Candy Prizes, Homeschool Hope, and the Fight for Healthier Schools

It’s frustrating to see how some school practices go completely against what we know about child development, nutrition, and health. The other day, while road-schooling in southern Kentucky, I met a local mom who opened up about her struggles with the public school system.

Candy Prizes

Her kids, a 6-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son, have had a rough time. Her daughter is already overweight, and her son, who was diagnosed with ADHD at just five, has a history of poor dental health. They live in a food desert, so finding healthy options is already hard enough, and money is tight, which makes it even tougher to keep their diets balanced.

But here’s the kicker: the school hands out candy, sugary drinks, and junk food as rewards for good behavior and grades. Just last week, the mom found out her daughter got a bottle of Dr. Pepper as a prize, and the teacher even posted a picture of it on the class’s group chat. I couldn’t believe it!

Why are schools, places meant to support kids’ growth, rewarding them with sugar and junk? We know that unhealthy diets can make it even harder for kids to focus and behave, not to mention the long-term health issues. Yet schools keep doing it. Then, when these kids inevitably struggle to sit still or concentrate, they’re labeled as behavior problems. Instead of looking at the root cause, like poor nutrition and lack of movement, the school’s first response is often to slap a label on them.

The Fight for Healthier Schools

This mom just wants the best for her kids, but she’s exhausted. She’s taking care of her bedridden mom on top of everything else, so homeschooling just isn’t an option right now. She’s constantly having to remind the school not to give her kids junk food, but they just don’t seem to get it.

It’s not okay for schools to undermine parents who are trying their best to keep their kids healthy. When will schools finally put children’s well-being first? We need to move away from using junk food as a reward and focus on building healthier habits instead.

Homeschool Hope

The good news is, I truly believe the homeschool community will lead the way in creating better options for families like this. Between cottage schools, co-ops, and moms stepping up to support other moms, I think we’re going to see more and more people pushing back against outdated practices and finding creative ways to give kids what they actually need to thrive.

Every kid deserves a place where their health and development are respected. Until schools make real changes, parents like this mom will keep fighting an uphill battle just to make sure their kids are taken care of.