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September 27 - October 27 Thursdays and Sundays: 7-10 p.m. | Fridays and Saturdays: 7-11 p.m. We’ve taken your favorite Halloween characters, expanded their size, added a dose of fun and whimsy, and made them glow from within. With spectacular spiders, musical mummies and colorful candy monsters, it’s a thrill for all ages. This light-time adventure is unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
Visit OmahaZoo.com for ticket pricing and more information.
October 2019 Feature Articles
Halloween Happenings
Page 4
6 Tricks To Make Halloween Treats A Non-Issue For Your Child With Allergies Page 7
A DOZEN FUN WAYS TO CELEBRATE TODAY’S Fall Yard Tasks and Hacks HALLOWEEN Page 9
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October 2019 FamilyFunInOmaha DIGITAL ISSUE
October Recognizes National Learn To Bowl Month!
Kid’s bowling birthday parties are perfect for the whole group! At Scorz Sports Center in Ralston, a 2-hour bowling package with shoe rental, pizza, and drinks, is just $75. For a limited time, book through contact form on our website and mention Family Fun in Omaha and save $10 per package! For more information, visit www.scorzsportscenter.com Introduce Your Kids To Bowling! Bowling is a wonderful activity no matter what your motivation. It’s perfect for unwinding and spending quality time with family and friends, while on the other end of the spectrum, league and tournament bowling are competitive and exciting. Bowling is a popular game among adults and children. Bowling has been around for thousands of years, with bowling equipment being found in the tomb of an Egyptian king who died in 5200 B.C. The rules of bowling can seem confusing at first, especially to children, but with time and practice bowling can be a fun game and hobby. There is just something unique about entering a bowling alley. The sights, sounds, and smells just seem to induce a sense of childlike enthusiasm and excitement in people of all ages, which is only heightened for children. And for the older, more experienced bowler, it just feels good to teach a child about bowling for that first time. • Keep it Low Pressure – First and foremost, keep it fun and age appropriate. Bowling is a game and games should be fun. Putting too much pressure on little kids to “get it right” is a sure way to turn them off of the sport. • Explain the Rules and Etiquette – Kids are more likely to follow well-explained rules that they understand. Explain the need to wear bowling shoes and other basic etiquette like not stepping onto the lane. Stepping onto the lane is more than just a technicality, it’s a safety issue due to the slipping hazard. This step will help your child better understand the game, and help keep them safe. • Get Them an Appropriately Sized Ball – Your child is likely going to want
to show off by using a big ball like you do, but not only is this is a safety issue, it’s also going to make them less effective (and probably frustrated). An appropriately sized ball is always going to be more accurate (and fun) than a ball that is too big. • Practice! – Teaching them rules and theory is great, but the best way to teach children how to bowl is to hit the lanes with them and show them how much fun bowling is!
Halloween Happenings Whether you’re into pumpkin-carving contests, hayrack rides, or trick-or-treating, you’ll find fun Metro-area events here. The season comes but once a year, so don’t miss out on these autumn activities. Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure
NOW OPEN - Treetop Village at Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure It’s more than a day in the trees. It’s the memories that follow you home. Treetop Village is a three-acre, fun-for-all-ages experience up in the trees. It is the only place in the country where you can climb and scamper from treehouse to treehouse – all 11 of them – without ever touching the ground. This uniquely designed attraction is the first of its kind to be completed in the United States. And, it’s the first in North America to feature the WonderNet, a large, raised (and incredibly fun) area for jumping, playing, and bringing out the kid in everyone. You won’t want to leave! Explore the tree canopy at your own pace as you make your way from treehouse to treehouse, cross suspended bridges, and pass through 800 feet of netted walkways. Race down a 50-foot slide and go back up again for more fun in the trees — no harness required. It’s perfect for the entire family and accessible for everyone, as it sparks imaginations, unleashes laughter, and creates lasting joyful memories. And it’s the only place in America where having fun up in the trees helps plant forests around the world. Treetop Village is open year-round and included with Tree Adventure admission, which helps to support the tree-planting mission of the Arbor Day Foundation. For hours and admission prices, go to arbordayfarm.org.
Bellevue Berry Farm
This year at the Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch, you can “Fall-O Your Imagination” and explore all the fun activities fall has to offer. The kids will enjoy the “How the West was Fun” with tons of old west play-areas featuring a fun barn, slides, zip lines, climbing nets and swings. Camp Scare returns for the kiddos on Saturday, October 19th 12p - 2p. Activities will include face painting, professional pumpkin carving, and “Monster Boot-Camp”! The kids will love dressing up and becoming their own monster with the help of our very own Berry Farm actors. There’s even bounce pillows, a barrel train ride, corn maze, and pirates swing. The updated Pirates Cove now features two life size pirate ships! The Pirates Pub is open on the weekends serving adult beverages, turkey legs and more. They October 2019 FamilyFunInOmaha DIGITAL ISSUE
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haven’t forgotten about the grown-ups, though. The Harvest Barn features great BBQ, hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos, drinks, and a bunch of goodies including a complete selection of farm preserves, honey and of course, candy and baked goods! Also available on-property are 30 reservable private campfire areas, and even a birthday barn that is available for rent for your next party. Last but definitely not least, PUMPKINS! The Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch’s pumpkins are priced by size, not by the pound - so you’re sure to get a great price. So “Fall-O Your Imagination” to the Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch!
