by: Patricia B. Jensen
What happened to the " good ol' days" when a Halloween costume was your Dad's old shirt and cap, and a burnt cork beard? Kids costumes don't have to complicated to be cute!Each of these quick and easy costumes starts with a few simple materials like hooded sweatshirts, sweat pants, posterboard, craft foam, felt, face paint, and a little imagination.
PirateBlack sweats, white shirt, red sash and bandanna, cardboard sword covered in foil, parrot beanie baby, stubbly face made with burnt cork or tobacco sprinkled on vaseline covered cheeks
Kid Hit By LightningGray sweats with large yellow felt zigzag pinned to the front, blackened zigzag tears in here and there on suit, hair gelled to stand straight up, burnt cork "burns" on cheeks
Wrapped PresentCover a large box with colorful wrapping paper. Make a hole in the bottom and invert over child's head. Add lots of matching ribbons in child's hair.
Pair of DicePaint two large boxes white and add black dots on each side to represent a pair of dice. Cut hole in bottom and invert over children's heads. You need a friend for this one!
Box of PopcornCover a large box with white butcher paper. Add wide red stripes with markers or colored paper. Make a hole for child's head. Hot glue some popcorn to the top of the box. Wear red or white tights or sweat pants.
Placard CostumesAnother quick and easy idea for kid costumes is a "placard costume" in which the child wears a hooded sweatshirt and pulls front and back cardboard panels (the placard) on over it. Shape the placard (poster board works fine) as needed for the costume desired, and design it with markers or felt pieces. This type of costume can be adapted to many different themes, such as:
Ladybug M & M (two kids of different heights can be "plain" and "peanut"!) Soccerball, Basketball, Baseball Apple or Pumpkin Deck of Cards Favorite Book
SunflowerYellow sweat suit. Staple craft foam flower petals end to end onto a wide ribbon and tie around child's face to make the flower. Paint the face reddish brown with black spots. Make a couple of bright green leaves from craft foam and pin side by side onto front of sweat suit.
Bunch of GrapesStart with a purple sweat suit.
Blow up several purple balloons to the same size and attach to the sweat suit with small safety pins. Complete the look with a green knit cap with a couple of large green felt leaves attached.
Bag of TrashMake two leg holes is a large sized trash bag. Have child step into the bag, then add balls of crumpled newspaper to hold a round shape. Make two armholes in each side and secure around the neck .
Little Old LadyAn old house dress with torn stockings and slippers. Curlers in the hair or white wig. Glasses, blacked out tooth, old fashioned pocketbook.
TouristHawaiian shirt or other loud clothes, camera, hat with pins all over it, maps sticking out of pockets, sunglasses.
CrayonSweat suit in the chosen color of your crayon. Design the crayon wrapper from poster board, felt pieces or craft foam and baste or pin onto the sweat suit. Add a like-colored plant pot for a hat, or use a large round of poster board, cut from edge to center and make into a pointy hat. Secure under child's chin with a wide strip of elastic stapled to the hat. Static ClingStart with sweat suit of your choice, pin on small clothing items such as socks, hats, mittens, and underwear along with a few dryer sheets.
Cow, Pig, Kitty, DoggyHooded sweat suit in the appropriate color ( white cow, pink pig, brown dog). Embellish with felt scraps to make spots, ears, tail, etc.
Backwards KidPut clothes and hat on backwards, sunglasses on back of head, say "Treat or Trick!" MummyTear a white sheet into strips. Paint face white and spray hair with white paint. Smear black under the eyes. Wrap child dressed in white long underwear with sheet strips, securing with clear medical tape, leaving eyes and mouth open.
AngelWhite sweat suit with wings of tulle stretched over shaped coat hangers. Glittery headband made from wire circle covered with foil and colorful curling ribbon. Wand made from thin dowel with cardboard star attached to one end, painted silver or gold with glitter and curling ribbon added.
ClownSweat suit with colorful felt or fabric paint polka dots.. Clown collar made from felt triangles attached together in a circle to go around child's neck. Colorful clown wig, nose, and oversized glasses. Facepaint simple blue crosses over eyes, red cheeks, and large red mouth. CookWhite sweat suit, chef's hat, large wooden spoon, cookbook under the arm, curly mustache drawn in face paint.
