By Kristen Fischer
Step 1 : Understand the Research
Moore’s poll asked children at Age 10 how much candy they ate, then at age 34, those same children were asked whether they had been convicted of a crime. Moore found that 69 percent of people who had been convicted of a violent act by the age of 34 said they had candy almost every day, but 42 percent of people who had not been arrested for violent behavior reported the same. "Initially, we thought this [effect] was probably due to something else, so we tried to control for parental permissiveness, economic status, whether the kids were urban or rural. But the result remained. We couldn't get rid of it,” Moore said. "The key message is that this study really raises more questions than answers," he added.
He believes that the cause of the violence may not be the candy itself, but the fact that children that get sweets regularly never learn how to delay gratification and tend to act more impulsively.
Step 2: Delay Gratification
A Stanford University study conducted in the 1960s involving giving children marshmallows (the children were told they could eat the treat right away or wait 15 minutes to ingest it and get a second marshmallow) showed that children that delayed their gratification attained more success in life.
“If you have a child who is clearly going to be a one-marshmallow kind of kid, don’t despair,” says Susan Beacham of Parents' Choice. She says delayed gratification can be learned like other good habits. “Use your playtime to teach this skill. Choose toys and books and media that reinforce self-discipline and reward the behaviors daily.”
Step 3: Reward Good Behavior
Whether you let your children eat a few pieces of candy per day or as much as they want of their Halloween stash, it’s a good idea to set rules and to reward their good behavior. Try rewarding good behavior, especially during this time when candy is everywhere, with another positive. For example, if your children obey you regarding how many pieces of candy they can have, reward them with a trip to the park or a trip to their grandparents' house. The rewards don’t have to cost a fortune, but by recognizing what they did well, your children will more likely be obedient in the future.
Step 4: Educate Children About Consequences
When you set rules for your children, it is always a good idea to let them know about the consequences they face if they make a certain choice. Let your children know that all actions have consequences. For example, if they sneak more than one piece of candy a day, the candy may be taken away for a week. This will help them make more informed choices—and hopefully smarter ones.
Step 5: Be Consistent
However you discipline your child, it’s important to be consistent, especially if other caregivers are involved. It’s natural for children to want to test others to see what they can get away with, but by letting them know the rules, their rearing will be more consistent.
How to Thwart-Candy Eating Criminals originally published on eHow.com
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