Durham Museum
Spooktacular Events at The Durham Museum October 22 – October 31! If you love the museum’s annual Great Hall-oween Haunt, you won’t want to miss what we have planned this year! We have added a week-long series of events featuring activities for the tiniest of ghosts as well as all you grown-up goblins. It all kicks-off with our signature Great Hall-oween Haunt featuring trick-or-treating with historical characters, the cobweb caboose, Creepy Curators, the Haunted Train and carnival games in the Swanson Ghoulery. At the end of the night watch UNO’s The Moving Company perform “Thriller” and jump in our costume conga line. Come in costume, snag some candy and join in the fun! Be sure to mark your calendar for all these great events! • Great Hall-oween Haunt: Tuesday, October 22, 5-8PM • Spooky Tales for Tots: Wednesdays, October 23 & 30, 10:30AM • History Mystery Tour (21+): Thursday, October 24, 6-8PM • Hallo-weekend: Saturday and Sunday, October 26-27 • Durham After Dark: Tuesday, October 29, 5-8PM • Plus, Platform activities, curator pop-up talks and the Haunted Train each and every day! Check out our website at DurhamMuseum.org/Halloween for details! Harvest Moon Harvest Moon has all the fun and excitement of a big pumpkin patch, but with the warmth and friendliness of a family farm! On the farm, we have a new & improved Corn Pit, New Bathrooms, and as always the Jumping Pad and Pillow, Rail Rollers, Zip Lines, Corn Maze, Pedal Go-Karts, Adult Monster Trikes, Possum Hollow Puppets, Barn Slides, Kiddie Trikes, Kiddie Roller Coasters, Delicious Food & Drinks, Swedish Tractor Pull, Skunk Town Sports, Carnival Strikers, and much more! For more information, visit https://www. harvestmoonoakland.com. Henry Doorly Zoo Ghouls & Glow Experience a brand new light-time adventure for the whole family this Halloween at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. This fun and notso-frightening event is an illuminated spectacle for all ages and like nothing you’ve seen before! Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium will dawn about 400 larger-thanlife lantern displays—creating the first experience of its kind in the country— as part of an all-new family friendly Halloween event, Ghouls & Glow on October 3 – 6, 10 – 13, 17 – 20 and 24 – 27. (Thursday and Sunday nights 7 to
10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday nights 7 to 11 p.m.). Lanterns, custom-made for the Zoo, will illuminate the Bay Family’s Children’s Adventure Trails. Visitors will encounter dancing skeletons, candy monsters, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, witches, wizards, spider web arches, sugar skulls with elements of nature, an eerie house, a mummy band and other friendly ghouls. A number of bats, vultures, spiders and black cats will also light up the trails. Outside of the main lantern display, hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins will glisten along the Zoo’s pathways, as well as a 14-foot-6-tall pumpkin tree and themed lighting and décor provided by the Zoo’s holiday lighting partner, Holidynamics. Throughout the evening, Omaha Circus Arts will showcase their amazing acts of fire dancing, aerials, juggling and flow arts while Omaha Street Percussion returns with their popular percussion performances. Kids can even get foamed up at Frankenstein Foam Zone on the Desert Dome Plaza. Visitors can also catch an animal ambassador program at the Dick and Mary Holland Meadowlark Theater, grab a bite to eat at Glacier Bay Landing or explore some of the Zoo’s indoor exhibits. See the nocturnal animals of Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night during their daylight cycles or watch the free-flying bats on the canopy level of the Lied Jungle®. Stingray Beach and Sue’s Wildlife Carousel will also operate during the event. For more information, visit www.omahazoo.com.
Lauritzen Gardens
Enjoy fall family fun at Lauritzen Gardens! Explore the fall garden while trickor-treating at different stops in the arboretum and exploring themed activity stations throughout this year’s Ghoulish Garden Adventure, Sunday, October 27 from noon to 4 p.m. Join the Omaha Public Library for enchanted tales, meet owls and other birds with Raptor Recovery, see some spooky spiders from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, have some fall fun with the Omaha Children’s Museum, make some ghoulish crafts with Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, compare costumes with members of the Central Garrison unit of the 501st Legion, and more! For more information, visit https://www.lauritzengardens.org. Activities will be indoors and outdoors. Costumes are optional. Bring a camera to take memorable snap shots and a trick-or-treat sack to collect ghoulish goodies! The café will have a seasonal menu of beverages, snacks and food available for purchase. This spooktacular event is designed to provide a safe and fun Halloween event for families in a garden setting. It’s a great day to learn about the things in nature that make the fall so festive. Ghoulish Garden Adventure is included with garden admission, $10 adults, $5 for children 6-12, and is free for garden members and children under 6. NEED MORE TIME IN NATURE? Check out our schedule of monthly naturebased family workshops, Lil’ Sprouts classes, and Read and Grow at the garden story times to explore the wonders of nature together. A full schedule of programs for children and families may be found at lauritzengardens.org. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day).
