Halloween Safety Tips For Trick-or-Treating
There are several issues that should be taken into consideration when young children go trick-or-treating. The primary concern is safety, but comfort should also be kept in mind. To begin with, an adult should accompany young children. If a large group of young children is trick-or-treating together, be sure to bring several adults along.
Children choose their costumes based upon any number of criteria, such as how popular it is, how scary it is, etc. There are other factors that should be considered by the child’s parents. It is often cold on Halloween night, so be sure that a costume is either warm enough by itself, or that it is loose-fitting enough to accommodate a warm layer of clothing underneath it.
Also, be sure that the costume does not obstruct the child’s view. This is one of several safety considerations. Inspect the costume to make sure that there are no parts that could act as a tripping hazard. Likewise, see to it that any accessory items do not have sharp edges or points.
Visibility is important, as well. Give each child a flashlight or glow stick so that motorists and other pedestrians can see them. Each adult should also have a flashlight to help children find their way around large bushes, shrubs, etc. It is also important to monitor the children when approaching darkened porches and doorways. A good flashlight is invaluable in this application.
Finally, when you get home all items received must be inspected for tears in wrappers, pinholes and the like. Instruct the children not to consume any of their candy or other treats until they have been looked through at home. If you are at all uncertain about the safety of a given item, discard it. It is better to be safe than sorry, especially if the children were trick-or-treating in a somewhat unfamiliar area.
Halloween should be a fun and carefree holiday for children. A small group of responsible adults can ensure the safety of the children and allow them to have a fun time. Harmful incidents on or around Halloween are rare, and are often the stuff of urban legends. Taking a few precautions will provide a comfortable level of safety for all those involved.
For more information on Halloween, please see Halloween tips.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Grayson_Thrush
Grayson Thrush – EzineArticles Expert Author
Fall Leaf Collage
Fall is a great time for kids to do fall crafts. Leaf collages are easy to make and can provide hours of fall fun. Kids enjoy looking for the leaves as well as using the leaves to create their creative collages.
Here’s what you need for this fun fall craft project:
Fall leaves
Ornamental grasses
Flower petals
Waxed paper
Old crayons
Old cheese grater
Newspaper
Iron
This project can be done on two different days. One afternoon can be spent outside looking for different colored leaves, pretty ornamental grasses, and interesting flower petals. After the kids have a good collection, have them lay everything out on some newspapers to dry.
On a rainy day when there’s nothing else to do or maybe on Thanksgiving Day while you’re waiting for dinner to be ready, bring out the dried leaves and grasses to create the leaf collage.
Start by choosing the size of the collage. Tear off two pieces of waxed paper to the desired size. You will be pressing the leaves between the sheets of waxed paper.
You will be using crayon shavings to get the sheets of waxed paper to stick together. This also adds some color to the collages. Choose some old crayons in a variety of fall colors and use the old cheese grater to get some shavings from the crayons.
Working on a piece of newspaper, lay one sheet of waxed paper down and arrange the leaves, grasses, and flowers as desired. Sprinkle crayon shavings all over the sheet of waxed paper, so that when you iron the sheets together, they will completely stick together.
Next use the iron to press the two sheets of waxed paper together. Unless you’re using an old iron, you should use a thin cloth between the waxed paper and the iron, or you might get crayon shavings on your iron, which will transfer onto the next thing you iron…believe me, I know!
That’s it! These leaf collages look great hanging in a window as a pretty fall decoration. You could also hang them on the refrigerator, frame them, or even use them as place mats.
Article by:
Photo of finished project: http://www.crafty-moms.com/fall-leaf-collage.shtml. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com/.
Fall Yard Cleanup
With fall fast approaching, it’s that time of year when we begin cleaning up our yards and preparing for the upcoming winter. To make fall cleanup work as fast and easy as possible, it can be helpful to break the work down into the different areas of your yard. The areas that most commonly need attention are trees and shrubs, the lawn, and vegetable or flower gardens.
Trees and shrubs often need to be trimmed back in the fall, though this will vary, depending on the type of plant. If you’re unsure when to trim your trees or bushes, consult a gardening book or online resource. When doing any kind of trimming or pruning, basic safety precautions are of primary importance. If your trees are taller than 10 or 15 feet, it’s best not to take the risk of doing the job yourself. Look for a qualified arborist who can do the work for you, and be sure to check out some references before hiring anyone to do the work. This can also be a good time to remove any old or dying trees, as well.
Lawns will need several kinds of care during the fall months. First, you’ll want to rake up all the fallen leaves and any other debris from shrub and tree trimming. There are many types of leaf bagging devices on the market today that can make this job easier, such as leaf bag holders or special tarps designed to collect leaves and other debris while you are raking. Once all the leaves are removed, it’s important to do one final mowing of the grass at the end of the year. Last but not least, a fall lawn application is also a good idea. Visit your local garden center or nursery for a recommendation of what type of product to use. When in doubt, a good all purpose fertilizer is usually fine.
The last area that will require some fall attention is your garden and planting areas. Your work here will vary depending on what types of plants you’re working with. In the case of annuals, especially annual vegetable plants, it’s best to remove the plants entirely at the end of the growing season. Some vegetables like tomatoes and potatoes, if left to rot in the cool fall weather, can transmit fungal diseases into the soil. These pests and fungi are often times capable of overwintering in the dirt, and can then cause problems with next year’s crops. Once annual plants are removed, now is a good time to till the soil and add any fertilizers such as organic matter or other soil amendments. Finish the area off by adding a thick layer of mulch.
If the planting area in question is full of perennial plants, you’ll probably want to consult a gardening book or website to see what maintenance, if any, is required. With most perennials, it’s best to leave the plants alone and let them die back naturally during the winter months. It is a good idea to apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of each plant, too. In the spring, the dry, dead foliage will be easy to remove, making way for renewed growth.
Fall yard cleanup does require some work on your part, but nothing too difficult. With the basic steps we’ve outlined above, you will be rewarded by a yard, lawn, and garden that will look better than ever next spring.