NerdToo small pants, shirt buttoned up wrong, pocket protector, hair slicked back, old pair of glasses with tape, white socks, large textbook to carry under the arm.
For more information please visit www.honostreview.com
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
7 Ways To Build Your Child's Confidence
by: John Coutts
Here's one of the best bits of parenting advice you'll ever find: "a confident child is more likely to be a success in life, more likely to be liked in life, and more likely to be happy in life". Isn't that what you want? Here are 7 parenting tips to build up confidence in your child:
1 - Always praise your child for the things she does right. Even if they are little things, make them important and let her know that she did well.
2 - Let your child do things. Even if she is not quite ready to do certain tasks, help her make a start and don't worry if it doesn't turn out right.
3 - Believe in your child and let her know it! Don't pressurize her to be something she can't be. Just let her know that you believe in her ability to (occasionally) do great things.
4 - Only critisise a behaviour - not the child. Always avoid too much criticism of her when she does things wrong. It's much better to criticise the behaviour - that way she can distance what she does from what she is.
5 - Show an interest in your child's interests. They will probably be boring to you, and you may not understand them. But they are important to her, so show a respect and interest in the things she does.
6 - Accept your child's fears and insecurities. Never belittle them or brush them aside. Remember the time when you were young and the things that made you afraid and try to understand.
7 - They say laughter is the best medicine, and it is. That's why you should always laugh with your child and never at her. Healthy laughter is a wonderful way to bond tightly. It is also something you will both thoroughly enjoy. Remember, a confident child is a happy one, more likely to be liked in life, and more likely to succeed in life. Confidence is a wonderful parenting style to apply to your little one today.
For more information please visit www.honostreview.com
Here's one of the best bits of parenting advice you'll ever find: "a confident child is more likely to be a success in life, more likely to be liked in life, and more likely to be happy in life". Isn't that what you want? Here are 7 parenting tips to build up confidence in your child:
1 - Always praise your child for the things she does right. Even if they are little things, make them important and let her know that she did well.
2 - Let your child do things. Even if she is not quite ready to do certain tasks, help her make a start and don't worry if it doesn't turn out right.
3 - Believe in your child and let her know it! Don't pressurize her to be something she can't be. Just let her know that you believe in her ability to (occasionally) do great things.
4 - Only critisise a behaviour - not the child. Always avoid too much criticism of her when she does things wrong. It's much better to criticise the behaviour - that way she can distance what she does from what she is.
5 - Show an interest in your child's interests. They will probably be boring to you, and you may not understand them. But they are important to her, so show a respect and interest in the things she does.
6 - Accept your child's fears and insecurities. Never belittle them or brush them aside. Remember the time when you were young and the things that made you afraid and try to understand.
7 - They say laughter is the best medicine, and it is. That's why you should always laugh with your child and never at her. Healthy laughter is a wonderful way to bond tightly. It is also something you will both thoroughly enjoy. Remember, a confident child is a happy one, more likely to be liked in life, and more likely to succeed in life. Confidence is a wonderful parenting style to apply to your little one today.