Martin’s Hillside Orchard
October at Martin’s Hillside Orchard is a great place to savor the fall season.
We will have many varieties of apples available for u-pick, including our knockyour-socks off, Evercrisp apples, pumpkins and fresh-pressed cider, too. For more information, visit http://www.hillside-orchard.com.
Skinny Bones
Come and fulfill your sense of wonder, fun, and family time at Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch! With many attractions to choose from and explore, the fun and adventure is endless! Skinny Bones 10-acre corn maze is our most popular attraction. With numerous twists and turns, it will be hard to find your way! Challenge your friends to our scavenger hunt, grab your punch card, and search for the punch stations hidden throughout the maze. Exciting Attractions -Tornado Alley - NEW in 2019! -10-acre Corn Maze -Giant Jump Pillow -Corn Pool Plus many more! For more information, visit http://www. skinnybonespumpkinpatch.com
N U F MILY
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FA L L FA
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Vala’s Pumpkin Patch
On its 35th season, Vala’s Pumpkin Patch is one of the best pick-your-own farms in the nation. It spans 400 acres and includes 55 acres of pumpkins, 30 acres of apples, 25 food locations, 4 live shows and 50+ attractions. For more information, visit https://www.valaspumpkinpatch.com.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 Noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy Spooky Stories • Meet Owls and Raptors See Creepy Creatures • Visit the Wicked Plant Wonderland Explore the Fall Garden • Trick-or-Treat in the Arboretum Make Ghoulish Crafts • Play Fun Games... and more!
Superheroes, trick-or-treat stations, make a superhero mask, and escape rooms! This event is sponsored in part by Omaha Public Library and Oriental Trading Company.
O C T O B E R 2 6 • 1 0 AM - 2 PM
100 Bancroft Street, Omaha (402) 346-4002
www.lauritzengardens.org October 2019 FamilyFunInOmaha DIGITAL ISSUE
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6 Tricks To Make Halloween Treats A Non-Issue For Your Child With Allergies By: Pam Moore
M
y daughter has multiple food allergies. I’m not talking about food sensitivities. I’m talking about taking an Epi-Pen with us everywhere we go, knowing our bright, curious daughter could die, were she to accidentally eat a rogue cashew. At two she was old enough to enjoy trick or treating with her big sister but too young to understand that, with the exception of Skittles, Smarties, and Tootsie rolls, her Halloween candy would mysteriously disappear. Now she’s three and she “gets it.” I know she understands that she must ask me or her dad before she eats anything at a party. I know she’ll wait for me to give her a special, safe treat that I’ve packed just for her instead of accepting a slice of birthday cake. I’m still learning how to handle Halloween. If you’re also wondering how to enjoy trick or treating without being spooked by potential allergens, here are some tips for seasoned allergy parents. 1| Create your own traditions You don’t necessarily have to replicate the Halloween experience of your youth for your child to love the holiday as much as you did. As a parent, you have the freedom to invent your own family traditions. Jennifer Roblin takes her non-allergic son, age seven, trick or treating while her husband stays home with their daughter, who is four and has multiple food allergies. Her daughter loves dressing up and handing out plain potato chips (which are safe for her). Says Roblin, “I asked her if she wanted to go trick or treating this year and she cried, saying ‘No Mommy, I dress up and hand out tato chips.’” Leigh Goodwin Furline, who has one child with food allergies and who does not, gives her kids the option to trick or treat or not. Last year, they decided to skip trick or treating in favor staying home to watch a movie. They also received some safe candy and a toy of their choosing. 2| Trade candy for a toy Trading candy for a toy means not only can parents bypass label-reading, candy-sorting, and the risk of cross-contamination, but they also avoid the hassle of candy rationing, candy-hiding, kids begging for candy, and all other candy-related problems. Sarah Jean Shambo lets her son choose whatever toy he wants in advance, but she waits until Halloween to purchase it. This way, she explains, “he’s excited about the trade and it doesn’t have to be a fight.” While the Shambo family takes a DIY approach to the switch concept, many parents call on the official Switch Witch, who needs candy to keep warm through the winter. Developed by a mom who struggled with the piles of candy her kids brought home from trick-or-treating, the toy is designed for parents who want to limit their kids’ sugar consumption and for those who need to keep their food-allergic kids safe. 3| Trade unsafe candy for safe candy If a Halloween without candy sounds as depressing to you as a birthday without presents, trading your child’s Halloween candy out for safe treats is a sweet solution. If you’re concerned about the possibility of cross-contamination, you could do what Sarah Hodges does. Instead of sifting through all of her son’s candy and reading all of the labels to determine what’s safe, she replaces everything with Enjoy Life Halloween candies. Megan McDavitt has two children, ages four and two, who between them, are allergic to milk, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame. She encourages them to take non-candy or safe items if any are available. Once they get home, she lets them keep any safe candy and replaces anything they can’t have with No Whey Halloween candies. October 2019 FamilyFunInOmaha DIGITAL ISSUE
