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Better than Candy
by Diane S. Kendall, 10/20/2006
With all the tricks a computer can do, don't forget about it as a helpmate as you get treats ready for the spookiest night of the year - Halloween. Here are some ideas: - Let's start with your pumpkin. You've seen those packages of pumpkin stencils at the store and maybe you've even purchased some. Well now you and your kids can make your own on the computer. Try the pumpkin stencil maker on the Better Homes and Garden (bhg.com) site for traditional pumpkin faces. (You'll have to register for the site, but it's free.) There are also lots of ideas on the site for other pumpkin designs and looks. There are also pre-made printable stencils for less traditional pumpkins at Hersheys and PumpkinGlow.com. Do an online search for more printable pumpkin stencils if you don't find what you are looking for.
- How about a costume? Can't decide what you or your kids to be? Head again to the Better Homes and Garden (bhg.com) site (free registration) for their costume gallery and input who is looking (male or female, baby, child, adult or pet) and whether you are going homemade or store bought for some great ideas. Lots of costumes can also be purchased online, but watch out for the shipping charges - always the killer in an online transaction. And for those of us who can't draw a straight line to save our life, don't forget there are lots of copyright free designs online that can be printed out and glued onto knight's shields, robot's circuitry, and even copied to make monster's scars. Start by doing an image search in a search engine like Google.
- Did you say decorate? You can say what you want about Martha Stewart but when it comes to Halloween, the woman has a witch's way with devilish decorating. Some great printable templates are available on the Martha Stewart site for bats and even a spooky silhouette for your staircase. If you access to a photocopier there are also some dynamic window silhouettes you can quickly put together or go for the bigger witch on a broom to put in your window.
- How about "better than candy" gifts for kids? Perhaps inquiring grandparents want to know? Try software. One new sensational title from Scholastic that recently emerged from the mist is I SPY Mystery for ages 5 to 10 (Windows and Macintosh,$20). Every kid loves a mystery and this title holds 13. Much like the popular I SPY books but with sound effects and more games, I SPY Mystery challenges young sleuths to choose a case, solve riddles, and ultimately use their problem solving know-how to resolve mysteries with intriguing title like Pirate's Map, Midnight Mouse, and Four Letters. Great ways to build vocabulary and following directions skills as well as visual memory and problem solving.
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