Resist giving candy to kids 

In her letter “Ramifications of Handing Out Gifts to Kids” (Dec. ’16, pg. 30), Marilyn Adelman said what I have long believed about travelers not giving small gifts of candy, pencils, etc., to children, which encourages them to beg.

A few years ago, while on a group tour of Peru, one woman in our group carried around bags with candy to give to any children she encountered. When several group members — and even the tour leader — advised her that this wasn’t a good idea because these children had no access to dental care, she pooh-poohed them, saying, “Oh, they don’t get treats often enough for that to be a problem.”

However, when one person in our group asked her how she would feel if her young granddaughter (about whom she’d spoken during the trip) was given candy by strangers, she changed her tune!

DEE POUJADE

Portland, OR