Do-It-Yourself Halloween Decorations

You can turn any home into a haunted house for Halloween by adding the right Halloween decorations. Here are simple do-it-yourself suggestions for Halloween decorations that you, your family, and the neighbors will enjoy this fall.

Gourd candleholders
Dim lighting is essential in creating the right Halloween mood so work on that as the first of your Halloween decorations. Create a low light atmosphere in your home by using candles instead of overhead lighting. To create a spooky candleholder, cut a hole in the center of a gourd, squash, or miniature pumpkin. This might be hard to do so start by gently rocking the knife back and forth until you create a slit. Keep moving the knife carefully until there is an open section large enough to hold a candle.

• Safety warning: Make sure you put the candleholder on a tray with aluminum foil. As with all Halloween decorations, advise your children to stay away from the flame.
  

Witch's cauldron
To create the ultimate witch's cauldron you will need a large bowl, dry ice, and water. You can purchase dry ice from a local ice cream parlor or grocery store. Put the dry ice in a container with a tight lid. Then submerge the container in water. Warm water will produce more smoke that will disappear rapidly while colder water will produce less smoke that will last longer. You can put the cauldron at your front door or as the centerpiece on your dining room table.

• Safety warning: Do not touch the dry ice with your bare hands. Either use tongs or thick gloves. Make sure that children do not play with the dry ice.
  

Glowing ghosts
A glowing ghost is the perfect example of how simple and fun making Halloween decorations can be. Activate a mini glow stick, slip it inside a balloon, and blow up the balloon. Position the knot of the balloon at the top center and use a black marker to make a face. Use a thin or transparent white cloth to cover the balloon, cut a small hole in the cloth and push the knot through so you can tie a string to it and hang it from a tree, your door, or a lamppost in your front yard. Your glowing ghost will blow in the wind, letting all your neighbors know that Halloween has arrived.

Custom Gift Baskets for Dad

You need to get dad a present, but you're not sure where to start. Do you go for the big ticket item like a flashy electronic gadget? Do you go for the experiential present like a day spent golfing at his favorite course? If you're stuck in park and not sure where to steer your decision making process, then think about custom gift baskets. Here are simple steps for creating a custom gift basket for your dad:

Pick a theme
Custom gift baskets should revolve around a chosen theme so they don't look like random pilings of gifts that don't logically go together. Brainstorm potential themes for the basket. For instance, is your dad a sports buff? Is he a diehard fan for any specific team? Does he have a sweet tooth? Any hobby he is addicted to? Hone in on one of his interests and use that as a basis for the custom gift basket.

Set a price limit
Now that you've picked the theme for the custom gift basket, it may be a good idea to set a price limit for yourself. This way you won't feel the need to buy all related products or get stressed about your total bill as you keep buying and buying. Setting a price marker will help you be more discerning in choosing appropriate products for the custom gift basket. Think about quality, not quantity, and you won't be as worried about breaking your piggy bank.

Seek professional advice
Custom gift baskets turn out well if they include unique, specialty products geared towards the theme. So if you're not an expert in the chosen concept then seek professional advice. If your father is a coffee nut then head to one of the major chains and ask an employee to help you pick out an assortment of rich coffee blends. If your father has a favorite author, peek around his library at home, see which books he has, and then head to the bookstore to fill in the gaps.

Attach a card
The final touch for custom gift baskets is a card. You don't need to be deeply profound, but you can briefly explain why you made your choices for dad's present. Explain why you think he will enjoy what you created for him. This will help pull together the gift so your dad will appreciate the custom gift basket created especially by you.

5 Rules for Divorced Dads

As a child of divorce (my parents divorced when I was four), I can personally say that divorce can be, or maybe always is, hardest on the kids. It should be a decision of last resort when kids are involved and very clearly the "least bad" of your options in a bad marriage.

That said, it does occur and divorced dads have special challenges.

Divorced dads have a lot to prove since they will likely take at least half the blame for the break up of the family. If you're a divorced dad, you are also likely to have lost custody of your kids. You're less present for them everyday and need to make the most of your time with your kids.

Divorced dads should follow all the tips for regular dads, but should be especially attentive to these.

