Halloween Safety: be safe not spoooked

Arielle and Linnea are so excited about Halloween. There's been a huge discussion about the perfect costume. Arielle really wanted (and got) a Disney Store Mulan outfit (Ugh...I even offered to make a cockatoo costume), but Linnea changes her mind frequently. They've been practicing wearing costumes all month, and every morning, Linnea asks "Halloween today?"

I've been moonlighting as a freelance writer (money for toys!) and this month I wrote an article about Halloween safety. Did you know that children are four times more likely to be killed in a pedestrian car accident in just four hours (4-8pm) on Halloween evening than on any other full day of the year?!? That's real scariness.

So, I compiled a few safety tips to keep your ghosts and princesses safe.

• First of all, young children should be accompanied by an adult.

• Make older children go with friends. Give them a curfew and a cell phone. Go over safety rules with older children and teens a few days before Halloween and right before they leave.

• Make sure costumes are easily visible. Choose light colors. I don't like bright lights and batteries, but glowing wands and light-up shoes increase visibility.

Arielle is loving her MIC Mulan shoes with flashing lights. You can also buy some reflective tape (available at hardware and sporting good stores) to add to costumes, strollers and bags.

A few light-colored costumes as everyday-wear.



Arielle in her Fairy Finery Princess Dreams Dress ($73.00). It's so pretty and washes wonderfully.



• Adults should also consider visibility. Wear light colors and add reflective tape to your own jacket.

• Have your children carry flashlights. If carrying a flashlight is difficult, sporting good stores sell inexpensive, flashing red lights for bicyclists that can be clipped on the back of a costume or on a stroller. I have a few that we use when we walk to the playground at night.

• Make sure costumes are short enough to prevent tripping and do not restrict movement. Think comfortable and warm and machine washable. Etsy has an amazing selection of handmade costumes and Sarah's Silks makes awesome costumes.

• Shoes should be easy to walk in and should stay on.

• Make sure your child can see. Use face paints like Lyra Face Pencils ($15.95) instead. If masks are used, make sure they fit well and have large enough eye holes. Masks should not restrict vision.



• Make sure hats and scarves are secure so they don’t fall over children's eyes.

• If your little knights and princes are carrying swords, they should be short and made out of soft and flexible material.

Soft sword ($12.59)



• Remind children to walk, not run. (Uh huh. Linnea how about a padded spacesuit for Halloween?)

• Use the sidewalk, not the street. Don't take shortcuts through yards or alleys. Try to stay near lights.

• Cross at crosswalks and well-lit intersections. Do not jaywalk or cross from between parked cars.

• Warn children about dogs. Even normally friendly dogs may be frightened by Halloween costumes.

• Never enter the home or car of a stranger. Older children should call to check-in before riding with anyone (stranger or not) or going in anyone's home.

• Carry a cell phone, but don't use it while crossing the street.

• Check all treats for signs of tampering before they are eaten. Make sure store-bought treats are factory wrapped. Only accept homemade treats from people that you know well.

• Candles are nice, but they can be dangerous. Keep children and their skirts/sleeves/capes away from candle-lit decorations and never leave candles unattended.

Most of all have a fun and happy and safe Halloween.

Yes, girls love firetrucks! And, this one is so cool.

Arielle loves fire trucks. Daddy is a volunteer firefighter and going to the firehouse to sit in the trucks is their special thing. Ever since she saw the Wooden Fire Truck ($47.95) on the Down To Earth Toys website, she has not stopped talking about it. So, she was particularly happy to have a chance to review this toy.

We love Down to Earth Toys because Down to Earth Toys specializes in offering high quality natural toys, organic toys and especially toys made in the USA. The firetruck is made in the USA by Montgomery Schoolhouse.

These are good, solid trucks (almost three pounds, so not for hitting your sister on the head, please!) made of durable, hardwood American maple. The truck is labeled Mongomery Fire Dept. Engine #1. It includes two removable ladders and two yellow firefighters for lots of firefighting play. And the bright red color and painted details come from non-toxic paints and finishes.

Arielle especially liked taking the "people" in and out and making them climb up ladders. She had a complicated scenario with the firefighters from the truck rescued some other little peg people and puppets. When I asked her about the firetruck, she said "It is a good toy, and kids should like it."

Arielle wasn't available for pictures, but, fortunately, Mulan said she'd help out :0)








Linnea says "I wuv firetwucks, too! Firetwucks are fun!" "


Thank you so much, Down to Earth Toys.

Finally, we have Calafant!

Calafant are paper toys. They come flat, and the pre-cut and pre-punched sturdy white cardboard pieces can be put together without glue and without scissors scissors. Then the child can use markers, paint, and other art supplies to decorate their creation. Eventually, the toy can be recycled.

Calafant is made in China and designed in Germany. It won the Toy Innovation Award in 2006 for creativity.

We tried out the Palace ($24.99).

The palace came in a big pink box.

"Ooooooooooooh! Whats that?"



"That's not a palace!"

No, those are the pre-cut pieces. The palace was a little challenging and required a mommy to help with assembly. It was definitely too much for a five year old, but I think an eight or nine year old could assemble it with only a little help.



Linnea checks out the pre-cut pieces.



Assembly in progress. The picture-based directions were a little confusing at times, but it was easy to figure out.



All done!



We decided to play first and decorate later. Our small dolls from were just the right size.






But, Linnea couldn't wait to decorate. Ooops! While we were cooking dinner, she got out her crayons and was very proud of the results.