Kim Schmid, who has one child with allergies and one without, does it a bit differently. She combines the contents of her two kids’ candy bags and then sorts it. Her allergic daughter gets to keep whatever is safe for her. The rest of the candy goes into her non-allergic son’s bucket. 4| Just say no thank you As parents of kids with food allergies, we all hope our kids will outgrow them. In the meantime, we share the hope that our kids have the maturity and the confidence to speak up for themselves anytime they could be exposed to an allergen. For some families, Halloween is no exception. In fact, it can be an excellent opportunity to give a child the chance to practice having these conversations. This Halloween, Adrianna Shook plans to help her almost fouryear-old daughter say, “Trick or treat, we have allergies to peanuts and tree nuts. Do you have something else?” Many parents I spoke to said that they were happy to politely ask neighbors if their treats were peanut-free when their kids were little but now that they’re older, the kids do it themselves. Not only that, but it turns out a little education goes a long way. Charlotte Eugenio said that after a couple of years of polite no thank you’s in a row, she noticed some houses started offering a separate selection of nut-free options. 5| BYOC For parents of younger kids who want their kids to experience as much of the “normal” (read: allergy-free) Halloween experience as possible, a little benign trickery goes a long way. Jennifer Devine Pirozzoli usually takes her kids to the homes of other family members, which gives her the opportunity to run up to the door with an entire bag of safe candy from which her child can choose, without ever knowing that that mom hand-picked it in advance. Other parents, like Victoria King, who plans to take her two-year-old son trick or treating for the first time this fall, will carry safe treats for their food allergic kids to munch on as they walk. 6| Cash for candy There’s no reason a kid shouldn’t have the chance to cash in on his treats. Parents like Toni Gaudisio are happy to buy back their kids’ candy. Says Gaudisio, “My kids [who are eight and eleven] are allowed to swap out five pieces of candy for safe candy and the rest I buy back for 25 cents. We usually take them [shopping] a few days later to purchase toys with their Halloween money.” Other parents, like Becki Rice and Cristina Salazar Rafferty, enjoy the benefits of getting rid of the candy without having to pony up—their family dentists are pay for Halloween candy. Life with allergies can certainly be scary. But Halloween doesn’t have to make it even spookier. A little creativity goes a long way when it comes to making Halloween fun for everyone, no matter what they can or can’t eat.
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A DOZEN FUN WAYS TO CELEBRATE TODAY’S HALLOWEEN
H
alloween is a holiday that has captured
Twist a black pipe cleaner securely around the pop,
paint. They can then lay a sheet of black construction
celebrated in a much more relaxed manner today
tie”. Invite the kids to draw faces on each pop using
paper to reveal the ghost prints. When finished,
the hearts of children as well as adults. It is
than in past centuries, when people carried out
traditional customs protecting themselves and
to fasten the paper and make it look like a “bowa black marker.
their families from evil spirits. Today, Halloween
Make the pumpkin patch with a piece of Styrofoam
well-spent engaging in numerous projects—carving
Paint the foam green. When dry, insert the lollipop
has become a wonderful family holiday with time pumpkins, creating costumes, decorations, parties
and experiencing trick-or-treat adventures. Mostly, it’s a time of fantasy to escape today and become something or someone else—even for a short
amount of time. Spend the month of October
exploring the many facets of this fun holiday. Create and enjoy with some of these “together time” activities. 1.
Make A Halloween Tablecloth—Have the
kids deck the family table with a homemade covering that will bring everyone into the
Halloween spirit. Roll out a giant sheet of brown butcher paper.
Gather your children and their
friends to engage in mural making. Using crayons
and markers, the kids can draw such characters as
wreath with poster paint. Have the children cut
as if they were proudly standing in the pumpkin patch on Halloween. This makes a nice centerpiece
for your table and when the appropriate time comes—a “yummy” treat for the kids. 4.
Ghoul Gloves—Give each child a pair of
disposable latex gloves. With colorful makers (the permanent ones work best), have the kids decorate
the gloves as they desire. Think about ghoulish
things like, green fingernails, fake scars, rings on each finger, a cobweb, the list is endless. When finished, the children can slip on these special gloves and feel festive.
Scary when he twirls around. Cut a large pumpkin
shape from orange construction paper. Invite the
children to use black crayons or markers to make facial features of a smiling jack-o-lantern and then
on the flip side, have them create a scary face.
patch. To make the lolli-lantern, cut large squares
of orange tissue paper and gather this paper
around the lollipop. The round kinds work best. October 2019 FamilyFunInOmaha DIGITAL ISSUE
bats, black cats, candy shapes and so on—from construction paper or felt. Tracing around cookie cutters makes great shapes. Also, think about
coloring books and clip art on the Internet. Glue these around the paper plate circle. Tape a paper clip or piece of looped string onto the back to act as a hanger. If you wish, you could tie yarn or
ribbons around the circle and let the ends blow in the wind. This project makes a festive decoration for your home or child’s room.
cloves. Bring this to a boil and simmer the brew for
about ten minutes. Cool. Add one quart ginger ale
soda and served chilled in Halloween cups.
wrap and cut out several
o-lantern lollipop placed in a setting—a pumpkin
out Halloween figures—jack-o-lanterns, ghosts,
of cinnamon sticks and
as he twirls around in the breeze.