• Never date or marry any woman who wants to put herself ahead of your kids. It doesn't matter how pretty, sexy, wealthy, intelligent, funny or seemingly caring she is. When you had kids, you made a covenant to put them ahead of everything. When all else fades, your relationship with them will be the strongest love of your life.

• Never compare siblings. This goes doubly for step-brothers and sisters. If you compare them for any reason, at almost any age, you give your own children a reason to doubt your love for them.

• Make twice the effort to be at every game, school play, and birthday.

• A corollary to #3, move or stay wherever your kids live. Other places may beckon but your place is close to your family.

• Never discuss your ex-wife. This last might be especially difficult given the circumstances for your divorce. However, no matter how great the joy may be in the moment to say something negative about your ex-spouse, you will gain nothing from it in the long run. If your spouse is as bad as you say, it will be obvious to the kids. If not, they will hold it against you.

Every divorced dad has to carry his own grief and try to begin a new life again in the world. Remember that you are still a father. Taking care of your children during this crisis is your first priority. It's the only way to break the inertia.

Inexpensive Halloween Costumes for You and Your Child

It's that time of year again when ghosts and goblins roam the streets. Halloween brings out the child in all of us so get into the spirit and collaborate with your child to wear a tag team costume set. Here are some ideas for Halloween costumes that are easy to execute:

Dumbledore and Harry Potter
Any child who knows and loves Harry Potter (which is the majority of children out there) will enjoy if his father dresses up as the all-knowing Dumbledore. You will need to don a robe, a beard, and a wig.

As Harry Potter, your child can wear a robe, cape, glasses, the wizard hat, and a fake scar on his forehead. Both of you should have wands for your Halloween costumes.

If you have a daughter who would prefer not to dress up as a boy then she can be Hermione. She could make her hair frizzy and wear preppy clothing like a private school uniform. Don't forget the robe.

The Skipper and Gilligan
Enter the world of Gilligan's Island by dressing up as the Skipper and Gilligan for your Halloween costumes. You can easily wear a blue shirt with a white collar, khaki pants, and a captain's hat. Your child will play the part of Gilligan by wearing a red shirt with a white collar and a sailor hat.

Dr. Evil and Mini Me
The cliched phrase, "The apple does not fall far from the tree" can apply to Halloween costumes as well. In Austin Powers, Dr. Evil and his Mini Me are an unbeatable tag team. If you want to keep your Halloween costumes as simple as possible then you and your child can just wear identical clothing.

If you're interested in mimicking the characters more closely then go to your local costume store or search online to find a more authentic ensemble.

Halloween's just around the corner. And while your kids are all set to have a blast, they will appreciate your effort and participation in making it a memorable day for them. Find tips to curve halloween pumpkin.

Building a Tree House for Your Kids

Building a tree house is a great project idea for a dad. For one thing, it is a fun activity for the kids that also has learning value to it. Besides, a tree house means that the kids have their own special place to spend quality hours with their friends in the safe environment of your own backyard.

While you don't have to be an engineering expert to build a tree house, it does require some thought and care. Apart from the crucial safety aspect, you also have to ensure that your tree house is functional and aesthetic. Here are tips to help you build one.

1. Select an appropriate tree: As the foundation for the tree house, you need to select an appropriate tree. To start, it has to be big and sturdy enough. Ideally, it would have to be one with the 'V' shaped formation to support your house. Lastly, ensure that your tree is located away from potential hazards such as high voltage wires.

2. Plan a foundation: A strong foundation is essential to hold up your tree house. Decide the size of the house you are building and determine whether you will need extra supporting posts for balance.

3. Build a base: Once the foundation is in place, you can start building a strong base for your house. A simple way to do this is to lay out flat boards across the branches (and supporting posts, if you have used them) and nailing or fastening them together to make the house; make sure you don't leave nail ends sticking out to hurt your kids. An even better way, especially if this is your first tree house, would be to refer to some tree house plans and building directions featured in books or on the internet.

4. Finish the house: Once the main structure of your house is complete, it's up to you to add the smaller details to make it more appealing to children. They will be very happy to help you decorate it the way they'd like it. Don't forget to include a ladder, preferably one made of sturdy rope, that the kids can drop down or pull up as they want.

