This morning we all got to enjoy a nice breakfast to start celebrating Halloween (might as well start the sugar rush early). Many au pairs were able to bring their host children, some were dressed up and all had fun. Diane’s house is always decorated for Halloween (see pictures below). We had so much fun!
Halloween can be a lot of fun but it is also a time when safety should come first. Here are some tips for tonight.
Most of all…have fun!
This is the day children dress up in costumes and, in many communities, go door-to-door to ask for candy. Safety on Halloween is extremely important – don’t take our eyes off the children and don’t let them eat unwrapped candy.
From cdc.gov
Photo: Steven Depolo
For many people, autumn events like Halloween and Harvest Day are fun times to dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, attend parties, and eat yummy treats. These events are also opportunities to provide nutritious snacks, get physical activity, and focus on safety.
Below are tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for trick-or-treaters and party guests.
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Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible. | |||
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Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult. | |||
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Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you. | |||
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Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat. | |||
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Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house. | |||
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Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation. | |||
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Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible. | |||
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Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses. | |||
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Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe. | |||
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Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls. | |||
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Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers. | |||
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Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult. | |||
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Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes. |
Here is a fun Halloween treat of the season. Who knew eating spider webs could be so yummy?! These are easy, inexpensive, and cute!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Lay out your pretzels on the wax paper in “starburst” arrangements of 6 or 8 pretzels (it’s a good idea to put it on a cookie sheet for transport stability).
Collecting stamps is a fun and easy introduction to geography, history, art and nature. Help your children start a stamp collection by sharing stamps from your letters from home. Ask your au pair friends for stamps from their countries.
Photo: Simon Davies
Use an empty coffee can or oatmeal container as a drum and bang on it along with some lively music.
~Make a drum!
Here are instructions (from http://www.pbskids.org) for a drum experiment for school age children. Younger children like to use a coffee cans or pots as drums.
1. First get a container that you think will make a good drum, like a metal bowl or an oatmeal container.
2. Put the double-sided tape all the way around the container 2 inches from the top.
3. Cut 2 pieces of shrink-wrap big enough to cover the tape on the container. Then, push it onto the tape.
4. Tape the edges of the shrink-wrap with masking tape so it’s really secure.
5. Now blow-dry the shrink-wrap with a blow dryer set on hot. This shrinks the plastic and makes a very tight drum. Be sure you don’t put the end of the blow dryer to close to the plastic, or it will melt.
6. Once it’s really tight, bang your drum.
Photo: Thomas Kohler
Please click here to view arts and crafts ideas for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving with kids
Some fun craft ideas for the season!
APIA Fall, Halloween & Thanksgiving pinboard with lots of great activity ideas. Visit. http://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/fall-halloween-thanksgiving/
Dedicated to ages 10-15 this serves as a reminder of the insecurity of young adolescents. Help the young adolescents you care for to recognize their abilities. Help to make home a safe and comfortable place where it is okay to learn from mistakes. Help them to learn about the adult values of hard work, family and discipline.
Photo: :mrMark:
Click here to find fun pizza recipes like these “pizza pops” on kidspot.com
Pizza is easy and fun to make and can be a nutritious meal for the children and is easy to make at home.
You will need a ready-made pizza dough or a ready-made crust, shredded mozzarella cheese and a jar of pizza sauce. First the dough or crust goes on a cookie sheet or pizza pan. Then spread the sauce, add the other toppings, and last of all, sprinkle the cheese. Bake as directed for the crust. Be careful, and keep the children away from the oven as the oven must be very hot to make a nice crusty pizza.
If you want to get a little fancier and try these pizza pops. Click on photo for recipes.
Click here for a coloring page where kids can draw in toppings and make their own pizza.
More kid friendly recipes here