Lolli-Lanterns—A “lolli-lantern” is a jack-
Paint this
Brew—Combine one quart
6. Boo
3.
plate with the center circle cut out.
Make a Halloween
Punch a hole at the top, adding yarn or ribbon to hang this decoration. Watch his personality change
Create a Halloween Wreath—Use a paper
Continued on page 17
of apple cider with a couple
lantern changes his mood from Mr. Smiley to Mr.
resist the sounds.
sticks into the foam and arrange the “lolli-lanterns”
this a festive conversation piece at the dinner table. Two-Faced Jack-o’-lanterns—This jack-o-
have fun popping the bubble wrap—kids can’t
7.
5.
2.
Carefully lift the
that can be placed inside a plastic berry basket.
ghosts, pumpkins, bats, cats, skeletons and so on. Have children autograph their drawing, making
paper over the ghosts—press.
some
Prints—Find
discarded
bubble
ghost shapes. Tape these onto
several
layers
of
newspaper laying flat on a table surface. Invite the children to paint these shapes with white poster
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A “SPOOKTACULAR” HALLOWEEN Get ready, as Halloween is coming on the 31st. What a wonderful family holiday; a perfect time for parents and children to spend time together carving pumpkins, designing costumes and planning ‘trick-or-treat’ activities. Kids can lose themselves in fun -- it’s Halloween! Spend this month of October making homemade decorations to set the scene for your Halloween happenings. “Together Time” moments today are worth a million memories tomorrow!
TOGETHER TIME CRAFTS: HALLOWEEN HANDS — Make use of your child’s hands to make this fun Halloween bat. Trace each hand onto black poster board, heavy construction paper or fun foam. Then cut out a headpiece with pointed ears. Assemble the pieces with glue or tape. The handprints are the bat’s wings. Decorate the head with googly eyes (or paper ones), a pompom nose, and a freaky mouth cut from white paper. Add a yarn or ribbon loop at the top to hang this bat decoration around the house.
RECYCLED GHOST— You will need: One white plastic kitchen-size trash bag One white round balloon Rubber band or twist tie Black construction paper Tape or glue Heavy string Blow up the balloon until it’s as big as you would like the head of your ghost. Put the balloon in a plastic bag and situate it so that a corner of the bottom of the bag is at the top of the balloon. Tie the bag just below the bottom of the balloon. The rest of the bag will drape like the ghosts’ body. Cut out facial features from black construction paper. Either glue or tape these in place. Make a hole in the top of the bag (make sure you don’t pop the balloon) just large enough to insert some heavy string. Tie the string tightly and hang your ghost in the house or from a tree branch.
TIC-TAC-BOO! Take the traditional tic-tac-toe game and give it Halloween flair. Cut a large pumpkin from a sheet of orange poster board. Draw the game grid with a black marker. Cut markers (in Halloween shapes) from construction paper. Another good tip is to use your computer and find clip art that would serve as markers—you need at least five markers of two different shapes. Preserve your game board and pieces covering them with clear plastic adhesive paper if you wish. Enjoy playing this game with your children—think about how you can make this game for other holidays too!
MAKE YOUR OWN CREATURE— Remind the kids that Frankenstein was created with all kinds of odd parts. Now, they can make their own creatures (or monsters) from things found around the house. Grab the recycle bin and invite your child to glue together all kinds of materials to create their unique creature. I find heavy tacky glue good, however a low temperature glue gun is best (Adult supervision at all times). Start with a box or two and then glue on other household leftovers you can find. Continue building upward until you are satisfied with your creation. Think about how you could use plastic bottle caps, tape dispensers, toothpaste tubes, paper cones, plastic flatware, and all those containers from fast food restaurants.
TOGETHER TIME RECIPES: GAK aka SLIME— (this is not edible, but loads of fun for play) Mixture One: One-quarter cup white Elmer’s glue One-quarter cup water Food coloring Mixture Two: One-eighth cup water
One-half teaspoon Borax Mix mixture One in one bowl, and mixture Two in another. Make sure both are well mixed. Add mixture One into mixture Two. Reach in and pull out your GAK. Knead it for 1-2 minutes until formed. Store in a plastic zip lock bag. NOTE: These ingredients are not edible. Please supervise young children.
Place the chocolate chips in a medium size bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave. Invite your child to stir in the noodles, saving some extra noodles to use as spider legs after the bodies are made. Let cool slightly. Drop by spoonfuls onto the wax paper. Your child can now add eight spider legs to the main body. Make spider faces with colorful M & M candies. Store these Halloween treats in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Halloween Tips of the Day: The phrase “trick-or-treat” has American roots. The words were recorded in the Miriam-Webster dictionary in 1941. Historically, Halloween was a time to play pranks, some of which were nasty and destructive. During the late 1930’s children were encouraged to go door-to-door, calling on homeowners and businesses. The purpose of their visits was to keep away the pranksters and to ask for treats instead of playing tricks. The greeting “trick-or-treat” was practiced throughout the nation in the late 1930’s through today. Did you know that turnips were the first jack-o-lanterns? Children in Europe carried turnips with them on Halloween night. When the first immigrants arrived in America, they discovered pumpkins, which were much larger and easier to carve than turnips! During the Middle Ages, people linked bats with witches because they both came out at night and disappeared during the day. Bats also seemed mystical because they could fly at night and not bump into things. Today we know that bats have their own radar!