Parent's Participation in Children's Education

You cannot expect the school district to bear sole responsibility for the teaching of a child. Education is a process, so stick with your child each step along the way to ensure a smooth transition through the years.

Know your child
According to Betsy Combier, administrator for the parentadvocates.org website, knowing your child is the first step. Take an active role in recognizing what your child's strengths and weaknesses are and knowing how he learns best. If you know what excites and frustrates your child from a learning perspective, then that information can serve as a point of reference for his teacher. Combier recommends sharing these feelings along with him. "Get in there," she says. "Get excited right along with him."

Be active
To maximize your child's education, it is not enough just to have your voice heard during an annual parent-teacher conference. Teachers want your help in educating your child through his successes and failures. Reach out to your child's teacher with phone calls and e-mails. If you two maintain a cooperative relationship from the onset of the school year then if and when an issue arises you can face it together as a team. A joint understanding and clear communication are usually enough to help solve any problem.

Success benchmarks
No classroom environment is perfect. One teacher cannot address each student's needs. Furthermore, since education is not one-size-fits-all, a high grade does not necessarily mean that your child is being challenged. Parents should ask teachers about course benchmarks and their child 's achievements so they are updated.

Don't forget that other parents can provide a wealth of information as well. All of you have expertise in different areas so share what you know. Also, do your part to know what's expected of your child in each grade by researching educational resources online and reading the newspaper to stay current.

Curriculum check
If you are interested in checking out your child's curriculum, approach the situation from a curiosity perspective so you're not on the offensive when talking to your child's teacher. Do not be afraid to ask questions and know there is always more work that can be done at home. You can enhance your child's education by using library resources as well.

Communication tactics
Always act with integrity because your children are watching. Be respectful of the teacher's boundaries since it is his classroom. Set up appointments beforehand and keep careful notes of any communication you have. If any issues escalate that you and the teacher or the guidance counselor cannot resolve then consider reaching out to the principal or another administrator.

No matter what your parenting style, the key to a successful academic experience is to partner with your children in their education.

Step Fathers Are Better Parents - Study and Research

A controversial study has found that stepfathers are "more engaged, more co-operative and shared more responsibility than their biological counterparts did." Based in the United States, this research negates the widely held belief that biological fathers are better suited to the role of parenting their own children.

Interviews were conducted with 2,098 urban mothers from the Fragile Families And Child Wellbeing study. The children involved in the study had been born between 1998 and 2000 and were five years old when the most recent interview was conducted.

Some professionals in the field believe that it would be scientifically erroneous to apply this study's findings to all family dynamics in which a stepfather is present.

Sydney psychologist Grant Brecht said, "There is no reason why stepfathers cannot make incredibly good parents and they may be more attentive. But I think you have to look at it case by case."

Lawrence Berger of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the study's author, said that mothers who participated in the study were more likely to have similar parenting perspectives with their children's stepfathers than their biological fathers.

In addition, the stepfathers too were more open about discussing their wants and needs as parental figures for the adopted child.

Stepfathers need to make the extra effort to blend in with the family and to feel useful as a parent. That additional level of concern translates to a greater interest in parenting. But biological fathers should still work on being strong influences in their children's lives as well. The ideal is for children to be surrounded by as many loving and caring people as possible to contribute to their healthy development.

Selecting the Right Air Cleaner for Your Baby's Nursery

Ideally, the air in your baby's nursery should be as free of pollutants as possible. This is because babies are more sensitive than adults are, to breathing problems and respiratory infections. One way of ensuring that there is clean, fresh air in your baby's nursery is to install an air cleaner.

An air cleaner is used to purify air in a room by removing allergens such as dust particles, dander, and mold spores. There are three types of air cleaners:

* Ionic air purifiers: These are the most popular air cleaners available. They work by negatively charging dust particles and other allergens floating in the air and causing them to drop to the ground.

* HEPA air purifiers: These remove pollutants by filtering them out from the air. While they are helpful in removing pollutants such as dust and mites, they are very effective with mold.

