From all of us here at More4kids we wish people to have a happy and safe Halloween. If you have not already check out an article on some Halloween safety tips .

Part of the fun of Halloween is playing silly games. When planning the games, it’s best to keep the costumes in mind and plan things that will work around them. Games should be simple with easy to follow rules.

Mummy Wrap Up – Divide guests into small groups. Provide them each with a roll or two of toilet paper and see who can use the tissue paper to wrap up one of their teammates the fastest. The first one to complete their mummy using the entire roll wins.

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Ah, to be a teen again. I have often thought that myself. We sometimes forgot all the changes we went through and how tough it can be for a teener in todays world. The teenager years are perhaps the most difficult years that a person will go through in life. This is the time when confusion seems part of life and problems with identity seem never-ending.

Because of the many changes that the average teenagers undergo at this period, adolescence can be pretty overwhelming. Some are able to cope while others flounder with their steps, stumbling over hindrances that in some standards are just small. But for teenagers, these stumbling blocks represent the very core of their beings and identities as persons.

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Parenting carries some heavy responsibilities. The next time you gaze into your eager toddler’s eyes, think about this: You are your child’s hero. 

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"Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day"

Robert Caspar Lintner

 

When people ask me what my favorite holiday is, I always say Thanksgiving. I don’t know that deep down Thanksgiving is really my favorite holiday, but I feel sorry for it. There it is, sandwiched between the candy, costumes, and trick-or-treat of Halloween and the gifts, glitz, and glamour of Christmas. How is a simple, mostly non-commercialized holiday like Thanksgiving supposed to compete?

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All of us like to feel special and loved. Our kids are no exception. Many of us, myself included live very hectic lives. While we may due our best to spend quality time with our kids, how often do we spend a whole quality day with them? We have mothers day, family day, one idea is to set aside time each month for each child to have their own special “Kid Day”. While we do spend time with out kids, a "Kids Day" helps us to really get close and bond even more with our children. Face it, It is hard for some families to do things together, with everyone running in so many different directions between work, sports, school and other activities. I know it is in my family. It’s good to just slow down and take time to be a family.

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by Mamma G

I don’t know why most of us Mommys do it, but we pretend June Cleaver is a realistic role model. “To be a good Mommy, I gotta have at least a little June Cleaver in me!” is the inner voice so many of us guilt trip over.

I can’t say I’m innocent. Look at this picture of my daughter so many Halloween moons ago. Yes, that’s a homemade costume. I bent coat hangers to make the wing frames. I sewed the dress from scratch. Glued on all the tiny beads. How many hours did it take? Probably about twenty or thirty. At a paltry five bucks an hour, that makes this a $120-$170 fairy suit. Not counting the actual $30-40 bucks I spent on materials.

Yikes!

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Sibling rivalry is common among children, in fact it is almost inevitable. Many times when introducing a new baby into a family, the existing child will display feelings of jealousy. Even established families, with two or more children, frequently deal with rivalry between siblings. Just remember that it is a natural reaction, it is how you deal with the situation that is important.

As a parent dealing with this rivalry, you should not expect your children to overcome sibling rivalry and jealousy overnight. This is something that usually needs to be addressed on an ongoing basis, especially as your children grow older.

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Best Websites for Parents

Parenting can be a tough job, and most of us parents are grateful for all the help and advice we can get. How lucky are we to have the internet as a parenting resource in addition to our friends, family, books, and other helps! But the internet can be a little overwhelming too. Google “parenting” and you get 76,600,000 hits. Which websites have the information you need? Below are links to some of the best parenting websites out there. Here are our top picks. As we find or hear about more great ones we will add it to the list, so stop back. Now here is the list:

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 by Stacey Schifferdecker

Does it seem like kids’ birthday parties are getting a little more extravagant every year? My daughter recently went to a party that featured two bounce toys and two clowns doing face painting and balloon animals, plus a craft table, a piñata, and goodie bags. The latest trend in my son’s class is to rent the entire skating rink for a couple hours.

Of course, the kids have fun at these parties and if the parents can afford a big, expensive party, they have every right to throw one. But those of us who can’t afford to spend hundred of dollars on a birthday party can still throw affordable parties that are fun for everyone.

Set a Budget – and Stick to It
Your first step in keeping a birthday party affordable is to decide how much you want to spend. Don’t be tempted into a “My child’s birthday party must be the biggest and best” competition. If your child wants something for the party that will break the budget, tell him or her they have to drop something else.

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Halloween parties can be fantastic fun but they can also be scary for some children, and adults. Here are some tips to keep everyone smiling:

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Sharing is Caring - Teaching our children to share can be one of the most challenging things to teach, and perhaps one of the most important things we can teach out kids. Younger children tend to think everything is theirs. One way to help teach sharing is to start donating to children’s charities. As the holiday season fast approaches, Thanksgiving and Christmas are opportune times to teach our children about sharing and caring for others who are not as fortunate. They can also learn that they can donate more than just money. It is also a good idea to donate new or gently used things, like toys, clothes books, or time.

In addition to teaching children to share, it helps them learn the value and satisfaction that comes with helping others. Decide as a family how often to go through things and pass on nice things that the family no longer needs. The items should be in good shape.

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If someone asked you to describe the heartbeat of your home, how would you describe it – erratic, racing, consistent and steady, or always changing and unpredictable? Just as it is important for your heart to beat in a steady rhythm, research shows it is also important for the heartbeat of your home to be steady and strong.

The Warning Signs We know that high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and being overweight are all factors that contribute to heart disease. Research has shown that an unhealthy heartbeat in the home can be caused by lack of communication, over commitment, high levels of conflict, in-laws with unrealistic expectations, an unhealthy family of origin, failure to balance home and work, out of control finances, and a variety of other things.

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 by Stacey Schifferdecker

Boo! Halloween is almost upon us. I know the trick-or-treaters at my house are busy thinking about what they want to be this year. Of course, their ideas change daily, so no costume-making is underway.

In addition to getting your kids ready to go trick-or-treating for Halloween, you need to make your home ready for all the little ones who will be knocking on your door. You don’t anyone to trip and fall or to catch their costume on fire.

Lighting
The universal signal for a house where trick-or-treaters are welcome is a simple porch light. No light – no kids. So be sure and flip your porch light on so the kids know you are ready and waiting.

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Parenting sure has its up and its downs. Becoming a parent can be one of the most exciting times of anyone’s life, and it can also be one of the most stressful. It is important for new parents to realize that along with all of the stress and hard work of parenting come countless and immeasurable rewards. I personally would not give it up for the world!!

You see, parenting offers us parents the ability to raise a new member of the global community, someone who has unlimited potential to make a difference in the future and in the world. There is nothing better than seeing your child grow to become a successful adult who cares about the world in which they live.

Sure, the future reward is amazing and almost unbelievable, but what about the everyday rewards of parenting?

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Creating a meaningful close and relationship with your teenagers begins from the moment they are born. However you can’t turn back the clock and if you are having a difficult time with your teen, it is still possible to build a closer relationship. If you have other younger children, take this time to evaluate how your relationship with them is developing. Is is important to realize that the foundations you lay out now, will carry you into the difficult teen years. Make sure you spend time together, talk and answer all your youngsters’ questions. Kids are so inquisitive and will ask just about anything. Don’t shy away from the tough answers or you will slowly close the door on communication. Of course, you’ll be answering in an age-appropriate manner, but don’t brush off the hard questions. You want your children to come to you when they need answers and support.

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