If you can't view this newsletter, please go to http://www.todaysparent.com/newsletters/2006/10/oct25.html
October 25, 2006

Spooky Fun at Halloween

By Natalie Fraser for Kathy Bergen

My youngest daughter Tessa plans on going out for Halloween this year with her friends. At 12, she's way too grown up to have her mom tagging along! I must say I'm disappointed that my opportunity to share in the Halloween fun has ended. I always enjoyed going out with the neighbourhood kids, carrying a pillowcase to take the overflow when their bags got too full. And I got a good laugh out of the few near-sighted parents who confused me for a trick-or-treater in the dim porch light and offered to drop some candy into my bag!

Check out our Halloween Headquarters to find everything you need for a spooktacular celebration! Look no further for great costume ideas—from our Bat, Butterfly and Crayon Kid to our Scarecrow and Traffic Jam, we've got something for everyone. Choose one of our smashing pumpkin stencils to make carving a breeze! And don't miss our reader tips on how to manage all the Halloween loot.

Happy haunting!

Until next time,
Natalie Fraser
Acting Editorial Producer, Todaysparent.com


Halloween Headquarters
Searching for last-minute costume ideas? Looking for devilish decorations to make your home the scariest on the block? Need to find ghoulish games and activities for your child's party? Get it all at Halloween Headquarters!

Top Toys 2006
Our 85 toy-testing families took this year's most promising picks home for two months of all-out, honest-to-goodness play. Check out the results—our jam-packed toy guide shows you the best bets this holiday season for kids from newborn to preteen.

The Learning Connection
Sign up for our free monthly education newsletter to get pointers on your child's learning style, homework help, reading readiness, and more.

Fall for Apples
From applesauce to upside-down cake to apple soup, check out these tasty new twists on an old favourite fruit.

Get the Dawdler Out Of Your Toddler
Learn five clever tips to keep your little one moving.


Our Celebrations forum is buzzing right now with Halloween ideas. This forum also covers all other seasonal celebrations, as well as birthday parties, anniversaries, weddings and showers. Post your questions on everything from party decorations to loot bag suggestions, and you are sure to be rewarded with many creative ideas. If you or someone in your family is stumped this Halloween for a costume idea, come and check out this forum!

Once you have your costume and party plans organized, come on over to the Recipe Exchange. I see many great suggestions in this forum for Halloween food ideas, using tasty fall ingredients. Come and share your spooky snacks, and borrow a few recipes for making this season frightfully delicious!

See you in the forums,
Leslie
Todaysparent.com Moderator

The Talk Forums at Todaysparent.com help parents connect for advice, support and friendship. Join today to begin sharing your experiences!


Due Date Calculator & Ovulation Predictor
Use these handy tools to determine when you're most fertile, or to calculate the date of the big arrival if you're already pregnant.

Pick-a-Present
Whether it's a birthday present for your son's school chum or a special-occasion gift for your own child, our Pick-a-Present tool helps you find kid-approved gifts for all ages and interests.

Fresh Lunch Ideas Every Week
Avoid lunch bag letdown with our easy-to-use lunchtime planning tool. Sign up to receive five new healthy and delicious menu ideas every week for 10 weeks. Your kids will thank you!

Children's Health Guide
Get an A-Z listing of common children's ailments, injuries and illnesses with our Health Guide. You can search by name or symptom to discover info and treatment options.


Tracy's Baby Story
With all the rain, our online editor and new parent Tracy Chappell can't go outside with baby Anna. Tracy has ended up taking Anna to the mall—a lot! Check out Tracy's blog and post your rainy-day activity suggestions.

Hot Tips to Keep You Cool - From firefighter Shane Ferguson:

If you light a heat source, stay with it! Whether it’s a candle, a fire in a fireplace or food cooking on a stove or barbeque, don’t abandon it until it’s completely out. Heat and fire can be your friend, but if you forget about them, they can turn on you very quickly.

For more fire safety tips visit Shane's website, Staying Alive


SPEAK OUT TO TODAY'S PARENT!
Tell us what you think about Today's Parent and Todaysparent.com and you could win $200 to spend at your favourite online retailer.
We're waiting to hear from you!

Visit us at Todaysparent.com!

Rogers Media Web Customer Service
One Mount Pleasant Road, 11th floor
Toronto, ON M4Y 2Y5






Subscribe
Online and SAVE

Subscribe to Today's Parent magazine at a special web price and you'll receive up to three free issues!
Subscribe today
!


CONTESTS

WIN 1 of 3 grand prizes of professional house cleaning services for a year.

Feel the magic of all things enchanting and enter the Today’s Parent Disney Fairies contest for four chances to win.

Check out all our contests at the Todaysparent.com Contest Central.