* Ultraviolet air purifiers: These use light energy to kill allergen causing organisms such as dust mites and dander spores.

Here are some points to consider while choosing an air cleaner for your baby’s nursery:

* Choose the type of air cleaner according to the pollutants you intend to eliminate. For instance, HEPA filters are ideal for filtering out dust particles, while Ultraviolet purifiers are more appropriate for killing germs.

* Opt for a single room air cleaner. This will be more effective for your baby's nursery than a central filtration system, or “in-duct” unit, that is meant to work for an entire house.

* Ensure that the air cleaner you buy is adequate in terms of the coverage it offers. For instance, an air cleaner may be ineffective if the area it is designed to cover is smaller than the size of your baby's nursery.

* Check to ensure that the model you have selected is not so noisy as to interfere with your baby's sleep.

* The American Lung Association advises against the use of air cleaners that use ozone generators as air cleaners. Also, ensure that the air cleaner you select does not produce ozone levels higher than 0.05 ppm.

Wedding Advice for The Father of The Bride

Seeing their child get married can be a proud and happy day for a father, but it can also be stressful, particularly when it is their daughter's wedding.

There is the issue of seeing daddy's little girl all grown up and beginning to make a family of her own and then there are all the father of the bride duties - walking her down the aisle, making a speech and getting the check book out to pay for it all at the end.

To help dads negotiate the wedding minefield the Kren Reno has come up with parenting advice for fathers apprehensive about the big day.

Firstly, it suggests making a money plan. The couple may be paying for the wedding themselves, but if not, fathers should decide how much they are willing to contribute and stick to it.

The publication notes that men may be tempted to take a backseat when it comes to wedding planning and leave the girls to sort out dresses and flower arrangements, but says the bride and groom will need all the help they can get in organizing the day, so it is all hands on deck.

When it comes to the speech - the bit many dads dread most - it recommends keeping it short and sweet. "Rather than rambling, it's always best to stick to the basics. Thank everyone for being there, say how happy and proud you're feeling at that moment, and raise your glass to the bride and groom."

Dads may be interested to know that on average, US couples spend between $1,366 and $43,098 on their wedding, excluding honeymoon and engagement ring, so they may want to start saving now in the interests of good father and daughter relations!

Stay-at-Home Fathers Could Offer Moms Tips

Stay-at-home fathers are still a rarity in the US compared to their female counterparts, but it is a growing trend both among single dads and those in a relationship.

Now, it looks like dads who act as the primary caregiver to their children may already have a thing or two to teach moms about raising kids.

USA Today spoke to Andrew McDade, a teacher in New Jersey who decided to stay at home to raise his daughter when she was born nine years ago.

He found that many moms would be constantly coming up to him to offer unsolicited advice on how to look after his children, which may not be surprising considering that on average, working fathers provide about 40 per cent less childcare on a daily basis than their female counterparts.

However, the magazine spoke to a number of experts who suggested that fathers that do the bulk of the childcare could have some valuable tips to impart to moms.

For example, stay at home dads generally break with the traditional assumption that the person who raises the children should also do the housework. "When you think about it, the task of caring for kids are logically different from doing the housework," Joan C. Williams, director of the Center for WorkLife Law at Hastings College of the Law in California, told the publication.

In addition, research has found that such fathers are also more likely to take time out for themselves than their female counterparts, keep a hand in the workforce and take an equitable approach to childrearing; all positive traits.

For parents who want to take a totally different approach to raising their children, the New York Times recently reported on the phenomenon of shared parenting, where both moms and dads share all the responsibilities of child care equally.

Feeding Your Two Month Old Baby

Breastfeeding is healthy for you and your baby. Here are some reasons why breastfeeding is best:

• Breast milk can help protect your baby against illness. It can protect her from allergies. The American Academy of Pediatrics says it's good for babies to be breastfed for the first year of life.

• It's best for mom. Many breastfeeding mothers lose the weight they gained while pregnant faster than mothers who do not breastfeed.

• It creates a bond between mother and baby. You can learn your baby's signals faster.

• Breast milk is easier to digest than formula and you don't have to prepare bottles or formula. Breast milk is always ready. Babies do not become constipated from breast milk.

