Healthy Pumpkin Treats Kids Can Make

Boy, pumpkin sure is the theme--everything from IHOP pancakes to beer features it. And right in time for harvest and Halloween parties. So I thought, why not tap into that beta-carotene goodness for my Week-of-school-snacks and Five-day-school-lunch-menu series? Here are healthy recipes featuring pumpkin. Use fresh (use pumpkin, not a jack-o-lantern) or take my lazy way out and use canned--not pie filling. Involve toddlers and preschooler in preparations. Weekly Snack Menu, Healthy Pumpkin Themed Kids Treats

Paranormal Prose Flash Fiction Slam for Halloween

On another site I wrote for, we used to have an annual Halloween flash fiction contest. Several years in a row, I "hosted" a fiction share thread on our forum. We'd share our submissions, read each others' and have good spookable fun. I added submissions to my blog

thewritersgarden.blogspot.com

You can read preceding year's selections under "horror" and "Halloween" tag or by clicking the Paranormal Prose Promotion link list. Last year, I decided to resurrect (pun intended) that fright fest with a Paranormal Prose Promotion of Facebook (same idea). Here's a way you can get in on the Halloween hauntings. Visit Bubblews   Paranormal Prose Flash Fiction Slam for Halloween

Free Printable Apple Activities for Fall, Halloween

Apples are a popular theme for fall lesson plans, especially for preschool lessons. Looking for apple activities for a harvest party, science lesson plans or maybe Halloween? Have I got a great sweet treat for you--a plethora of free printable apple-themed fun. This booklet includes apple math activities, science puzzles, social studies lessons and history extensions. There are printable creative writing prompts, word games and more.  Free Printable Apple Activities for Fall Preschool Lesson Plans 

Halloween Recycled Trash Crafts for Kids--Homemade Hats

Got rainy-day, can't go out to play bored kids? Why not get started on a nifty homemade Halloween costume? If you need a fun fix fast, I'm your go-to gal. My ideas cheap, easy and parent-friendly. Your recycle bin is your best ally. Today's boredom first-aid: homemade hats for trick-or-treat costumes. Use for school projects, history lessons, too.Rainy Day Recycle Bin Crafts for Kids--Homemade Hats

Homemade Preschool Animal Costumes for Halloween

 Dramatic play develops preschool social, emotional, artistic, creative and communication skills. Plays lend themselves to all content. Here are homemade costumes, props and settings for life science theater. I call it bio-drama. Using recycled materials teaches real-life environmental science! Perfect for Halloween costumes and displays. Excellent for group costumes. Homemade Preschool Dramatic Play Animal Costumes, Habitats

Free Printable Doctor Who Coloring Pages, Crafts, Games, Activities

 BBC's sci-fi show "Doctor Who" celebrates its 50th birthday in 2013. My youngest daughter discovered Doctor Who in 2005 when she was seven. The current Time Lord was the Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston. The current Eleventh Doctor is Matt Smith. If you love galaxy hopping in the TARDIS and battling Cybermen and Daleks here are free printable Doctor Who coloring pages to extend your adventures. And for Halloween, there are free printable Doctor Who villian masks--Cybermen, Weeping Angels, Silence and more. Free Printable Doctor Who Coloring Pages, Crafts, Games, Activities

Free Printable Halloween Party Decorations, Banners and Streamers--Spooky and Fall Themed

Hosting a Halloween party or haunted house? Looking for cheap Halloween party decorations? Want to decorate your classroom for Halloween? Here are free printable Halloween decorations including witch, pumpkin, ghost, black cats, monsters, bats, spiders, zombies, skeletons, ghouls and more. There are scary party decorations and more tame ones with cartoon images. You'll find free printable Halloween banners, streamers, table decor, treat bags, party favors--just to name a few! Read on. Free Printable Halloween Party Decorations, Banners, Streamers

Easy, cheap kids' fall birthday party tips

Got a child with a fall birthday? Autumn is a great time for an outdoor birthday party. Sometimes, fall outdoor parties are easier to manage because it's cooler. Here's an easy, cheap kids' birthday bash, suitable for preschool to elementary age children. I've included tips for food, crafts, games, activities and cleanup.  Easy, cheap kids' fall birthday party tips 

Free Printable Apple Activities for Fall Preschool Lesson Plans

Apples are a popular theme for fall lesson plans, especially for preschool lessons. Looking for apple activities? Have I got a great sweet treat for you--a plethora of free printable apple-themed fun. This booklet includes apple math activities, science puzzles, social studies lessons and history extensions. There are printable creative writing prompts, word games and more.  Free Printable Apple Activities for Fall Preschool Lesson Plans 

Best corn mazes in Southeast Michigan

Corn mazes are a fall Michigan tradition. What's a corn maze? It's a multi-acre corn field in which corn stalks are mowed in creative pattern. The pattern may be words, designs, or images. Intrepid corn maze visitors pay to traverse the labyrinth without getting lost. That's easier said than done. It took my daughter and me nearly two hours to find our way out of a 6-acre cornfield maze we visited. Some corn mazes feature intriguing puzzles to solve, too. Read on for best southeast Michigan corn mazes. Best corn mazes in Metro Detroit