Halloween is here!

Photo: Patti Saitow

Halloween is tomorrow and kids across the US will be out Trick or Treating by the thousands! It’s always fun to dress up and go out with your family and friends to get sweet treats from neighbors.

Remember these important rules to enjoy a safe and fun Halloween!

- Always go with a family members or friends. The old saying is “there is safety in numbers” and

Photo: SproutBaby.com

Halloween is a day when this is true.

- Don’t go running across the street like a wild person just because that neighbor is handing out jumbo candy bars! Look both ways before you cross the street. There is always a lot of traffic on Halloween so please be careful when you cross the street.

- Bring a flashlight so people can see you if you’re wearing a dark costume and to prevent tripping if you can’t see in the dark.

- Let your parents sort through your candy at home before you go digging into to eat your share. First, although most people are awesome, there are some shady people who play nasty tricks on Halloween and mess with the candy. Let mom and dad sort through to make sure the candy is OK. Even more important is to let your parents check to make sure that there is nothing in the candy to which you might be allergic. No one wants an allergy attack on Halloween!

Go out, dress awesome and have a great time this Halloween!

How about a neighborhood Halloween Party!

Photo: Patti Saitow

Halloween is next week! Wow how the year is flying! Nothing is more fun than dressing up in your coolest costume and going out trick or treating. To help celebrate All Hallows Eve, why not have a neighborhood Halloween party full of fun and activities?

Photo: Patti Saitow

Pumpkins are cheap and plentiful this time of year. Buy one pumpkin for each child, precut and clean

it and provide everyone with safe “pumpkin carving knife” for kids that can be found at a store near you. Let your imagination run wild and watch the cool carvings emerge!

Little ghosts and goblins will also enjoy bobbing for apples and maybe even take a whack at a Halloween piñata stuffed full of candy. A costume contest for best overall costume, best family costume and scariest costume will top off an enjoyable night of family fun for the whole neighborhood!

Photo: Patti Saitow

Get the whole family involved right down to the dog!

Have fun, keep safe and keep active!

Photo: Patti Saitow

Outdoor Obstacle Course

Illustration:http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu

The weather’s getting cooler so it’s a great time to be outside running around. Why not build your own obstacle course and challenge your friends to see who can get through it the fastest?

Select items from around the house to construct your course.  Use a big box to crawl through. 

Photo:http://happywhimsicalhearts.blogspot.com

Put a flat board on the ground to walk across without falling off.

Use a hula hoop making participants make it spin around their hips 5 times. A blanket or tarp on the ground can be used to crawl under.

Photwww.mommysavers.com

Put cones or plastic cups on the ground in a straight line but far enough apart to pass through. Participants then run through the cones in a zig-zag pattern.

Place a bucket 6 feet away and try to throw 3 tennis balls into the bucket then sprint across the finish line made out of a jump rope.

Now run around and have fun with your friends!

Get out there and get active!

Fall Hikes to Enjoy the Cooler Weather

Photo: Patti Saitow

Fall is an amazing time of the year. The light has a more golden quality and the air feels crisp and clean. It’s time to take the family and get out and explore. Whether you live in the city or the country there are thousands of places to go for a great fall family adventure.

Photo: Patti Saitow

Every city has parks and what better place to take your football or disk out for a family game of catch. If you live in the northern states you can enjoy the changing of the leaves before the snow flies. Play catch or find the nearest pile of fallen leaves and jump in! If you’re in the country go explore trails on a

hike or with your bike. You see amazing wildlife and scenery while getting great exercise.

Down south you can enjoy the cooler temperatures and lower humidity that fall brings. Explore wildlife preserves, the beach or even an arboretum where you can see all different kinds of plants. The possibilities are endless and a lot more fun than the mall or sitting home playing video games.

Get out there and get active!