Cozi Blog

Thanksgiving Crafts

Gobble, gobble!

Looking for a quick craft to enjoy with your kids this month that keeps with the Thanksgiving spirit?

How about a leaf turkey?

Send the kids out to gather a collection of beautiful leaves and one pinecone.

Place the leaves on a large piece of orange construction paper in a fan shape. Use a glue gun or stick to attach the leaves to the paper.

Then glue the pinecone to the bottom center of your fan of leaves, and stick googly eyes on it for the turkey’s  eyes.

Make an orange beak and a red wattle using felt, and glue them onto the pinecone.

Let your turkey dry, and hang it up for a festive decoration.

Happy Turkey Time!

Get your family organized and on the same page with Cozi, the free online family organizer.

-Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs

Candy Corn Games

‘Tis the season for that super-sweet candy corn that everyone can agree reminds them of Halloween past, present, and, most likely, future! Besides eating all of the candy corn that may be lying around your home this week, you can also play some fun and simple games with these bright candy kernels.

Send the kids on a Candy Corn Hunt. You can do this by creating a path of candy corn that they must follow to a surprise at the end, or by hiding small bags of candy corn around your yard and sending the kids on a traditional hunt.

Fill a large pumpkin pail with candy corn and ask the kids to Guess the Number. Whoever guesses closest wins! Share the candy corn with everyone.

Create Candy Corn Artwork with heavy card stock, candy corn, and a glue stick. This may get messy, but it will be fun!

Make Candy Corn Strings, just like popcorn. Decorate the room and front doorway with them.

Make Homemade Candy Corn. This is a great idea for older children.

Make Candy Corn Krispie Treats by adding candy corn to this favorite recipe.

Play Candy Corn Foosball. Have two kids stand at either end of a large table. One child throws candy corn to the other end of the table, and the other child must block it from going through and making a goal. Use a solid cookie cutter for blocking (making sure it is one that will not scratch your table).

Make Candy Corn Sculptures, using frosting to hold the sculpture together. (Make sure to place paper on your table to keep the mess to a minimum.)

Finally, send guests home with Goody Bags of the sweet stuff!

It may be corny, but these ideas will keep it sweet, too!

--Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs

3 Things to Do with Halloween Candy Instead of Eating It

Halloween is on a Saturday this year, so you can bet it will be big. Instead of pulling tricks to reduce the amount of candy your kids eat, like trading it in for toys or simply throwing it away, put it to good use! Here are three alternatives to eating it all:

Decorate

Halloween is perfectly timed for candy recycling. Stash away an assortment of candy, or just the stuff no one likes, for November and December holiday decorating. Use the candy for decorating holiday gingerbread houses, making tree decorations, and adding special touches to holiday cards and wrapped presents.

Experiment

Did you know that you can use all sorts of candy to do science experiments that will amaze the kids?  Get instructions for making lifesaver lights, playing sink or float, getting the "m" off the m&m's, and lots more at candyexperiments.com.

Make a Teacher Happy

Teacher appreciation week doesn't come until spring. Show some appreciation now with an overflowing candy dish in the teacher's lounge! Or, maybe a classroom needs some supplies for their own decorating projects or experiments.

Get your family organized and on the same page with Cozi, the free online family organizer.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

It’s Halloween season again, the perfect season for a Halloween Treasure Hunt. Mike, Peppers and Pollywogs’ own poet, has created a great set of Halloween decoration clues to keep the kids on the hunt for their treats!

Here are the clues and answers:

Clue: If you find your next clue, I hope that you’ll grin. It’s under a vegetable that’s lit from within. Answer: Jack o’ lantern

Clue: Where’s the next clue? I think that I saw ... the last one holding it was made out of straw. Answer: Scarecrow

Clue: Some say I’m corny, but I’m also quite sweet. Finding the next clue will sure be a treat! Answer: Candy corn

Clue: I’ve got spirit, yes I do, but even when I’m cheering, I still say boo! (I’ll try not to scare you when you come for your clue.) Answer: Ghost

Clue: The “point” of your next clue is really quite eerie: the woman who wears me calls children “Dearie.” Answer: Witch’s hat

Clue: I’ve got a “bone” to pick with you. It’s about time you come and get this next clue. Answer: Skeleton

Clue: By eight hairy legs, I have been spun. If you can find me, your clue will be won. Answer: Spider web

Clue: Boil, boil, toil, and trouble. Come get your next clue, on the double! Answer: Cauldron

Clue: With my body of wood and feet made of straw, I’m the strangest flying vehicle that you ever saw! Answer: Broomstick

Clue: My body is black and my legs count four. Some say it’s bad luck when I cross the floor. Answer: Black Cat

Clue: You’ll be green with envy over the bolts in my neck. I may have your clue; why don’t you come check? Answer: Frankenstein

Happy Halloween hunting!

--Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs

Halloween Costume Safety Tips

Will you have goblins and pumpkins around your home this year, or perhaps Chicken Little? Whatever you decide on for Halloween party and trick-or-treating costumes, keep a few tips in mind when purchasing or making costumes.

If purchasing costumes, wigs, beards, etc., make sure that they are labeled as flame-resistant. Although this doesn’t guarantee that these items will not catch fire, it does mean that they will resist burning and extinguish quickly.

Avoid costumes with baggy arms, billowy sleeves, pontoon pants, or flimsy material so that contact with candles is minimal. You could avoid candles altogether by providing kids with glow sticks or battery-operated candles.

If you are going to have costumes with swords, shields, etc., make sure they are soft and flexible.

Make sure the eyeholes on masks are large enough that your child can see clearly with full vision, and ensure that the mask securely fastens around his head. Because masks can often block vision, you may want to consider using hypoallergenic makeup instead.

Have kids go out in sturdy, comfortable shoes. High heels for the Cinderella costume are not a good idea.

Make sure that costumes are short enough that kids will not trip over them.

Provide kids with flashlights for their trick-or-treat adventure. Glow sticks are also quite popular, and they’re great for making kids visible, but they don’t replace flashlights—make sure that your kids have enough light to see.

Make costumes that are light and bright and can easily reflect light. Make sure that they are clearly visible to motorists as well. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and treat bags for greater visibility. The above-mentioned glow sticks are great for that!

Have your child wear emergency ID information, especially if you will not be going with him.

--Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs

Preparing Kids for a Trip: Read! Read! Read!

It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the behind-the-scenes details for family trips, like planning the itinerary, pre-trip shopping and packing.  However, when the time to take a trip approaches, it’s beneficial to prepare the main characters—the kids. When people ask what we do to prepare our kids before trips, my answer is always a resounding Read! Read! Read!

Reading destination related books and involving the kids in small parts of the research not only helps generate excitement, but also helps determine which activities to choose while at the destination.  Additionally, the knowledge about local sites and history provides a comfortable background for children as they explore unfamiliar areas. The historical knowledge is especially important because it provides insight about the culture.  Because our children vary in age, we need a variety of books ranging from “The Goodnight” series to more complex historical fiction. We also combine reference books and fiction to keep it interesting. Don’t worry if they don’t seem all that into it, they are still absorbing something and it will pay off when you get to the destination.

Often, it’s me that learns the most!  As I read to my children, it provides a refresher on my history and helpful information about the destination.

For suggestions, check out my book list on Amazon where I have posted recommendations for a handful of destinations we’ve visited lately: Italy, France, England, Ireland, Boston, San Diego, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia.

Family Travel Blogger Recommendations

Fiona from TravelMuse:
Dr. Suess, Oh, the Places You’ll Go
Julia Donaldson, The Snail and the Whale

MudslideMama from TravelingMamas:
(New York City) E.L. Konigsburg, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler.

Jody from HaveKidWillTravel:
(Ireland) Eve Bunting, S is for Shamrock: An Ireland Alphabet

Elizabeth from TravelForKids:
(Italy) Alan Armstrong - Looking for Marco Polo

Debbie from DeliciousBaby:
Byron Barton, Airplanes
Judy and Ron Barrett, Pickles to Pittsburgh

Jamie from TravelSavvyMom:
(New York) George Selden, The Cricket in Times Square
(England) Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
(England) Roald Dahl, Mathida
(Spain) Munro Leaf, The Story of Ferdinand
(China) Arlene Mosel and Blair Lent, Rikki Tikki Tembo
(Italy) Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca, Vacation Under the Volcano (Jamie’s kids love the audio version of this)

Mara from Mother of All Trips:
(Paris) Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret
(France) Cristina Bjork, Linnea In Monet’s Garden

Michelle from Wandermom:
(Ireland) Tomie De Paolo, Jamie O’Rourke and the Pooka

Colleen from TravelMamas:
(New York) Peter Sis, Madlenka
(Paris) Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight, Eloise in Paris

by Nancy from Ciao Bambino

Written by and for parents, Ciao Bambino inspires families to explore the world through family travel tips and insight, as well as thoroughly vetted reviews of the best accommodations with children of all ages.

