My son's daycare also asks for sweets sometimes for parties. Considering that they do not give it to him except for 3-4 parties during the year, I send it in. In many families, giving candy for Easter is tradition. They could have been asking for candy to make Easter baskets. Either way, it's a party. Just like I eat more sweets at a party than usual, I figure my son is also entitled to do that a few days a year.

Thanks for putting this candy issue in perspective, Amy.

I agree with Amy. There is no candy in bowls throughout my house. We don't have dessert every night. There IS lots of fresh fruit and veges. in the fridge that my two year old loves to eat and does daily at every meal. So, when Halloween, Valentine's day and Easter come around and the candy is too much I don't worry becasue it is only a few days a year. I also set limits on how much he can eat. I let him pick two or three things he wants to eat and then just put the rest away for once-in-a-while treats. So far that has worked well.
Stressing too much never helps. I do agree though with brining the grapes and other things to parties. Not everything should be candy, that would just be gross.

I am not a parent but a concerned uncle for 2 darling nieces ,who arent allowed any candy on any Holiday far as I can tell At least what the 9 year old niece says noit hte 4 year old. When I was at Easter celebration the other day. the mother spoke up and says we dont have candy in this house...right what woman doesnt have chocolate around ..I thought to myself..yea right. The nieces are obese but the 9 year old talks about weight gain and dieting issues with her Grandpa tellingn him he has to loose weight 9 talk about no manners), how rude. Now I ask you what is wrong with this picture when society is telling a nine year old she is fat and she isnt by far ,she is normal in every aspect except body image.It great everything that the girls are eating healthy but come on, there is a time and place for a treat once in a great while.

I guess it depends on the daycare, but I have to agree with Joy's original sentiment. Because at my daughter's daycare/preschool it's a little more than a few days a year.

Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, "Spring Party, in the last month alone. Valentine's was especially rough because besides the candy from the teachers, it seems 3/4 of the parents decided to tape a lollipop to the cards. What child needs to bring home 20 lollipops?

On top of that there seems to be a child's birthday party at least once a month (there was three in March) And now that she's in the 3's room it seems like every birthday parent is sending home goody bags full of candy. There's 27 kids in Elisabeth's class that averages to two birthdays a month.

Up until the last three months, my daughter did not like candy AT ALL. I felt very lucky in the respect. But every since Christmas and the latest candy holidays mentioned above, she's taken to it just because of the amazing amount she's been exposed to. And now that the kids are more cognitive of each other, I feel like she's feeling pressure to like candy.

I don't think you were wrong at all. and for my daughter's birthday next month. all I'm sending is cut fruit, just like I did last year, and the teachers love me for it. Instead of a goody bag of candy and junk, there will be 1 nicer gift per child like a yo-yo or frisbee.

Yay! to LH for vowing to bring cut fruit for a birthday party.