Parade Candy Ettiquette

[warcraftbaby]

Our town has a Labor Day parade every year. And huzzah they still throw candy (I know a lot of towns have gone candy free) We took our 14 m/o just for the noises and animals since she's not old enough for most of the candy yet and we figured we'd end up with a few pieces of the safer candy that the older kids didn't want. But from what I saw today our toddler needs to start training or something if she wants to get candy next year!

So is parade candy a free-for-all? Or should parents somewhat try to contain the mayhem?

Do you think parades should throw candy? If you have parades in your town have they gone candy-free?

We ended up doing errands for most of the parade (lasted over 2 hrs due to injuries) after the horses were gone and on the way back I just picked up the good candy that was still laying along the sidewalk after everyone was gone. We might do that next year too, we avoided the candy chaos and we ended up with two tubs of candy!

[shashabell]

It would be nice if they had people who actually went to the curb side of people and handed candy to the little tots who can't compete with the selfish ones who want to get it all. (and yes if their parents are there, they should try to pull the reigns back on their kids if they're being hoggy and inconsiderate of others especially little tots.)

[thecooperhouse]

I think its a free for all for the most part - except my older niece's and nephews always make sure the little kids get some. Sometimes they need to be reminded, but the usually do good. And if they see littler kids not getting any they share.

[warcraftbaby]

It would be nice if they had people who actually went to the curb side of people and handed candy to the little tots who can't compete with the selfish ones who want to get it all. (and yes if their parents are there, they should try to pull the reigns back on their kids if they're being hoggy and inconsiderate of others especially little tots.)

They do that in another town for their parades. Most of the floats have people that walk with huge bags of candy and they hand it to the kids. I like that a lot better, you don't see the big kids shoving the little ones out of the way or ripping candy out of their hands like we saw today.

[shashabell]

They do that in another town for their parades. Most of the floats have people that walk with huge bags of candy and they hand it to the kids. I like that a lot better, you don't see the big kids shoving the little ones out of the way or ripping candy out of their hands like we saw today.

Oh, that's just not right. Why do parents allow their kids to act like heathens? These are probably the same kids running up and down the streets at full pace knocking other kids over trying to fill up their pillow cases at Halloween.
Don't get me started on manners some kids have today. It seems that people are too busy to take the time to teach some common courtesy to their kids. Or, they could be encouraging their kids to get in there and get as much as you can. I have met a few parent like that too. They're going to make some fine adults someday. :sad:

[Dengineer]

The adults around here are just as bad as the kids. At our Christmas parade last year we were standing next to an elderly couple (and I mean elderly--the man had on a WWII cap) and when the parade came up the street they whipped out a Walmart bag and started scrambling for candy. I've never seen anything like it. But then we do live in the land of Mardi Gras so I guess different rules apply here.

[arasic]

We still throw candy in our little town. I think it depends on the kids and their parents. The parade route goes right past our house so we always have people lined up out front and usually you will see the parents telling the older ones to share/making sure they are nice to the little ones. Usually we have at least one or two people on foot that give candy to just the little ones....and the big one can fend for themsleves.

But, we do have those kids that knock little kids down and take things from them whose parents never say a word, and sadly it is even worse at the town's Easter egg hunt

[shashabell]

The adults around here are just as bad as the kids. At our Christmas parade last year we were standing next to an elderly couple (and I mean elderly--the man had on a WWII cap) and when the parade came up the street they whipped out a Walmart bag and started scrambling for candy. I've never seen anything like it. But then we do live in the land of Mardi Gras so I guess different rules apply here.

Please tell me the elderly lady didn't lift up her top.

[Smee]

I have seen some of our candy slingin' parades nearly end in knife fights. There's not much uglier on this earth than a Jolly Rancher death match. If I were a Very Important Person™, I'd probably scout parade routes for potential security employees.

It's still taboo in my town to talk about the great Tootsie Roll debacle of '99. Too soon.

[allison1887]

This happened to us just this past Saturday. An elderly woman was grabbing the candy falling right at my sons feet. Some people just never learn.