How to prepare your children for Halloween

Halloween is quickly creeping up on us and for some children it can be a really scary time. Whilst many relish in getting dressed up and going round knocking on doors to see what sweets they can get by the end of the night, for others it can be an incredibly fearful night, particularly if they are young and do not understand what is going on. However, there are certain things that you can do in order to help them to prepare for Halloween, including what to expect, and also how to make them feel more comfortable about the night itself.

You will probably spot the signs beforehand that your child is likely to be scared on and around Halloween. If they are prone to checking underneath the bed for monsters, or do not like sleeping in their own beds, it will be likely that they will not like the costumes that they will inevitably see around October 31^st. Know your child, and try and spot the signs early, so you can prepare them.

When a child is scared of something it can make them incredibly stressed, which in turn will unearth a load of other issues. You may feel at times that you are going round in circles, but it is so important to ensure that you are patient with them. Remember that it won’t last forever, but do not focus on this alone. Do not tell them that they will grow out of it in time and openly dismiss their fears. It is important to be patient with them. For whatever reason they have these fears, try and get to the bottom of why they are feeling like they are. It might seem like an irrational silly fear when you’re an adult, but for a young child, it can completely engulf them. However frustrating it is at the time, you must be patient and appreciate that your child has feelings, and not to dismiss them. Trying to minimise them will only make them worse. You need to be respectful of their feelings, and work on helping the deal with the issue, rather than placing the focus on them ‘getting over it’. 

Instead of focusing on all the scary costumes, try and focus on the fun element. In the run up to Halloween, buy a few different books that make Halloween fun rather than frightening. Find out specifically what it is that is scaring them. It they are scared of the dark, try reading them a story in bed using only a torch as light. You could also consider buying a nightlight, or glow in the dark toys that they can take with them if they went trick or treating. If they are scared of the monster costumes that they will see at Halloween, or get scared going into their room overnight because they are scared of a monster; get them to draw the monster with a funny face. Or, act how different hand puppet shows where your child defeats the monster driving it out of their room. If you try and address and beat all of their demons inside, when it gets to Halloween they are likely to be a lot more relaxed.

Listen to what they want to do and try to find out what works for them. If it is just Halloween that your child is scared of, work at their own pace. Do not force them to dress up in an outfit that they find scary because you want them too. If it is the dark, why not go out earlier when it is lighter? This way they can still experience trick or treating without feeling uneasy or unnecessary scared. It could also help if you have children who are scared of all the costumes that you find at Halloween, as it is likely to be quieter the earlier you go out, and they will see fewer people dressed up in scary outfits. 

If you have other children who like to celebrate Halloween, try and make it as fun as possible whilst you are at home. Get all of your children together and make different decorations that will not scare your children. The last thing you want is for your children to feel scared in their own home. There are many different whimsical ideas that you can do that will make the holiday fun for them rather than making your home a scary place for them to be in. Let them decide their own costumes, or get them to dress up in different clothes that they have at home. This does not have to be Halloween related. If they want to dress up as a fairy, then let them. They are still joining in and having fun; but in such a way that will not be scary for them. Alternatively, you could try creating a costume that matches their interests. Regardless of what others think of the costume, the important thing is that your child feels comfortable in how they have dressed up. 

Finally, do not force your child to go trick or treating if they do not want to. There are plenty of different activities that you can do in your home that will be just as fun and entertaining, such as a Halloween picnic, or games, or even a Halloween trick or treat hunt in your own back garden. If they do not want to go up to other people’s houses do not force them. If they are showing an element of interest, but are quite timid, start off by visiting the houses in your own street, and make sure that you go up to the door with them. Once they have got used to that, you can try staying a few steps behind them, until they get used to and then just get further and further away until they are visiting the doors by themselves. Also, if you live in a street that has many children, get them all together to go trick or treating. Not only is it safer, but it also allows those who are a little nervous to relax and observe before they build up their confidence.

Halloween should be a fun exciting time, and a time for children to get dressed up and involved in the festivities. If your child is a little anxious, make sure you determine the cause before the holiday, and prepare them in the best way you can to make them feel at ease when the time comes.

10 ways to make your child’s bedroom fit for a Princess

If you have a little girl who loves all things fairy tale, Disney and wants a room fit for a Princess, it is easier than you think. A few simple changes to their existing room can create their very own royal kingdom. Follow our 10 tips and hints to start creating your child’s room into their fairy tale dream.

    1)    Involve them in the planning

Bear with me on this one. Whilst this might sound like some parent’s idea of a nightmare, involving them in the planning will make them feel like they are creating the room they really want. We are not suggesting letting them loose with tins of paint and paintbrushes, but get them to tell you exactly what they want in their fairy tale room, and then turn these ideas into feasible designs.

     2)    Make a picture board

Creating a picture board will make them feel like their room is their own personal place that they can go to. Get them to fill it with pictures of their favourite princess’s and Disney characters. The joy of having a picture board means that it can easily be updated as the child grows up as all you will need to do is change the pictures to something more fitting to their age.

