10/21/09

ONLINE ACTIVITY: ScrapColoring!

ScrapColoring is a new website, offering children the opportunity to color using patterns and gradients, textures and colors with a wide variety of pictures. It develops their creativity and it really is lots of fun! They can also enter their name and color it, developing pre-writing skills as well as encouraging artistic development. Visit it with your children and you´ll find hours of free online fun.

HALLOWEEN: Easy Costumes to find around the house!

  • WITCH: Make a pointed hat out of black posterboard. Decorate with star stickers. Braid your child´s hair overnight. Let braids loose in the morning so hair will be frizzy. With a black makeup pencil add freckles or a wart. Have your child wear an orange t-shirt, a black skirt and bright colored tights that don´t match.
  • PIRATE: Make an eye patch with yarn and a piece of black construction paper. Have your child wear a striped shirt and dark pants or shorts. (Even better? Cut pants that don´t fit anymore just below the knee). Tie a bandanna on your child´s head. Girl pirates? Add a side braid for a final touch.
  • GYPSY: Simple! Oversized blouse, long skirt (they can use your own) and lots of necklaces, rings and bracelets. A bandanna or handkerchief on head is a great touch, too.
  • VAMPIRE: Have them wear all black. If you have an old black cape, tie it around their back. If not, a black tablecloth, piece of cloth or black sheet will do. Even simpler? One of your black coats or jackets. With a black makeup pencil mark their eyebrows, a little white powder for the face, and even some red lipstick to paint "blood spots" down their chin.
  • CLOWN: Clothes that don´t match. Anything they want, as long as it doesn´t match! Add a funny hat, scarf or big bowtie made from tissue paper or cloth. If you have a wig, let them use it. Add funny makeup around the face, eyes and cheeks. (Some ideas, draw lines, hearts, circles, etc.) Paint nose red.
  • GHOST: Don´t forget the ever famous ghost in the white sheet. Use one of your old sheets and carefully cut out holes for the eyes.

HAPPY TRICK OR TREATING!

DAILY RECIPE: Easy French Toast

6 slices of white bread
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
butter
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cinammon powder
Mix eggs and milk with a whisk. Combine sugar and cinammon. One slice at a time, soak bread in egg mixture. Melt butter in a small frying pan and cook bread. When brown on both sides coat well with sugar mix. Serve immediately.

TIP OF THE DAY

Limited closet space? Buy a large plastic container that fits under the bed. Put away shorts, sandals or any other items you will definitely not be wearing in winter months. When spring arrives, switch out with winter clothes.