Candy Tracking

The Halloween Candy Tracking feature helps parents and kids keep track of candy collected and eaten during the Halloween season. This optional feature can be enabled on a per-child basis and provides a visual way to monitor candy inventory over time.

The Candy Tracking tab (👻) is automatically shown from October 25 to November 15, or year-round if your child has candy in stock.

Enabling Candy Tracking

As a parent, you can enable candy tracking for each child individually:

1. Navigate to the 👻 (Candy) tab in the dashboard
2. Toggle the "Enable Halloween candy tracking" switch to turn the feature on
3. Three default candy types will be automatically created: "Chocolate", "Gummies", and "Hard Candy"

Once enabled, the Candy tab will display the full tracking interface for parents, while kids will see a simplified read-only view with just the chart.

Defining Candy Types

Parents can manage the types of candy using the Define Candy Types button:

Adding Candy Types

Click "Add New Candy Type" at the bottom of the modal and enter a name for the candy (e.g., "Snickers", "Skittles", "Lollipops"). Each candy type is automatically assigned a unique color that will be used in charts.

Editing Candy Types

Click the Edit button next to any candy type to rename it. The candy's transaction history and color will be preserved.

Deleting Candy Types

Click Delete to permanently remove a candy type. Warning: This will also delete all transactions for that candy type. This action cannot be undone.

Adding Candy to the Hoard

When your child collects candy (trick-or-treating, parties, etc.), use the Add Candy button:

1. Select the date and time the candy was collected (defaults to now)
2. Enter quantities for each type of candy collected (you can add multiple types at once)
3. Click Add Candy

The Current Stock display at the top will automatically update to show how much of each candy type your child has.

Tip: You can add candy with a date/time in the past to backfill your records!

Eating Candy

When your child eats candy, use the Eat Candy button:

1. Select the date and time the candy was eaten (defaults to now)
2. Enter quantities for each type of candy eaten
3. The form will show (Available: X) next to each candy type to prevent eating more than you have
4. Click Eat Candy

The system will prevent you from eating more candy than is in stock at that specific time.

The Candy Stock Chart

The line chart shows candy inventory over time:

• Horizontal axis (bottom): Date (with one marker per day)
• Vertical axis (left): Quantity in stock
• Colored lines: Each candy type has its own line, making it easy to track specific candies
• Data points: Each transaction creates a data point showing the stock after that transaction

Reading the Chart

• Lines going up: Candy added to the hoard
• Lines going down: Candy eaten
• Hover over points: See the exact date, time, and quantity for each transaction

The chart uses precise date-time data, so if multiple transactions happen on the same day, you'll see exactly when each occurred.

Current Stock Display

At the top of the Candy tab, you'll see colored badges showing the current stock of each candy type. This gives you an at-a-glance view of what candy is available right now.

The Candy Transaction Ledger

Below the chart, you'll find a complete history of all candy transactions. Each row shows:

• Date & Time: When the transaction occurred
• Type: "Added" or "Eaten" (color-coded: gold for added, red for eaten)
• Candy: List of all candy types and quantities in that transaction
• Actions: Edit or Delete buttons for parents

Editing Transactions

Click Edit to modify the quantities in a transaction. You cannot change the date/time when editing - if you need to change when something happened, delete the transaction and create a new one with the correct date/time.

Note: The system validates that you don't eat more candy than you have in stock at the time of the transaction.

Deleting Transactions

Click the × button to permanently delete a transaction. This will adjust all subsequent stock calculations.

Pagination

Like other ledgers in the app, you can control how many transactions are displayed:

• 10: Show 10 transactions per page (default)
• 100: Show 100 transactions per page
• All: Show all transactions on a single page

Kid's View

When a child is logged in with their read-only account, they will see:

• The candy stock chart
• Current stock levels
• No buttons to add, edit, or delete candy types or transactions

This allows kids to see their candy inventory without being able to modify the data.

Tips for Success

• Record everything: Track all candy collected and eaten for accurate inventory
• Use specific names: Instead of just "Candy", use specific names like "Reese's Cups" or "M&Ms" to make tracking more fun
• Check stock before eating: The system prevents eating more than you have, helping kids understand inventory management
• Review together: Use the chart to discuss moderation and planning - how long should the candy last?
• Seasonal feature: The tab automatically appears during Halloween season (Oct 25-Nov 15), but stays visible year-round if there's candy in stock

Stock Validation

The Candy Tracker includes built-in stock validation:

• You cannot eat more candy than you have at any given time
• When eating candy, the form shows available quantities to help prevent errors
• The system calculates stock at the precise date and time of each transaction
• If you try to eat more than available, you'll see an error message

This helps teach kids about inventory management and prevents impossible negative stock situations.