Cut the Chaos: Halloween Fun for Everyone

Parenting contributor Lian Dolan encourages you to go all out for this year’s festivities.

I love Halloween. I am all for over-the-top house decorations, planning the kids’ costumes months in advance and hording the best candy starting right after Labor Day. My younger son once told me why Halloween was his favorite holiday. “Mom,” he said, “you get to run around in the dark collecting free candy, and you don’t have to wear itchy church clothes.” I think that sums it up from a child’s point of view. And with my love of Halloween, it’s a good thing that I moved into a neighborhood where the adults embrace the ghoulish. My corner of town is a destination trick-or-treat zone with hundreds of kids working the streets in search of candy and neighbors that create their own haunted houses that would rival any Hollywood production. Here are my tips on how to cut the chaos and enjoy a spectacular Halloween.

For the kids

• Be prepared to buy two costumes. Or if you’re crafty, be prepared to make two costumes. Just accept that some little ones will change their minds at the very last minute. Who are the mind-changers? The kids who love to dress up! Yes, this running around at the last minute can be expensive and frustrating, but think of the two costumes as an investment in the future. I guarantee that the child who wants two costumes is also the child who enjoys being a ninja warrior in January as much as he does in October. You’ll get your money’s worth!
• Forget art directing the pumpkin carving. Let your kids carve the pumpkins they want, not the pumpkins you want from a magazine. Remember when a jack o’ lantern was two triangles, a circle and a candle inside? Well, that still counts as a great jack o’lantern, despite the push for more sophisticated creations. Nothing looks better than a bunch of kid-designed pumpkins glowing in a window or on a porch. Go for quantity, not quality!
• Let them eat one piece of candy a day. Why not? Chances are they will tire of the candy before they finish the bag. Some don’t even like to eat their haul. My oldest really prefers sorting the candy to eating the candy. If the candy’s not gone by Thanksgiving, throw it away while they are at school. (Yes, I am that kind of mom.)

For the house

• Get in the spirit! Come on, get some gravestones and put on a spooky light show. Throw some cobwebs over the bushes and hang some giant spiders from the trees. Dress up to hand out the candy and fill your house with scary music. Now is the time to get that smoke machine you’ve always wanted. Candy for all who show up at the door! Once one neighbor embraces the Halloween spirit, others will follow. Think of it as your gift to the neighborhood kids. Create memories that will last a lifetime — for other people’s children.
• Go for the big bars. Just once, forget the “fun size” candy bars and get the full-size versions. I guarantee you will not regret the expense. The look of pure joy on the faces of the trick-or-treaters when you hand them that giant candy bar is worth the cost. The kids will go nuts, running down the street telling others about your superior loot. And really, don’t you want to “win” Halloween? Be the best house on the block? One year of full-size treats and you’ll be known forever as the ”house with the best candy.“

About the author: Lian Dolan is a writer, mother, Satellite Sister and creator of The Chaos Chronicles, a podcast, blog and website about modern motherhood.

MakingLifeBetter provides tips and smart strategies to help you feel good, look good, and get more out of life.

Make the Most of Your Math Moments!

Most families have a very full schedule, and it can be hard to find time for that extra focus we want to have on math. But, unlike finding time to sit down and read to our children, it’s easy to find ways to work a little math fun into everyday family activities. Just remember to look at the world in mathematical terms, and talk about it as you go through your day.

Don’t be afraid to take on complicated problems that might be over your child’s head. Asking clarifying questions and posing a simpler version of the problem are great problem-solving tools. And not every problem has to be solved immediately. Sometimes it’s good for kids to think about unanswered questions and give their ideas time to formulate.

To get you started, here are a few ideas for math activities the next time you’re driving, doing housework, at the zoo or a sporting event, and more.

Math moments in the car

• Add up the numbers on the license plates of the other cars.
• When you see a speed limit sign, ask your child what your speed would be if you were going 5 miles slower. Or how much faster you can go on the freeway than on your own street.
• Keep track of the colors of the other cars. When you arrive at your destination, determine the most popular color.

Math moments around the house

• Folding the laundry? Give your child the socks to sort, categorize in different ways (by who they belong to or color), and fold. Count the socks. How many complete pairs do you have?
• You’ve just made a batch of 50 cookies. If each person in your family has 3 each day, how many days will they last?
• The kitchen is full of math learning opportunities! For more ideas from Dreambox Learning for Kids’ Kitchen Math.