     3)    Fit a curtain around the head of their bed

Fit a sheer, floor length curtain to the ceiling around the head of their bed. These are available to buy ready-made, or you can get creative and make your own. Having a curtain allows them to feel like a Princess crawling into bed each night, and it adds a touch of luxury for them without breaking the bank. It is a very simple, but effective addition to a little girl’s room.

 

     4)    Transform old furniture

Instead of buying new furniture for their room, why not just transform the furniture that they have. White furniture will fit in very well with a fairy tale and Princess design, and this can easily be achieved with furniture paint. If your children have wooden furniture, simply sand this down, before repainting in your chosen colour. You will be amazed at the difference it makes, and your children will think they have got brand new furniture.

     5)    Add some wall stickers

You can easily turn their room into a castle, by adding some Princess wall stickers. These are effective, as they are inexpensive and temporary, yet, at the same time, they can make a huge difference. Involve your child when choosing where they should go, and try and turn it into a fun activity. The stickers can be removed when your child is too old to have a Princess themed room, and the existing paint will revealed again.

     6)    Create a wall mural

This one is a lot more permanent and costly than the others; however, it is extremely impressive and effective. If you feel that your artistic skills are up to it, you can reduce the cost and create your own castle or Disney backdrop. However; if not, you can hire professionals who can come in and create one. This one will be a guaranteed winner with any child, and will really make them feel like they are stepping into their very own fairy tale every night.

  

     7)    Add a toy chest

This has several advantages. It is extra storage space, which can then be used for other items when they get older, as well as encouraging your children to keep their room free of clutter by tidying up after themselves. Not only this, but it really will add a touch of luxury to their room, and make them feel like they have their very own treasure chest. Again, these can be fairly inexpensive, and can be re-painted to fit in with the desired theme.

     8)    Create a vanity station

Every Princess needs a vanity station, where they can make themselves look beautiful for their Prince. Creating a vanity area in your little girl’s room, with a mirror, and room to keep their jewellery box for example will fulfil all of their dreams and make them feel like a true Princess. This is better suited to larger rooms with a lot of free floor space; otherwise you can end up making their room look cluttered.

     9)    Make a personalised name plate

Get your child to help you make a Princess themed name plate for their bedroom door. There are all sorts of different shapes that you can make, but to make them feel like a true princess, a crown template is very effective. Getting your child to help will turn it into a fun, creative activity for them and it will make them feel proud if they see it on their door every day.

     10)                       Add a mirror

This doesn’t have to be a large, full length mirror, but a mirror will make the room feel bigger, and more like a Princess’s room. Many shops will actually provide mirrors that have been specifically designed for little girl’s room and come in the shape of a castle or a crown which are incredibly effective. It is little touches like this that will really make a difference, particularly if you do not want to re-decorate the entire room.

Kidkraft And Wooden Toys Direct Review

We would like to say thanks for the great informative review from http://www.directorybaby.com/ about our site and KidKraft products see the review below or visit it direct at http://www.directorybaby.com/blog/wooden-toys-are-great-baby-gifts/

Wooden Toys Are Great Baby Gifts
Wooden toys not only entice the children to play with them, they also allure the adults to use them in their home and office as decorative articles. Wooden toys manufacturing is a good cottage industry business which provides employment opportunities to many people and also brings enormous profit for artists who are agog at making these wooden toys. The most appealing wooden toys that can be manufactured at home are the wooden trains, puzzles, wooden cars, wooden soldiers and dolls, blocks with engraved alphabet, blocks used for building a house or a castle etc. The wooden toys can be designed according to our imagination and there is not hard and fast rule for making them.
Wooden toys are perfect presents for a baby shower gift, a birthday or a simple family get-together. One reason is the nonexistent threat of toxicity that is ever present in toys made of plastic and metal. Toxicity is big concern when picking toys for infant and toddlers, as they would tend to chew on their toys for long periods of time, especially teething babies. Another upside in picking wooden toys for children is that you can actually have it modified according to your specification. A wooden doll house or a wooden horse with matching names of its owners is great ideas for a personalized baby gift.
While some wooden toys can cost significantly more than their plastic counterparts, many parents feel wooden toys still remain the best play options for their children, regardless of cost. In a ‘cost conscious’ consumer market, with many budget-wholesale-discount outlets, why do so many parents go the ‘extra mile’ in time and expense? The answer can be found in the advantages of the ‘Wooden Toys Direct’ for their children.
Wooden Toys Direct is The Online Specialist for KidKraft wooden toys for the UK and Europe. Wooden Toys Direct sells the best quality, safest and often unique wooden toys and furniture around which will last for years and provide children with endless hours of fun and imaginative educational fun play time. All KidKraft items meet all applicable U.S. regulatory safety standards. KidKrafts testing program ensures that the products meet or exceed all requirements, including mechanical hazards, lead and other heavy metals, and flammability.
Always keep in mind that play will always be an essential part of person’s childhood, as most of the important lessons and skills are learned during this phase. It is during this stage they learn to explore the world around them learning to express themselves, and learn to bond with their families and with other children. Wooden toys provide features that really help children make most out of this stage in their lives. Durable, safe, and possessing the aspect of craftsmanship, wooden toys simply ranks as one of the best gift ideas one any person can give to children.