From the Sidelines

Twelve Tips to a Fun and Safe Halloween

    My kids love Halloween.  They can’t wait to transform themselves into princesses and goblins so they can wander the neighborhood trolling for candy.  It’s also one of my favorite holidays, but, as a parent, there is always some anxiety about little kids, costumes, and candy.  Are they warm enough, is it a safe to go out?  So, if you’re like me, here’s a list of tips to answer these questions and make this night fun.

• Haunting the House
  • Kids love to get in the decorating action and it is a great idea to let them.  Just make sure that if you are stringing up lights or other electrical decorations, that their cords are in good condition and you are not overloading any sockets.
  • It’s always a special treat for kids to light the jack o’ lanterns.  It’s safest and least stressful to use electric substitutes or glow sticks instead of candles.
  • Picking out their costumes is the first treat of the season.  Try to steer your kids toward bright costumes, but if they’ve gone with a darker one, use reflective tape so they are more visible at night.
  • I try to choose make-up to masks whenever possible.  If we are using make-up, I have my kids draw out what they want their make-up to look like for Halloween and follow their sketch as best as I can.
  • Give each little ghost its own glow stick or flashlight. They can make spooky faces and shadows while hunting for candy and be seen by traffic.
• On the Prowl
  • If trick or treating with small children, make sure they have adult supervision and stay in large groups.  There is always safety in numbers. 
  • Plan your route, meeting location, length of tick or treating, and what to do if separated. Tell your little monsters to avoid alleys and shortcuts, and not to accept rides with anyone. 
  • Visit well-lit homes with decorations, in familiar neighborhoods.  If you have to walk too far or there are too few houses in your neighborhood, consider having a party instead.
  • Make sure your little ghosts follow all the rules for pedestrian traffic (cross at lights, use crosswalks, etc.) and watch for cars.
  • Remind your goblins to stay on sidewalks, and not to cut through yards.  Even vampires respect other’s property.
• The Sugar Score
  • Always say thank you (even if the dentist is giving out toothbrushes).
  • Parents must check candy before consuming for damaged, unwrapped items.  Although tampering doesn’t happen often, it does happen.

What’s Your Child’s Favorite Style?

            My son’s a casual rocker.  What’s that you ask?  He loves to wear casual and comfortable clothes, such as jeans and cargos with rock ‘n’ roll themes.  I love the fact that he picks out denim and 2 in 1 shirts from Wes and Willy when he gets up in the morning.  Why does this matter?  It tells me that their boys clothing is comfortable and cozy. I also know from this that the graphics and styles aren’t too cutesy for him. He’ll wear them out to the park or to hang out with his friends.

            My daughter is the same way, but more of a princess. In the morning, her first outfit of choice is the soft yoga pants with a tissue tee or basic tank.  You wouldn’t think she would tumble in the yard with her friends in pink cozy pants, but once the games begin the tomboy comes out.  Fortunately for us, the GRL 98 line of girls clothes by Wes & Willy are not only soft enough for a little princess, but durable and long lasting letting her run with her brother and cousins.

            What’s your child’s style?  Is he a sports fanatic or likes to be comfortably dressed up? Is she a tomboy or princess? Tell us your child’s style her or at our Facebook page, we’d love to hear from you.

            This week, Red 21 Boys and Pink 21 Girls have our favorite style of girls and boys clothing on sale.  You can find some of our favorite styles at a great discount.

T-Shirt Trivia

            We all have them.  Worn in and frayed edge tees that we beat around the house on a Saturday morning in.  Plain white crewneck, a v-neck with a sports or band logo, everyone has a fav.  We all have them and kids love them.  Mine in particular love to throw on their favorite sports tees and head out for pick up games in the park.  Kids wear them everyday, but do you know when the t-shirt began?  Here are a few tid-bits of  trivia on the beloved tee.

• Developed from cutting the one-piece undergarment “union suit” of the 19^th century into a top and bottom.
• Became popular with the U.S. Navy during the Spanish American War
• Gained popularity during World War II with American soldiers in Europe clothed in traditional undergarments whose European counterparts wearing much more comfortable in lighter t-shirts
• Get their name (you guessed it) from its shape
• Although part of casual wear post World War II, it was Marlon Brando who elevated the tee to popular fashion
• The first screen printed shirts appeared in the 1950’s

 

Do you have a long-lived and loved tee?  Do you have a favorite shirt that you just can’t part with (or some one else’s you can’t get rid of)?  Share your story here, we would love to hear from you!