Math moments at the zoo

• A lion can jump a distance of more than 30 feet. See how far your child can jump (using your feet to measure). How much farther can a lion jump?
• A monkey can eat up to 30 bananas a day (some eat even more)! If a banana weighs 5 ounces, how many pounds will the monkey eat each day? If bananas cost 90 cents per pound, how much will the zoo spend to feed the monkey for 1 week?
• A Burmese python can grow to a length of 18 feet. How many inches is that?

Math moments at the ballpark

• Talk about the shape of the field. Is it a diamond? A rectangle? How many sections is it divided into?
• If 1 player gets 3 hits in 9 at-bats, and another player gets 2 hits in 7 at-bats, which player has a better batting average?
• Count how many seats are in your row, and how many rows are in your section. Then look around, estimate how many sections there are, and how many seats there are in all.

Math moments at bedtime

• Set a timer and brush your teeth together for 2 minutes. How many seconds is that?
• Read a favorite book where math is integral to the story. You’ll find some good suggestions from Dreambox Learning: How Reading Together Can Bring Math to Life
• If your child is having trouble sleeping, try the old standby: counting sheep!



DreamBox Learning K-2 Math is the online math learning game kids love to play. It’s an in-depth math curriculum and completely individualized learning in an engaging adventure game. DreamBox is serious learning that's seriously fun! Recommended by Cozi

Create Your Own Haunted House

As the weeks wind toward Halloween, perhaps your family would like to make its own spooky house this season. It could beckon the trick-or-treaters to take a tour before they receive their treats (or tricks?), or you could use it to spook up some holiday fun the weekend before the big night in the neighborhood.

Whatever your motivation, here are a few tips to bring the haunts alive:

• Decide on the space you want to use. This could be your yard, your home, or just one area of your house, such as the basement.

• Plan your entrance and exit, and decide what types of spooks and scares you want to include.

• Get help—not only to transform the house, but to participate in spooking it as well.

• Don’t forget to add eerie lighting, scary sounds, and darkness. Throw dark sheets or black garbage bags over the windows so no light comes through.

• Replace your outside bulbs with orange bulbs. Also, you could replace your porch light with a black light bulb and hang some glow-in-the-dark decorations close by.

• If you have some leftover tiki torches from your summer parties, use them to light the path to the front door of your haunted house. 

• Alternatively, string clear or orange holiday lights, or try these cute spider lights.

• Hang spider web netting throughout the house to entangle your guests!

• Hang a “dead guy” in the front entrance: stuff a pair of jeans and a shirt with newspaper, and use an old bleach container to create a face. Top with an old hat.

• Decorate your doors to look like coffins, using butcher paper and paint.

• Using large appliance boxes, make coffins, fake walls, crypt chambers, etc.

• Set up a spooky dinner table, and serve a Jell-O brain mold, finger food, or a severed hand or head on a silver platter. Set a monster dummy or a real person at the table about to eat the feast. Creepy!

• Hang wet yarn from the ceiling for your guests to walk through.

• Have bloody hands lying around. Fill surgical gloves with sand, and tie them off with a rubber band. Add the effect of blood with red paint.

• Spritz cold water on the guests as they enter the haunted house.

• Use dry ice to make a boiling cauldron or a foggy effect, but be very careful to not let anyone touch the dry ice! Another option is a fog machine; it is a bit pricey, but you may be able to rent it out to others throughout the year!

   
Some helpful tips:

• Small children may be afraid or may not be able to handle going through the scary house. You can always alert your actors to be “gentle” and take off their masks and hand out treats to make the spooky house a friendlier one. You can also set an age limit for entrance. Although it will be dark, make sure you have enough light for people to see their way through. Again, clear holiday lights placed strategically will work well if you are on a budget.

• Don’t let anyone touch the dry ice! It can cause serious injury. Do not use candles or other flames—they are too much of a safety hazard. Try battery-operated candles or glow sticks instead.

• Make sure that the actors don’t touch anyone as they make their way through the haunted house; they should just play their role (i.e., looking creepy, playing dead, etc.).

• Make sure your space has adequate ventilation.

• Make sure you have enough help!

Happy haunting!

--Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs

Kids Say the Darndest Things

It’s those little words they get almost right. It’s the totally new words they invent. Either way, kids make us laugh like no one else. Tell us something funny or memorable your child has said lately using the Cozi Family Journal. Every week we’ll feature an entry on the Cozi home page.

Jot down a funny moment—just a few sentences will do, and add a photo if you like. Then submit your family journal entry. Your family moment could be featured on Cozi.com, and win you a limited edition Cozi Smiles T-shirt. (While supplies last.)