Each baby has her own feeding schedule. Some babies need to nurse more often than others do. In general, nursing babies need to be fed at least eight to 12 times in a 24-hour period. That means feedings every two to three hours. If your baby has not fed for several hours and then dozes off after only a few minutes of nursing, gently wake her to encourage her to continue nursing. Try to help your baby feed until your breasts are emptied of milk or at least 15 minutes from each breast.

If you have any questions or problems with breastfeeding, talk to your doctor, nurse or WIC breastfeeding counselor. To learn more about breastfeeding, you may call La Leche League at 1-800-LALECHE or visit their Web site at www.lalecheleague.org/.

Follow your baby's lead. Babies tend to get as much milk as they need when you let them nurse when they want and for as long as they want. The more your baby nurses, the more milk you will produce. Your milk supply will keep up with your baby's demand.

How do you know when your baby is hungry? Here are some hunger signs to be aware of:

Early hunger signs:

• Head moves toward voice, mouth opens
• Lips smack, tongue reaches outward
• Hands move "randomly"
• Fists find mouth
• Infant begins fussing

Late hunger signs:

• Brow furrows
• Mouth widens, head moves quickly from side to side
• Fists clench, seeking the mouth
• Baby cries

Will Crooked Teeth in your Baby be a Permanent Problem?

Infants develop baby teeth around the age of five to eight months. Often baby teeth, or "milk teeth," as they are sometimes called, are not straight. These teeth are not permanent. Even so, adequate baby teeth care and maintenance is necessary to pave the way for permanent teeth. Teeth also affect speech, eating habits, and appearance.

Here are some important facts related to crooked baby teeth that you should keep in mind:

• Crookedness of teeth is natural, but may be aggravated due to prolonged sucking of the thumb, toys, or other household objects.

• Having crooked baby teeth does not necessarily lead to crooked adult teeth.

• Research shows that babies who are bottled fed are more likely to develop crooked teeth compared to breast-fed babies.

• Food tends to accumulate in the gaps between baby teeth and can lead to tooth decay.

Prevention and Treatment

• As far as possible, consider breast-feeding instead of bottle-feeding.

• Parents need to prevent their children from sucking the thumb or any object without harshness or use of force. Remember that most children tend to stop this habit as they grow up.

• If parents find it difficult to stop the child's thumb-sucking habit, they can consider using a pacifier; this will also eventually need to be given up as the child grows up.

• Brush your baby's teeth regularly to prevent any tooth decay.

• As the child grows up, braces may be considered if the permanent teeth are also crooked.


Here are some ways to care for your baby's teeth:

• If your baby needs a bottle to fall asleep, give him only water in a bottle or a cup. Liquids other than water contain sugar. Feeding at bedtime may leave sugar on teeth all night. Then sugar has more time to turn into tooth decay.

• If you feed your baby formula, always hold him while feeding. Never prop the bottle.

• If you use a pacifier, keep it clean. Don't coat it with anything.

• Wipe your baby's teeth and gums every night. Use a wet, clean, soft washcloth.

How to Play with Your Ten Month Old Baby

Babies around ten months of age will enjoy being introduced to new toys or games. This is because they become increasingly curious and variety stimulates them. Exposure to newer experiences helps their ability to perceive and understand things better.

These are some of the ways in which you can play with you 10 month old child:

• Encourage your child to imitate what you do. Clap your hands, pull your nose, toss a ball and get your child to do these things just like you. Then start improvising on the theme. For instance, you pull your child’s nose, so that your child pulls yours.

• Children at this age are fascinated about how things fit inside other things. Show your child how to collect assorted toys and put them into a box. Then teach your child to empty the box into another container.

• Hide a toy inside a box or bag and encourage your child to retrieve it.

• Teach your child to balance blocks to build a column and then give it a nudge to see it collapse.

• Show your child how to push a ball or a toy truck along. Play a game where both of you push the toy across the floor to each other.

It is important that you remember that these play sessions are primarily meant to be enjoyed. Do not force your child to ‘learn’ at the cost of fun. Allow you’re the baby space to grow and develop. However, if you are concerned about some aspect of your child’s behavior, consult your pediatrician.

