As the holidays approach, parents are busy planning for the time off, meals, and fun. Families are thinking about how to spend their time. Most families enjoy an array of delicious food with choices like turkey or ham (or both), cake or pie, stuffing, rolls, etc. For other families, there may not be as many choices because personal challenges have limited their ability and opportunities for holiday fun.
October is a tough time for those looking to keep their healthy eating on track (the caramel apples are kind of healthy, right?) We all know how sinfully delicious Halloween can be – and as your little goblins go wild for treats on October 31stbut that doesn’t mean you [and your healthy diet] have to! You can still have a healthy Halloween!
Dietitian Kimberly Gomer from the renowned health center Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa has created 10 family-friendly Spooktacular Tips to keep in mind this Halloween. Solving every craving from Halloween parties to shopping for candy, these tricky (and tasty!) tips are great for everyone to keep in mind when enjoying their treats this season.
1. Buy candy you don’t like.
Love Snickers bars? Leave them on the store shelf. Otherwise, you can bet you’ll be breaking into that bag days before the costumed kiddies arrive at your doorstep. (And let’s not even talk about what happens if there are Snickers left over at the end of the evening.) Buy candy that does not call out to you, and on November 1, throw any leftovers out or take them to a homeless shelter.
Need DIY Halloween costume ideas? Here are a few easy to make costumes using everyday household items courtesy of RealSimple.com. Visit the site to learn how to make these fun DIY Halloween costumes!
Movie Director
When it’s time to yell “ACTION!”, this little guy takes the lead. His classic get-up (black pants, cardigan, bow tie, beret) is easy enough for any behind-the-scenes movie-maker to pull off. And since no high profile director steps on set without his essentials—megaphone and clapboard—get the simple how-tos for making them
Do you have a child who is hard to wake up in the morning? Or a child who dawdles for what seems like hours? Or the child who scrambles to find her homework while you are already waiting in the car? Oops, forgot to brush her teeth, tie his shoes, can’t find his… The list goes on and on. Mornings can be a big challenge for many families and even in our house, where most mornings go smoothly, there are certainly days where everything seems to fall apart and we are late getting out the door for school and work.
My kids are 13 and 10, so it feels like we have been practicing for a while. It’s never perfect but I think we have managed the monster of morning chaos after some trial and error. Hint: We do not pick out clothes or make lunches the night before and we still have plenty of time in the morning. Here’s what has worked for us:
It’s amazing how much fun you can have with your preschooler in your own home with a little creativity. You can play games and watch movies inside or you can brave the outdoors and have a backyard camping experience. If you decide to enjoy some backyard camping, you may need to make a few modifications to be sure it’s a safe and fun night. Take a look at these fun ideas to make your backyard camping experience a night to remember.
Make these charming tin can herb gardens and watch them grow all summer long! This project not only recycles, it creates new life, and is a great craft for kids. Your child can watch her plants grow for months to come and be proud that she created the container that holds them.