(Tania Cowling is a freelance writer, author, former teacher, and mother. She lives in Sanford, Florida).
SPOOKY CHOCOLATE SPIDERS— You will need: One 12-ounce package chocolate chips One medium can of dry chow mein noodles One package of M & M’s Waxed paper October 2019 FamilyFunInOmaha DIGITAL ISSUE
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Stuff Moms LOVE Go Fun Face! Go a little wild this Halloween! From T-Rexes to elephants and dragons, Go Fun Face! offers a variety of fun, highquality animal masks for young children. Not only are these masks perfect for Halloween, playtime, dress up, birthday parties and more; but also they promote dramatic and inventive play, a key factor in early childhood development. Go Fun Face! masks consist of a foam rubber material, making them soft, durable, and easy to wash. They are patented with one-of-akind, artistic designs that will have children roaring like lions. Why is dramatic play so important? It fosters social skills, imagination, and empathy through pretending to be someone or something they are not. This later results in tolerance and acceptance in the real world. Currently, Go Fun Face! has seventeen animals and mythical creature to choose from. Many of which come in different color combinations. Retails: $22 and up. For more information, visit https://www.gofunface.com
at esprovisions.com, as well as via select retailers, the pretzels are shipped to customers in a way that ensures peak freshness, and Eastern Standard Provisions Co. even has dipping sauces, flavored salts, and flavored sugars to accompany them. Wax Buffalo Pure Soy Candle Co. This Lincoln, Nebraskabased company makes small batch, hand poured soy-wax candles and fragrance rollons that are sold in over 65 boutiques nationwide and online. The company’s mission is to create beautifully imperfect hand made products for the modern home and create a space of collaboration and an independent work ethic for a team of incredible women seeking to work differently. Pictured: The Orchard, which is a candle from our fall collection, launched on September 1.
Amy’s Gourmet Apples Just about everything at Amy’s Candy Kitchen is freshly hand made by our gourmet chocolatiers and fudge experts. Amy’s Candy Kitchen has been a retail confectioner since 1996 and has made every effort to continually improve our award winning Eastern Standard Provisions Co. quality, freshness, aroma and Eastern Standard Provisions taste. Our art is pure decadence. Co. is a gourmet, BavarianOur retail store and 19th century style pretzel company started open-concept kitchen is located by popular restaurateurs in historic Cedarburg, Wisconsin. in Boston. These pillowy, Our award winning caramel hand-rolled soft pretzels are is hand made from premium available in several different quality natural ingredients by our shapes and sizes, including gourmet chocolatiers. For more two types of buns, making information, visit http://www. them the perfect canvas for quality gameday grub. The Eastern Standard Provisions Co. amysgourmetapples.com. culinary team has made pulled pork sliders, lobster rolls, stuffed steak and cheese bombs, ice cream sandwiches, and many more creations with their versatile pretzel products. Available nationwide
What brushing teeth and homework have in common
Did you know over 34 million school hours are lost each year due to children dental health problems in the U.S.? Tooth decay is actually one of the top chronic infectious diseases in the country, but is 100% preventable. Children who experience untreated oral health issues are also more likely to have lower school performance, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Oral health problems can damage a child self-esteem, as they may be less likely to speak, smile, play and interact with others. But untreated tooth decay and other oral health issues don’t have to become a problem if they’re caught early.Putting your childrens dental appointments on a seasonal checklist helps make sure they’ll stay healthy all year long. Here are some ways you can help maintain your childrens dental health, no matter what their age. Good oral care starts early The AAPD recommends children visit a dentist by their first birthday, or as soon as their first tooth begins to appear. Early visits not only provide the dentist with a baseline for reviewing your childs oral health and underlying bone structure as their teeth grow and develop, but also help get your child used to dental visits as a routine, healthy habit. Establishing a relationship with their dentist and creating a October 2019 FamilyFunInOmaha DIGITAL ISSUE
dental home early will help your children feel more comfortable during later visits. By starting dental visits early in a childs life, the chance for developing tooth decay is significantly reduced, says president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Kevin Donly. A pediatric dentist can provide parents with helpful information, including how to put a brushing routine into action for your child. Pediatric dentists are well trained, receiving two to three additional years of specialized training to emphasize growth and development, special health care needs and advanced treatment techniques in hospital settings. Pediatric dentists limit their practices to treating children, and are prepared to relieve childrens fears, treat special needs children and create a kid-friendly environment. Keeping these visits consistent prevents problems from developing untreated and gets your children accustomed to these healthy practices. Just like homework, make brushing a habit. By modeling good brushing behavior, you emphasize the importance of oral care for everyone in the family. Children are more likely to be influenced by what you do than by what you say. Setting regular times to brush teeth is just like setting regular homework times once kids are used to it, the habit becomes automatic. Brushing together can show your children how to brush, how often, and for how long. The AAPD recommends brushing for two minutes, twice a day. You can make a game out of it by setting a timer or playing a song that lasts for two minutes while you brush together. By modeling good brushing behavior, you can help your little ones banish the “mouth monsters” like Tartar the Terrible, Tooth D.K. and Ginger Bite-Us. For tips on healthy oral care habits, check out https://mouthmonsters.mychildrensteeth.org