Arielle was not happy. She wanted a real castle made of stones and sparkles. So the next day, I dug through the craft box for suitable materials. Color chips left from last years remodeling and anything sparkly. We cut out lots of stones.



Arielle glued stones to the castle.



Linnea got a very special job.



Lots of decorating...











... and they had a beautiful palace fit for all sorts of adventures.


The castle is for children three and up. It is sturdy for gentle play, but it did come apart (and was quickly reassembled) when Linnea got grabby and rough.

In the last few months, we've traveled a lot. I've had the challenge of keeping little girls occupied while spending hours in a hotel room without a lot of toys. I think a set of Calafant and a set of markers would have been a great solution. Smaller sets like the house ($6.99), farm ($14.99) or pirate ship ($14.99)are inexpensive (so you don't feel bad if you can't take them home) and will easily fit in a suitcase. Some sets even come with markers.

The girls had a wonderful time and worked together very nicely to create their masterpiece. It was a fun art project and a good learning experience. I think we'll do more during the long winter; what a perfect quiet project for a snow or sick day.

Thank you, Moolka!

Stubby Pencil Studio's new website

Our 2008 Toy Store of the Year, Stubby Pencil Studio, has a cool new website with lots of new stuff!

Our old favorites are still there.

Easy to manage, Triangular Paint Brushes ($7.95)



We are using them to paint fall pictures with Washable Tempura Paint ($10.95) during art time today.

The Made By Me kits ($4.00) that my girls love. We made trains earlier this week.



And, there are plenty of Color 'n Kids Recycled Cards. Arielle loves sending these to Daddy when he is away and her siblings at college. Last weekend when we were stuck inside, Arielle spent hours coloring these cards with the Metallic Colored EcoPencils ($5.95).

Be sure to use our code, to get a free sample pack of Color n' Kids holiday cards! Use SARA-FF09 for Frosty Friends or SARA-CW09 for Christmas Wishes, a $7.95 value. Only one bonus code per order, expires 12/31/2009.

Last year, Arielle gave cards and Holiday Smencils to her preschool friends. It was inexpensive, and they loved them!



I could go on and on forever.... but then there wouldn't be space for the cool new stuff.

ABC Animal Magnets ($25.00)

We have these on the freezer and they are the cutest alternative to the plastic ABC magnets that I grew up with. The girls love naming the animals and they are too large to be eaten.



Cool activity books. I want to get Hello Matisse ($9.95) for Arielle. I love Matisse.



And, gorgeous board books, coloring books and games featuring the work of Charlie Harper.


Charlie Harper Memory Game ($14.95)





And, lots more.

Just for Halloween...

Halloween Chico Bag ($6.00)



Halloween Colored Pencils ($5.00)



And, now I need to go paint, so take a look at the website.

More Fairies! from Magic Cabin.

Magic Cabin is the place for fairies!!! Look at what we are reviewing, another Magic Cabin Exclusive.

The Magic Cabin Tree Trunk Fairy Home ($99.00 and accessories from $24.98)



Yes, it is as amazing as it looks. And, that's why I'm using all the exclamation marks :0)

The box arrived a little over a week ago, and two very very excited little girls played with the accessories while I tried to figure out the assembly of the house.



It wasn't hard. I needed a small Phillips head screwdriver.



The trick is not to tighten the screws until the home is fully assembled. During assembly it looked like the pieces weren't quite lining up at the bottom (and I was thinking, "Oh no! such a great toy and I can't assemble it!"), but when everything was together, they magically lined up. That was the right time to tighten the screws. Voila! A fairy home.

With two doors that open and close.



Daddy Fairy coming home from work after a hard day of gathering acorns.

Daddy Fairy ($18.98) is a Kathe Kruse Woodland Fairy. The dolls (Daddy, Mommy, Big Sister, Little Brother, Grandma and Grandpa) are super cute and sturdy and well-made and exclusive to Magic Cabin.



The fairy home is surrounded by a puzzle-yard. This adds another dimension to playing.



Here are the cozy insides. Some woodland friends came to visit. The spiral staircase is movable. Ours are from Holztiger, but Magic Cabin also has a Woodland Animals Set ($24.98) from Poland.



The cute mushroom table and chairs are part of the Hammock/Table Set ($24.98). I wish my dining table looked like that.


Here's Big Sister Fairy ($18.98) relaxing in the hammock. She's my favorite. I love her rosy cheeks and braids. The hammock can double as a swing for two dolls.



The River Bridge Puzzle Set ($24.98) includes 8 pieces that assemble to make the perfect hiding place for trolls. Watch out, Fairy Family!



Arielle and Linnea decided to add the log furniture that belongs in their older sister's tree house. Magic Cabin also sells the Tree Block Furniture ($59.98). It looks cute in the house, but is a little small for the dolls.



But, Arielle and Linnea weren't bothered at all. They played nicely for hours and hours!!!!! (always worth many exclamation points, and they are still playing nicely more than a week later). Arielle says it is one of the best toys ever.



Magic Cabin has offered our readers free shipping on the Tree Trunk Fairy Home, Woodland Fairies, and the Tree Trunk accessories - the bridge, dinette set and hammock. The code is "HOME" and it is good until October 15, 2009.

If you are looking for a really special, heirloom quality toy for a little girl (or a few of them) this Christmas, Arielle and Linnea highly recommend this. The toys are suggested for ages three and up.


Thank you! Thank you! Magic Cabin.