Do Kids Really Want Less Candy for Halloween? — Survey of the Day
While children still seem to unanimously agree that Halloween is one of their favorite holidays, a new survey by the American Dental Association and PopCap Games shows that kids' perception of the holiday is changing in several surprising ways.
According to the survey, which polled more than 750 American children ages 5-13, 94 percent go trick-or-treating each year, and 64 percent consider Halloween to be the best holiday of the year. But 67 percent said they eat way too much candy during Halloween, 89 percent said they would still enjoy the holiday if it didn't focus so much on candy, and 93 percent said they'd rather receive a video game than sweets.
So, the American Dental Association and PopCap have joined forced to launch the "Stop Zombie Mouth" campaign, which provides parents and dentists with trading cards and coupons redeemable for PopCap's hugely popular game 'Plants vs. Zombies.'
“Children themselves are asking us as adults to help curb sugary snacks,” said Dr. Jonathan Shenkin of the ADA, adding that the campaign is an excellent way to provide alternative Halloween treats and increase oral hygiene awareness at the same time.
"Learning and practicing good oral hygiene habits now will pay dividends later in life," Shenkin said.