’m not saying the Switch Witch should pay a visit to every family–or that everyone has to do the Switch Witch the same way. If your kids don’t want to give away some of their candy, don’t force the issue. It’s important to trust our kids–and for our kids to feel trusted. Otherwise, you may end up with a child who sneaks candy and other “forbidden” foods and feels shame that she wants it. (Consider these five unintended consequences of restricting Halloween candy.)
But I think the Switch Witch has a life lesson to teach that a lot of grown-ups could use too: Eat what you love. How often have you been handed a big piece of mediocre, store-bought birthday cake and just ate it because it was there? Or scarfed down a second slice of pizza even though it wasn’t very good? Putting a priority on foods we like–and not wasting time on what we don’t–is a skill we need in a world where food is everywhere.
What’s YOUR opinion of the Switch Witch? How do YOU manage that massive trick-or-treat haul?
Find out how I handle Halloween Night at our house: How I Handle Halloween Candy Craziness
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I don’t have kids yet but I love this idea! When I was younger I definitely ate every piece of candy because it was there (although it was usually only 1 piece a day) and wasn’t mindful about just eating the ones I really enjoyed and not eating the ones I wasn’t a huge fan of… this is such a great way to start practicing it as a kid.
I had never heard of this – but absolutely love the idea!
We started Switch Witch 2 Halloween’s ago. This will be our 3rd year. I actually won the Switch Witch book and little witch in a contest and that’s when it all started. The kids were excited to read the book and take part. I let them pick out the candy they leave for the Switch Witch and they put the rest in the cabinet to have as you said, “every so often.” I bought them each a small lego toy and they were thrilled!
We’ve never used the Switch Witch and probably won’t. My daughter already refuses to eat desserts and candy that she does not love – stuff I would totally have just eaten anyway as a kid. I often told her that it’s not worth eating a treat item if you don’t really like it (in fact it’s not with eating anything if you don’t enjoy it).
You never cease to amaze me Sally! This is brilliant and I love the way you’ve molded this to fit your boys. I am impressed he still has candy left from last year! Sharing now- it’s lovely!
I love love this idea! Mia is much like your oldest – she still has Halloween candy from last year – after a week or so, she kinda forgets about it. But I think she’d adored this idea. (Guess I’m heading to Target tomorrow….ha!)
Let me know how it goes, Deanna!
I would love to try this, but I’m not sure my girls would go for it yet. What age were your boys when you started doing it?
Hey Jessica–I think my older son was in first grade, and my younger son was too little to really even understand what was going on. 🙂 I definitely think that to do it, your kids need to be on board with it.
Ellie and I have been talking about this all day and we are now reading your blog. We’re about to search online for pictures of the Switch Witch. Thanks for the idea. She’s pumped. I think I may need a Switch Witch for me too.
Glad she’s excited about it. Please let me know how it goes!
The Switch Witch has been coming to our house since my daughter started Trick or Treating, and it’s been a huge hit. Like you, we’re pretty low key about it – she only comes if our daughter wants her to come, and she can choose what to leave out. (This also helps explain why the Switch Witch doesn’t come to some kids’ houses – we say you have to have your parents tell her you want her to come). And we couple that with no limits on what candy she can eat on Halloween night – it’s a free for all that night. That works, however, because our daughter doesn’t go crazy – she tries a single bite of a lot of things and then moves on and probably only eats the total of a few pieces of candy before deciding she’s done and would rather give it to the Switch Witch. For us it has been a great way to help develop those skills of moderation and choice-making while still preserving the fun of the holiday.
Kristin–Glad to hear you found a system that works for you. My kids do the same on Halloween night–try a bunch of stuff and sometimes end up spitting things out that they don’t like. Last night my younger son eventually said his belly hurt from eating too much. So he moved on to playing a board game, then went to bed. My kids will each get a couple of small pieces a day as a sweet treat until they forget about it or until it’s gone. Thanks for your comment!
I first heard of this idea a couple of years ago when my kids were 7. Both my kids loved the idea and willingly got rid of the the candy they don’t like (or had in excess) and were excited to get a spooky book in exchange. I couldn’t remember why we didn’t do it last year until my daughter reminded me that “The Switch Witch” got mad last year because they didn’t put much at all in their switch piles. Apparently I told them it wasn’t worthwhile for the Switch Witch to get off her broom for their measly offerings. This year they each said they wanted the Switch Witch to come (even though they know it’s me), so they each pared down and we had fun with the game. I agree with all of your reasons for doing the Switch Witch. Even my son, who LOVES all things sweet and dyed, enjoys sorting his candy and really thinking about what he likes best and what’s not even worth eating. And even with their favorite candies, they eventually get sick of it and ask for homemade desserts again.
Hi Friends,
Its Mike Farrington from “The Christmas Morning Gift” (Children’s Book), I wanted to share with you a funny kick-starter video that I hope that you will enjoy. It is a new Children’s Witch Switch book idea.
If you like it please pass it on. It represents almost a year of my life.
Thank you so much…
Mike
http://kck.st/2eTdLgu
“WeeCa the Unique Ah Witch”
My kids love Halloween and Trick or Treating but we just have never started with the candy so they are happy to not eat any. They are the most popular kids as they donate their haul to their friends. And if there is fruit or popcorn on offer they are the happiest boys on the planet! I love that they can get dressed up, look forward to the whole experience but not feel like they’re missing out. Not that I am advocating this for everyone at all. It’s just the way we roll!
Do you give more money/a bigger toy depending on how much candy they offer to the Switch Witch? I can already see my kids calculating and bargaining…”Will the Switch Witch still come if I give just one small piece? How about two? If I give it all can I get a new video game?” Etc.
Not really. But you could certainly do that. This year I got them each an $8 Funko Pop bobble-head.