Should candy be offered to kids in place of Communion?

[STR]

A priest at a local parish offers candy to children who are too young to receive the Eucharist after everyone has received Communion. Is this appropriate? My husband thinks it is cute … especially when the little ones take handfuls or do something adorable.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

The period after Communion is a time of meditation and reflection. It does not seem the appropriate time to be distracting attention from the eucharistic Lord with the antics of children. While the priest’s gesture is generous, it would be more appropriate for him to do so after Mass, either as families are leaving the church or at the coffee-and-doughnut social many parishes offer after Mass.