Halloween

Submitted by Isabelle Rapacciuolo, Owner, The Tiny Artist Studio, Massapequa

SUPPLIES

• Empty paper towel roll
• Black, bright green and white felt
  
• Green and white paint
• Black fun foam
• Aluminum foil
• Black and red marker or paint
• Glue (Aleens Tacky Glue) or hot glue (with adult supervision)
• Googly eyes

INSTRUCTIONS

• Download the templates for cutting Frankenstein's body parts here
• Paint the top portion of the paper towel roll bright green, from the top down approximately 2 3/4".  Let dry.
• Cut a piece of black felt approximately 8 ½" X 6" and wrap it around the bottom half of the paper towel roll. 
• Cut the white felt into a shirt and glue over the black felt to make a neckline
• Cut out hair and arms out of the remaining black felt
• Cut feet out of black foam
• Cut hands out of green felt
• Fold strips of aluminum foil together to make a thick piece (about 1/8")and bend into a zig zag for a mouth.
• Use the remaining aluminum foil to make metal for the sides of the neck.
• Glue all of the parts together and use a red marker to make a zig zag wound on his head and hands.
• Use black marker to paint on heavy eye brows.

• If you are looking for recipes for great Halloween treats such as Monster Party Mix, Ghoulish Brain Dip or Mummy Dogs, click here to download this free e-book.  You'll also find great family activities, Halloween party games and other resources. 
• Pumpkin painting is a great way to celebrate fall and Halloween.  Download this e-book and learn how to make your house the envy of your whole block with step-by-step instructions!
  
• Kids always love face painting, whether it's Halloween or not!  This e-book will give you fun ideas and instructions on how to face paint.  Click here to download.
  

Make your own…there are great ideas on line through different parenting magazines.

Shop for props/costumes at a local thrift store.

Do a costume exchange through our classifieds. Trade your child's costume from the previous year and find something different for the current year.

If you have a daughter, you probably have a dress-up box - go through that and have her get creative with something she already owns.

Host a Halloween costume party for your kid’s friends. Have other parents help with snacks, goodies and games. This is a great way to get together with your mom’s group. Families can bring a decorated pumpkin for a contest. It can be fun to pre-bake sugar cookies with Halloween cookie cutters. The kids can decorate them when they get back from trick-or-treating.

Fun alternatives to handing out candy:
Stickers, bags of pretzels, trinket toys, coins, toothbrushes

Ideas for what to do with all that candy...
Have them pick out their 10 favorite pieces to be enjoyed in the upcoming days and then buy the rest off of them. Maybe $5 for the bag. They can put it in their piggy bank feel rewarded for giving up their candy and you can take the candy into your office and get it out of the house.

Eat a healthy dinner. Try to get a healthy dinner into your kids before you go out. This way they will not just fill up on candy.

Recipes and Craft Ideas.  Click here to download a free e-book full of Halloween recipes and party games!

Halloween represents a time of fun and festivity. Candy corn, costumed kids and carved pumpkins set the scene. Follow these simple tips provided by the Home Safety Council to make sure your Cinderella or Frankenstein does not get spooked by holiday dangers:

• Be sure all children under age 12  trick-or-treat with an adult since they may be walking at night and in  unfamiliar territory.
  
• Only permit trick-or-treating at  the homes of friends and neighbors you know well.
  
• When purchasing costumes and  accessories, buy only those marked "flame retardant" or "flame resistant".
• Avoid costumes made of long,  flowing material and accessories that can move or blow over open flames. If  the costume requires altering, sew or tape up a hem at the bottom or even use  a belt to hold the costume up.
• Choose costumes that are light,  bright and clearly visible. Apply reflective tape to the front and back of  costumes to help motorists see your child. 
• Avoid costumes that block your  child's vision and increase the risk of a fall.
  
• Be sure that costume accessories,  such as knives and swords, are made of soft, flexible material. 
  
• To keep vision clear, consider  using face paint instead of a mask.
  
• Provide your child with a  flashlight as part of their costume, to light the way and signal drivers of  his or her presence. Never carry candles, torches or other open flames as part  of a costume.
  
• Be sure that shoelaces are tied  tight so they don't present a falling hazard. Pumpkins on neighbors' steps and  porches can also trip kids up.
  
• Make sure all children in the  group carry an ID card that includes their name, address and emergency phone  numbers (including area code), in case they get separated from the group. 
  
• Stress the importance of walking,  not running, from house to house, especially after dark. Children should not  cross yards and lawns where hidden objects can cause falling incidents. 
  
• Examine all treats thoroughly  before allowing children to eat them.
  
• Throw away open treats, those not  in their original wrapping and homemade goodies from unknown sources.
• Contact the Poison Control Center  Hotline if you believe your child has consumed anything hazardous. The  national hotline number is 1-800-222-1222. Notify local police of any  suspicious candy.
  
• Tell children to sit down when  they eat and to take small bites.
  
• Young children should never help  carve a pumpkin. As an alternative, decorate pumpkins with markers, paint or  stickers.
• Whether in your own home or a neighbor's, parents should be aware of any decorations that can pose fire, falling or choking hazards. Spooky decorations may pique your child's interest and make them want to explore, so make sure to keep decorations with small, loose parts out of young children's reach.

When hosting trick-or-treaters at your home, keep these safety tips in mind:

• Do not use candles when decorating  porches to prevent costumes from catching fire. Light jack-o-lanterns with  small flashlights instead of candles.
  
• Only burn candles when an adult is  in the room and paying attention. Put them in a place that is well out of the  reach of children. Blow the candles out when adults leave the room or go to  sleep. If you have children in your home, store candles, and especially  matches and lighters out of their sight and reach in a locked cabinet. 
• Provide bright walkway and porch  lighting to help prevent falls. Make sure your lawn is clear of things that  could be tripped over, such as pumpkins, ladders, garden hoses, flowerpots,  bikes and animal leashes.
• Do not overload electrical outlets  with holiday lighting or special effects, and do not block exit doors.
  
• Do not use dry ice as a special  effect as it can cause severe injury if eaten.
  
• Offer treats wrapped in their  original packages.
  
• If you decorate your home with  candles, keep them well away from crepe paper, leaves and other flammable  objects. Extinguish all candles when leaving the room.