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Fall Yard Tasks and Hacks
T
he leaves are starting to fall and while the hard work of summer lawn and garden care may be over, now’s the time to tackle a few landscaping tasks that need to be finished before winter arrives. By completing these chores now, you will be able to jump right in when spring arrives. Here are 10 top tasks for winterizing your lawn and garden this fall: Prepare a list and a schedule. First off, you have to map out a winter gardening itinerary to follow. You need to know your area’s frost dates, for starters. The USDA site has a plant hardiness zone map you can use as reference to know which plants are best at surviving cold weather, and which need special care. You can also consult a local gardening almanac according to city, state, or zip code. These give specific tips on what to grow where, and other resources. You can then schedule the chores, tasks, and other activities that need to be done in your winterizing list. Small acts like rolling up garden hoses, putting plastic containers away to prevent from cracking, and draining the fuel tank of lawn mowers will save you a lot of heartache (and money) when spring rolls around. Get rid of weeds. Don’t neglect weeding pre-winter. Many can survive the cold and wreak havoc on your plants. Carefully remove those with seed heads so that none will come out. Even a tiny portion of seeds can germinate fast and invade your garden in a matter of weeks. Make sure the weeds are nowhere in contact with your other plants and soil. Put them in a covered garbage bin where they belong. This is the perfect time to till and turn over the soil while it’s still easy to work. You’ll be saving yourself the extra labor in the spring when the soil is hard and cold from winter. Finish by covering the beds with a layer of organic fertilizer such as chicken or cow manure. October 2019 FamilyFunInOmaha DIGITAL ISSUE
Annual Shrub and Tree Transplanting. Trees and shrubs have a tenancy to become overgrown over time. When they become too big for their space or need to be moved for other reasons, fall is the ideal time to move them to their new home. Keep shrubs snug and warm. Plants can experience chill, too. You can wrap shrubs with a burlap sack or a thick fabric to keep them from freezing and suffering windburn. Never use plastic because it doesn’t breathe, and can overheat young plants. When the weather becomes warmer, remove the wrapping right away.
improving the soil. Mulch, mulch, mulch. Plants need extra warmth during winter, and mulching will act as a protective blanket for them. New plants that have not taken root yet especially need mulching. It will keep moisture where it needs, and prevent weeds from taking hold, while keeping soil temperature even for tender plants. Check in mid-January to early February if the mulch has moved from heavy wind and rain, and reapply as needed, unless you are using a weather resistant mulch like Rubber Mulch.
Plant Bulbs for Spring. Spend a bit of time during fall planting new bulbs in pots and in- ground, so you can enjoy an array of color and beauty in the early spring. Bulbs can be divided during this time allowing for the chance to control their size and location. Plant excess bulbs in other parts of the yard.
Service, Clean & Replace Tools. There’s nothing more frustrating than rusted or poorly working equipment or tools when you’re ready to use them in the spring. Take the time to clean, sharpen and oil garden tools, as well as clean and service lawnmowers and weed eaters now. Don’t forget to put away garden accessories like buckets, hoses, rakes, and others - keep Cut Back Perennials. Cut back and shape them in a shed so they won’t freeze or rust. perennials such as shrubs, trees, grasses, and plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas About Rhianna Miller: and rhododendrons. Rhianna Miller is the Home and Landscaping Design Expert at Rubber Prep Hoses and Outdoor Faucets for Cold. Mulch, https://rubbermulch.com/, the original Prep hoses and outdoor faucets for cold and environmentally responsible mulch by disconnecting all hoses. Next roll them made from 100% recycled rubber used up and store with sprinklers and wands. in gardens, playgrounds and sustainable Insulate all exposed pipes and exterior landscaping. Rubber Mulch is weather water faucets to prevent them from resistant, durable, and the most cost freezing. effective mulch around and is specifically designed to protect children from falls on Aerate, Over-seed & Fertilize the Lawn. the playground. Help your lawn grow green and healthy next spring by aerating, over-seeding and fertilizing now. Fall is the ideal time to aerate and over-seed the lawn. Use an aerator just before seeding to help improve the soil, drainage and aeration. An annual fall application of compost spread on top of the lawn will ensure micronutrients are
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Aireanna a plastic knife to do the frosting (nothing sharp). Provide decorations such as:
Continued from page 10 8.
Play Musical Brooms—Your children will love this game to play with
the family and/or friends. Have everyone stand in a circle. As you play music, have the players pass a broom around the circle. When the music stops, the player holding the broom is out and takes a seat outside the circle. Continue playing until only one player is left. 9.
