ACTIVITY: Halloween Ghost Decoration

October is just around the corner, and with it: Halloween! Try this fun project to place outside your house and start preparing for trick or treat season.

You will need:

White posterboard

Black markers

White plastic bag

Scissors

Glue

String

Cut a long piece of posterboard and roll up. This is the ghost´s head. Decorate it with eyes and mouth, it can be scary or funny. Cut long strips of plastic from the plastic bag. Glue to the bottom of the head, all around the posterboard. Glue or staple a string on the top. You are ready to hang up your ghost decoration and start scaring up for Halloween!

DAILY RECIPE: Fresh Fruit Pie

1 can condensed milk

1 cup of water

3 egg yolks

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup water

1 can half and half

10 strawberries (washed, trimmed and cut in half)

1 kiwi fruit (peeled and sliced)

orange slices

1 prepared pie crust

Bring condensed milk and cup of water to a boil. Meanwhile beat egg yolks with cornstarch and 1/2 cup of water. Add to boiling condensed milk and beat until thick. Remove from heat and stir in half and half. Pour into pie crust. Chill and decorate with fruit slices.

TIP OF THE DAY

Give yourself a hand and help young children stimulate their visual discrimination skills by having them pair up socks after they come out of the dryer!

DAILY RECIPE:Coconut Rice

1 1/2 cups rice

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups coconut milk

salt and pepper

1 garlic clove

oil

In a little oil sauteé finely chopped garlic clove and rice. Add chicken broth and coconut milk and stir well. Add salt and pepper. Cover and cook over low heat for about 15 minutes, checking for tenderness.

TIP OF THE DAY

Remove stubborn grease from pans by filling them up with a little water and detergent. Place over low heat until bubbly: the grease will rinse right off!

ARTICLE: Using a "practice skit" to make children safe

We have all told our children not to speak to strangers, never wander off and never take candy or anything else from someone they don´t know. However, it can be hard for a young child to understand who is a stranger, and how they can say they don´t want candy from them. For these situations, I like to use a "practice skit". When talking to your children about this, add a for example. After you give your explanation tell them: for example, a stranger tells you, "Here, eat this candy bar." What do you say? What do you do? Help them along with possible reactions. It will be easier to understand what they have to do. You can use this method for different situations and when talking about delicate subjects to older children; such as what to do if "friends" offer them drugs. Help your children by using examples of possible answers they can give to stay away from these situations. Though they´re delicate subjects to discuss with them, they will be better prepared for life if you do.

DAILY RECIPE: Easy Minestrone!

1 cup diced zuchinni

1 cup diced carrots

1 cup diced potatoes

6 cups chicken broth

1 tomato

salt and pepper

1 small pkg. short pasta (elbow, macaronni, etc.)

Bring broth to a boil and add diced vegetables. Cook until tender but still firm on the inside. Check for seasoning, remember potatoes absorb salt. Blend tomato and add to the soup. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Serve warm.

TIP OF THE DAY

If your child has a favorite stuffed animal that he or she takes to bed and basically everywhere around, try buying an identical one and save as a spare. If ever the tragedy should occur that the original gets lost, you can bring out the spare one and no more sleepless nights!

ARTICLE: Participating in Children´s School Events!

Sometimes, if we work outside the house, or if everyday tasks keep us constantly busy, it can be hard to volunteer for the PTA or as room mothers at school, and it´s o.k. However there will be times when our kids will come up to us and ask that feared question: "Mom, how come you didn´t go to the school event today? All the other mothers were there." (Because that´s what they´ll say, even if just one mom showed up :) !) For this there is a simple solution. If you simply cannot attend to every school function because of work, choose a couple throughout the year, and then really make a point out of going so that your child will embrace that moment in their minds. For example, let´s say you can´t attend any event or field trip because of work, but they ask you to serve the Halloween lunch, and you can do it. Bring decorated cupcakes, napkin covered "ghost" juice bottles, Halloween paper plates and napkins, etc. Take lots of pictures and stay for the parade. Show your child that although mommy has to work, you took time off when you could and presented everything in the best possible way that you could. This will also teach your child responsability by understanding the importance of your job, but that you still care a lot about him or her and that you are ready to participate in their events in a great way.

TIP OF THE DAY

Are your kids still reluctant about putting your inflatable wading pool away for the fall? Give them a few more days of "pool fun" by filling it up with small plastic balls (available at toy stores by the bag). They can enjoy a day in a "dry" pool!