Top 7 Parenting Mistakes to Avoid

If you have difficulty dealing with your children, you are not alone. Many parents seem to be quite at loss when it comes to enforcing good behavior in their children. Research has shown that some parenting styles definitely do not work. Read on to learn how you can avoid the most common parenting mistakes:

#1: Don't punish harshly. Professor of Sociology, University of New Hampshire, Murray Straus, estimates that 90 percent of parents do not think it wrong to beat children. However, researchers studying child behavior insist that punishing children too harshly is a big parenting mistake. Discipline, they say, is effective only when it is mild. For instance, "time out" should not be for more than a few minutes, and privilege withdrawal should not be extended for more than a day.

#2: Don't nag. If you think that constant nagging will get your kids to do as you want them to, think again. Research has proven that people tend to ignore repetitive commands. Not only that, nagging also negatively reinforces wrong behavior.

#3: Don't compromise. If you make rules, be ready to enforce them. Nobody expects that you set military standards for discipline for your children, but let them know that a "no" means "no." When your kids learn that you will not give in to their tantrums, they will simply stop throwing them.

#4: Don't overprotect. While it is your duty to protect your children, it is also important to let them learn from their mistakes. As psychologist and Raising Resilient Children co-author, Robert Brooks explains, "Resilient children realize that sometimes they will fail, make mistakes, have setbacks. They will attempt to learn from them."

#5: Don't over-praise. An important aspect of parenting is to praise children for exemplary behavior. However, if you habitually applaud every thing they do, you may end up undermining the effectiveness of praise as a form of positive reinforcement. This is because your children may not understand why you are praising them, or may even overestimate their own worth.

#6: Don't stress grades. Academics are important for your children, but a common parenting mistake is to stress grades over creativity. Psychiatrist and author of Great Kids, Stanley Greenspan points out that while parents make children learn rules and facts, it is more difficult to get them to think creatively. Creativity, however, is essential to help children to discard ideas that don't work and look for alternative solutions.

#7: Don't disregard feelings. Myrna Shure, author of Raising a Thinking Child, says that children need to be able to examine their feelings about things. One of the most common mistakes parents make is disregard their children's feelings-by telling them not to cry, for instance. A better approach is to show empathy by letting children know that you understand how they feel.

Your parenting styles are likely to impact the way your child grows up. Being responsive to your children, and at the same time, setting clear rules and limits, is crucial for you as a parent.

Conceiving a Baby: Things Future Dads Should Avoid

Men don't usually scour pre-pregnancy books, stocking up on all the right vitamins and minerals, and planning against the hidden dangers that could harm their baby-to-be. But - though in a couple trying to get pregnant the attention tends to be focused on the woman - there is a lot you can do to ensure a healthy pregnancy for your wife and become a proud dad.

Future dads, who are trying to conceive, would do well to avoid the following things:

• Hot water baths: Heat around the testicles may affect a man's ability to conceive. One reason why men have testicles that hang outside the body is that it makes them cooler and improves their capacity to produce healthy sperm. Soaking in a hot bath or spa will therefore adversely affect your sperm production. Besides, it will also harm immature sperm before it develops. Thus, bathing in hot water today may end up reducing the fertility of your sperm up to three months down the line.

• Warm underwear: Warm or tight underwear can also affect your sperm production by raising the temperature in the groin area.

• Too much cycling: If you are an enthusiastic cyclist who cycles daily, you may run the risk of reducing your sperm count. This is because of the overheating of the testicles caused by the fact they remain squeezed between the legs and the seat of the cycle.

• Sex, in case of yeast infection: If you suffer from a yeast infection, avoid having sex with your spouse. You run the risk of infecting your spouse, who can pass the infection back to you and so on. A yeast infection will generally make intercourse less pleasant, and therefore reduce the number of times you have sex; this could indirectly affect your chances of conception. Some also believe that the creams or suppositories used to treat yeast infections may interfere with successful conception.

If you are about to start a family with your spouse, you will often hear about "family planning". But what really does it mean? Family planning is often understood as prevention of pregnancy.