Shave “Old Jack”—Inflate and tie the end of an orange balloon. Use a
with shaving cream. One child holds the balloon, while another child shaves “old Jack” with a Popsicle stick “razor”. Take turns and repeat the process. Be careful not to break the balloon!
Halloween Sandwich—Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese onto an
English muffin half. Make a jack-o-lantern face using black olives and pepper strips (green or red). Heat the sandwich in the oven until the cheese melts. 11.
Create a Face Cookie—Buy or bake oatmeal cookies.
and fruit-flavored round cereal. Your kids will enjoy making and eating these funny faces! 12.
Harvest Moon Decoration—You can create a “Harvest Moon” using
aluminum foil and orange tissue paper. Cut two large circles, one from foil
black permanent marker to draw on a jack-o-lantern face. Cover the balloon
10.
chocolate chips, candy corn, gumdrops, shoestring licorice, tiny marshmallows
Invite the
children to frost the cookies with peanut butter or chocolate icing. Give them
and one from tissue paper. Fasten the two together with a stapler. Paint over the tissue paper with liquid starch. This will make it bright, shiny, and
somewhat crinkled. Cut out a black bat from construction paper and attach it in the middle of the harvest moon. Have these decorations around the house for a howling Halloween!
Halloween parties are a wonderful way for children to mingle with their peers and an alternative to on-the-street “trick-or-treating.” Use these dozen ideas
as a beginning to your party planning and then add creations of your own to make it personalized.
(Tania Cowling is an author, former teacher, and mother. She resides in Sanford, Florida).
Black, Orange and...Teal? By: Amy McClure Teal may be a trendy color for a front door or a new lamp, but a teal pumpkin on Halloween means more than just a stylish pumpkin. Teal is the color of food allergy awareness, and a teal pumpkin has become a symbol that non-food treats are available to trick-o-treaters. For kids with food allergies, the scariest part of Halloween is hidden allergens in candy. Those peanuts in a Snickers or surprising gluten in Twizzlers can cause scares bigger than even the most ghastly ghoul costume. For this reason, ever since 2014 the Teal Pumpkin Project has been gaining momentum as it encourages people to offer nonfood items on Halloween. In 2012, Becky Baslone, who directed a local food allergy support group in Tennessee, was thinking about how to make Halloween less harrowing for kids with allergies. She came up with the genius teal pumpkin and by 2014, FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) began promoting the idea and spreading the word on social media. That first year the idea reached 5 million people through Facebook alone, and it has only continued to grow as other allergy- awareness organizations use Halloween as a time to spread knowledge of food allergies.* If you want to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project, the steps are laid out on the FARE website** 1. Provide non-food treats on Halloween 2. Place a teal pumpkin in front of your home 3. Add your home to the interactive map 4. Spread the word with friends, family and on social media You may feel overwhelmed when thinking about buying non-food items, but keep in mind they can be cheap and simple. Browse your nearest dollar store or look for bulk treats on-line and you should be able to find a mix of things all ages will love. You could also offer both candy and non-food prizes. Just make sure to keep them in separate bowls and ask kids which they prefer. Some ideas from the FARE website include: - Glowsticks- Kids (and parents) love the added visibility as it gets darker - Stickers - Fun pencils and erasers - Bouncy balls - Noisemakers like whistles or kazoos - Little notebooks - Coins - Bookmarks - Stencils - Plastic beads or spider rings - Vampire fangs - Bubbles - Mini Slinkies** As you choose non-food items, keep in mind some kids have latex allergies and try to find latex- free items. Also, gluten can pop up in unexpected places, including some clay products. The idea is not to feel overwhelmed, but to be inclusive and welcoming. Once you have your treats, you could paint a pumpkin teal or buy one. The key is to make it visible. You then should register your house on the FARE website’s map so that parents can easily create an allergy free route for the big night. According the Susie Leuschen, “As a parent of an allergy kiddo, I love the inclusivity of the Teal Pumpkin Project. I also like that stores like Target and Nobbies are making it so easy to find fun options that don’t include food. Nobody needs to feel like they are missing out.” That’s what it’s all about: inclusivity. So this Halloween, give it a try. Get some treats, paint a pumpkin teal and join the growing movement to make Halloween just a little less scary for kids with food allergies. *information gathered from Courtney Born’s article in Food Allergy, published October 23, 2014 https://www.allergicliving.com/2014/10/23/the-origin-of-the-teal-pumpkin-project-interview-with-becky-basalone-facet/ **information from https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project
Now Playing!
Raise the curtain and light the lights! The Rose Theater welcomes you to the 70th season of children’s theater in Omaha!
Based on the book by Dr. Seuss. Originally produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain.
Adapted and originally directed by Katie Mitchell. Dr. Seuss text, characters and images TM and © 2009 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.
Sept 27 - Oct 13, 2019
Fridays at 7 pm · Saturdays at 2 pm & 5 pm · Sundays at 2 pm
TICKETS: $20
Rose Members receive FREE tickets
Get your tickets today! Coming Soon:
2001 Farnam Street · Omaha, NE 68102
Oct. 25 - Nov. 10
Nov. 29 - Dec. 22
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9/17/19 4:36 PM