For more information please visit www.honostreview.com
All About Baby Highchairs
by: Martin Smith
Baby highchairs are not necessary for your child if s/he is under six months of age. Although some companies make them so they recline for infants, they are not necessary until your child is able to sit up. The choice is yours. Highchairs currently come with all kinds of features that are really more for the parent or caregiver than the child. Although the nicely padded seat covers make the seats comfortable. Some highchairs have wheels to make them easier to move however this is not necessary. Some are now coming with height adjustable mechanisms to accommodate your child’s growth and to be able bring the baby closer to the table. There are also adjustable foot rests to accommodate your child’s growth as well. Most now fold for easy storage. Highchairs now can be converted into play tables. Some of them have an insert that fits over the tray to give you baby a place to play. The feeding tray on many models come with an inset cup/bottle holder and some models have extra large feeding trays. The base of the highchair should be broad and stable to help prevent the highchair from tipping. If your child leans over the side the chair could tip and injure your child. It is best then to teach your child to sit up all the time. Many highchairs are now foldable for easy storage. When looking at highchairs some people express opinions about what the highchair is made of. There are all wood chairs that tend to not be adjustable in height. There are metal framed highchairs with plastic trays and their are highchairs that are plastic. There are things you can do to make the highchair safe place to be. Never leave your child unattended to go grab a bib, food, or answer the phone. It only takes a second for your baby to have an accident. You should have everything ready before putting your child in the chair. Your child should always be strapped into the highchair without exception. The feeding tray will not prevent your baby from slipping under it and falling to the floor and possibly incurring an injury. If an older child slips under the tray they could get stuck and be injured. If your high chair folds be sure that when you open it, that it locks in open position. If the chair collapses your baby could be hurt. This can be prevented with periodic checks of all parts of the chair. Do not place the highchair near any place that the baby could push off from and possibly have an accident. Also do not place your baby’s chair near any wires that can be pulled on. All cords should be out of reach anyway. When putting the feeding tray in place be sure to watch your child’s fingers. They could be pinched or severely cut. Also be sure the lock catches by tugging on the tray gently. It will not hold your child in place but if it is loose or doesn’t catch, your child if not strapped in could fall and get hurt. Wear of the high chair can be hazardous. If the vinyl cover over foam is torn the baby could ingest small pieces of foam. Worn locking mechanisms could prevent the tray from staying in place. All belts and clasps should be checked for fraying or tears. The clasps for missing pieces or cracks. Cracked or chipped trays could cause injury or harbor germs. This type of check should be done before purchasing a second hand chair as well.
For more information please visit www.honostreview.com
Baby highchairs are not necessary for your child if s/he is under six months of age. Although some companies make them so they recline for infants, they are not necessary until your child is able to sit up. The choice is yours. Highchairs currently come with all kinds of features that are really more for the parent or caregiver than the child. Although the nicely padded seat covers make the seats comfortable. Some highchairs have wheels to make them easier to move however this is not necessary. Some are now coming with height adjustable mechanisms to accommodate your child’s growth and to be able bring the baby closer to the table. There are also adjustable foot rests to accommodate your child’s growth as well. Most now fold for easy storage. Highchairs now can be converted into play tables. Some of them have an insert that fits over the tray to give you baby a place to play. The feeding tray on many models come with an inset cup/bottle holder and some models have extra large feeding trays. The base of the highchair should be broad and stable to help prevent the highchair from tipping. If your child leans over the side the chair could tip and injure your child. It is best then to teach your child to sit up all the time. Many highchairs are now foldable for easy storage. When looking at highchairs some people express opinions about what the highchair is made of. There are all wood chairs that tend to not be adjustable in height. There are metal framed highchairs with plastic trays and their are highchairs that are plastic. There are things you can do to make the highchair safe place to be. Never leave your child unattended to go grab a bib, food, or answer the phone. It only takes a second for your baby to have an accident. You should have everything ready before putting your child in the chair. Your child should always be strapped into the highchair without exception. The feeding tray will not prevent your baby from slipping under it and falling to the floor and possibly incurring an injury. If an older child slips under the tray they could get stuck and be injured. If your high chair folds be sure that when you open it, that it locks in open position. If the chair collapses your baby could be hurt. This can be prevented with periodic checks of all parts of the chair. Do not place the highchair near any place that the baby could push off from and possibly have an accident. Also do not place your baby’s chair near any wires that can be pulled on. All cords should be out of reach anyway. When putting the feeding tray in place be sure to watch your child’s fingers. They could be pinched or severely cut. Also be sure the lock catches by tugging on the tray gently. It will not hold your child in place but if it is loose or doesn’t catch, your child if not strapped in could fall and get hurt. Wear of the high chair can be hazardous. If the vinyl cover over foam is torn the baby could ingest small pieces of foam. Worn locking mechanisms could prevent the tray from staying in place. All belts and clasps should be checked for fraying or tears. The clasps for missing pieces or cracks. Cracked or chipped trays could cause injury or harbor germs. This type of check should be done before purchasing a second hand chair as well.
For more information please visit www.honostreview.com
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