Search Results for: blog halloween fun for the entire family

Healthy Halloween: Healthy Handouts

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. It’s the dressing up, mostly… the chance to be someone or something else for a day! I don’t mind the candy, either. But the candy is definitely a mixed blessing. Halloween can be a BIG test of your willpower and diet abilities! So what are some healthy alternatives? Fruit. Apples and oranges are usually easily found during the fall months — and they’re good for you! Handing out fruit might not make you very popular with the kids… but the parents might appreciate the healthy snack appearing in the goodie bags. 100 calorie … Continue reading →

A Week’s Worth of Seasonal Fun for the Entire Family

So long jack-o’-lanterns, hello turkeys. Now that Halloween is over it’s time to think Thanksgiving. This week I shared a number of fun craft ideas featuring fall themes. In addition, Pam contributed ways to create a family-oriented Election Day party. We rounded out the week with ways to make the most of autumn’s golden days as a family. If you didn’t get a chance to read all about it, here’s what you missed: November 3rd—–Fun Fall Crafts for Preschoolers: Homemade Trees. If you have a craft-loving tot at home this project is a great way to let his inner artist … Continue reading →

‘Twas the Night Before Halloween

Here’s something way, way, way off the normal course of offerings from me to you here in the Pets Blog. My attempt at paying homage to a classic holiday poem, “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore –but with a twist. And it stars my three little monkeys: Murphy, Mr. Meow and Tabby. (Along with some seasonally appropriate Halloween cohorts, of course.) I’ll warn you now I’m no poet. Most of the rhyming is a stretch, the meter’s off, and who knows if any of it makes any sense, but this is what taking a nap the day before … Continue reading →

More Fun Pumpkin Seed Projects for Kids

We bought our big pumpkins weeks ago, but have put off carving them until today because the weather has been so fickle (one day we’re in the 70s, the next day the 40s). We now have three incredibly cute (not spooky) jack-o’-lanterns on our stoop and more seeds than I care to deal with. I plan to roast a bunch for snacks and use the rest for craft projects. Our favorites include the pumpkin seed mosaic I shared in a previous blog and the other kid-friendly ones I have listed below. Note: If you have never used pumpkin seeds in … Continue reading →

Kid-Friendly Halloween Decorations Using Acorn Squash

My daughter’s cooking class teacher provided the directions to this next kid-friendly Halloween craft. In fact, she tailored an entire lesson around it. She had the kids decorate acorn squash to look like black cats and then they used the leftovers to make a yummy (and healthy) acorn squash veggie dip. The cooking class is geared towards kids ages 3-5 so keep that in mind when you are getting your children involved. The students did such an incredible job on their acorn squash cats it’s hard to believe that the project only requires a few short steps. All you need … Continue reading →

Simple Crafts to Add to Your Halloween Buffet Table

Over in the FOOD blog I have been sharing dozens of simple, affordable and extremely festive recipes to feature on a Halloween buffet. But, devilishly tasty dishes are only part of a spooky spread. To make your table look as festive as possible you need some equally creative pieces to accent the bloody bites and Kitty Litter cakes. The following are a couple of easy crafts you can make a few days prior to your Boo Bash that are sure to have your costumed guests moaning with delight. PAINTED CANDY CORN CLAY POTS This craft is as straightforward as they … Continue reading →

Halloween, the Economy and Your Family

Oprah Winfrey just devoted an entire show to the best money lessons you can teach your kids in these troubling economic times. The show featured tips on how to tell overindulged children that the spending needs to stop—-NOW. Financial guru Suze “tell-it-like-it-is” Orman was back scolding Oprah’s chosen families about how their reckless spending helped drive our economy straight into the dumpster. Though, as I watched the program I wondered how much of Orman’s advice was falling on deaf ears. After all, while Orman was chastising parents for overindulging their kids, the National Retail Federation was releasing information they gathered … Continue reading →

Halloween Crafts: Spooky Scarecrows and Creepy Candy Creatures

If you have children of varying ages in your household the following projects should come in quite handy this Halloween season. Parental supervision is required for both because the projects call for a hot glue gun. I can tell you that the Creepy Candy Creatures are a bit easier to make than the Spooky Scarecrows. My preschooler had a blast embellishing her Creepy Candy Creature (thanks to some great tips provided on the back of a bag of Hershey’s Miniatures). But, we both struggled to find a way she could contribute to the Spooky Scarecrow project, which I think is … Continue reading →

Haunted Halloween Games and Crafts

These candy-themed Halloween games and crafts will make your Fright Fest tasty and terrifying at the same time. All you need are a few pumpkins, some candy, and a lot of creativity. CANDY WEREWOLF WALL RACE The object of this game is to construct a wall to keep the werewolves out using just three items: Halloween candy, toothpicks and Popsicle sticks. Whoever builds the tallest wall in two minutes wins the game. Materials: Mini or Full-Sized Chocolate Bars Bubble Gum (sticks or chunks) Licorice Whips Peanut Butter Cups Chocolate Peppermint Patties Lifesavers Twix Bars Chocolate Dipped Pretzels Plastic Table Cloth … Continue reading →

Fall Family Fun Under the Big Top

It’s a three-ring extravaganza for the entire clan this fall as the circus returns to New York. Okay, it’s a single ring, but the thrills, chills and big time FUN are infinitely more accessible. This is not just any circus; the world-famous Big Apple Circus–the one that offers incredible seats (no audience member sits more than 50 feet from the ring)—is back in the city that never sleeps for season number 31. Beginning October 23rd you can see the world’s most famous clowns in action and witness other gravity-defying acts completed by performers from Russia, Italy, Belgium, China, Germany and … Continue reading →