October is here and, chances are, your children are getting excited for Halloween. It can be a fun time of year, encouraging your little one’s imagination and allowing them to be part of the exciting adventures of corn mazes, pumpkin picking, and trick-or-treating. However, it can also be a challenging time. Aside from the abundance of sugary treats, trick-or-treating needs to be an activity taken with the appropriate precautions.
A lot of young children running around at night, of course, presents dangerous situations. To help, consider adding a glow stick necklace to your kids’ Halloween costume or add-on reflective wear. They can also carry a light-up wand or stick (available at any party store) to make sure they are easy to spot. Remind them they need to stay with you and not run ahead. Try to go out in a group with extra watchful eyes.
You’ll also want to be sure to clearly communicate with your kids that you will be responsible for their candy. You want to carefully inspect all the candy they receive to be sure it has not been tampered with. Dispose of anything that doesn’t look like it’s carefully sealed. This way you can also monitor how much they are eating. We encourage good nutrition at our school and know it can be difficult to do the same at home with gobs of candy lying around. Try to space out their consumption or even consider donating some if you have excessive amounts to soldiers who are overseas or organizations like Ronald McDonald House.
Looking for a fun Halloween-themed activity that doesn’t involve sugary treats? We host several different activities at school and our students truly enjoy bringing the fun home. Plus, it can help keep their mind off of eating more and more candy. Consider making Pumpkin Pie play dough. The kids will love playing with this brightly-colored goop!
Pumpkin Pie Play Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
- 5 ½ Cups of Flour
- 2 Cups of Salt
- 8 Teaspoons Cream of Tartar
- ¾ Cups of Oil
- 1 Container of Pumpkin Pie Spice (1 ½ ounces in size)
- Orange Food Coloring (2 parts yellow, 1 part red)
- 4 Cups of Water
Directions:
- Mix the yellow and red food coloring in a small separate bowl.
- Mix all of the remaining ingredients together and add the food coloring.
- Stir over medium heat until all of the lumps disappear. Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth.
- Keep stored in an airtight container.
Be sure to also check our monthly calendar online to see all the fun activities we have scheduled for the month at school. We love incorporating themed activities into our learning. Plus, we are very excited about this time of year and are excited to spend it with your child!
Feel free to contact us online or call us at 818-763-5859 if you would like your child to join us and be part of all the holiday fun at Great Beginnings. We are committed to making learning fun and helping children grow in a safe and nurturing environment.
