Tag Archives: children

Too Much Candy? Here Are A Few Ideas Of What To Do With That Loot!

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Too much candy? Not sure what to do with it? Here are 2 alternatives if you just have too much of a good thing…
The Candy Fairy
Your child can put out a bag of candy by the side of her bed and in the morning it is magically gone and the Candy Fairy has left something in its place — a book, a nerf football, a new paint set….
The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program:
Your child can take in candy to one of the two local dentists below in change for cold, hard cash– call for details
Dental Horizons–Tues Nov. 5, 4-6pm
600 S. Airport Rd., Suite 200-A
Longmont, CO, 80503
Phone: (303) 776-3320
Email: kathleenb@dental-horizons.com
www.dental-horizons.com
Colorado Healthy Smiles–Fri. Nov. 1, 4-5pm
380 Empire Rd., Suite 140
LAFAYETTE, CO, 80026
Phone: 303-469-3344
Email: molly@coloradohealthysmiles.com
www.coloradohealthysmiles.com

DIY: Sweet Lanterns to Keep the Light!

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The days are getting shorter. To honor those shortened days–or to keep the light around longer–I am posting about a very cool lantern making project I found on the very fresh blog, willowday.com. These lanterns are beautiful, creative and easy to make with your kids. They use LED lights, so you may need to get those. Try Michael’s or McGuckins around Boulder.

Now that it is dark earlier consider a few things to do with your lanterns:

  • Take a walk in the dark with just the lanterns for light.
  • Eat by lantern light
Paper Lanterns. These non-flammable, simply beautiful, versatile, paper lights, have been a staple in our summer entertaining — scattered on dinner tables, added to picnic blankets, strung across the patio; they’re even a excellent kid’s craft: the kids have made night lights for their rooms.

After making “night lights” for Grayson’s camping birthday,  I just couldn’t stop. My personal current favorite are the ones made of news print. They are just so fresh.

See? You can hold light in the palm of your hand, if you use LED lights.

Why not do these with your kids and paint each face of the pyramid a different color? Since they’re lit with LED lights, they’re non-flammable and don’t require matches. How cool is that?

TUTORIAL BELOW

SUPPLIES
Paper: regular, transparent, news print, etc.
LED tea light candles
Scissors
Hole Punch
Scotch tape
HOW TO:
Francesca and Grayson helped me make this colorful tutorial.
1) Begin by either printing out the template, (PDF TEMPLATE HERE), on your desired colored paper OR print one template which you will use for tracings. I  have one cardboard template ready at all times and like to have this handy. For a group of kids or party, having sheets already printed is a time saver.
2) Cut out the lantern shape on desired paper.
3) Punch holes with hole punch.
4) Fold the corners up.
5) Using the longest piece of tape possible, place in on the INSIDE of the box and very, very carefully pull the opposite side up and seal tightly. You do not want light coming out of the edges, so take time to seal these well.
6) Carefully insert the LED candle.
7) Press to light when desired.
I hope these bring beauty tables and even, corners of your home! Enjoy.

Boulder Family Events: October 25 to 31, 2013

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Wondering what to do this week? Check out this list of fun family-friendly events and happenings around town!

Friday, October 25

  • Jeepers Creepers–Halloween Fun In Nature! Explore the mysterious worlds of our favorite Open Space and Mountain Parks Halloween creatures, the bat, the bear, the owl and lion. Naturalists will lead you on a short hike around a wild neighborhood from den to roost and perch, where we will share a moment with these costumed creatures of the night. Join in your own costume, with a flashlight for this short hike. You have to register for 1 of  3 hikes. 5:30pm, 6:00pm, or 6:30pm.
    Location provided with registration. Ages 6 and up.
  • Halloween Carnival at the South Boulder Recreation Center. Jumpy house, games, activities, etc. Kids 2-8 y.o. can join in this fun annual event. 3:00 to 5:00pm. Cost is $5. 
  • Pearl Street Stampedes are fun for the whole family. Come out and cheer on the CU Buffs, listen to band music, and get merry. Starts at 7pm in from of the Boulder County Court House. CU vs Arizona. Free.

Saturday, October 26

  • Super Science Saturday at NCAR. People look forward to this event all year long! Be entertained all day with weather balloon launches, science experiments, amazing activity tables, and engaging activities for the whole family. In one of the most amazing locations ever. Free event. All ages. 10:00am to 4:00pm.
  • Ghost Walk, Ghost Talk. Learn about the haunted happenings in the historic homes on north Mapleton Hill. This is a family-friendly spooky event. Children $8 [5 and under free] 5:30 to 9:00pm. Purchase tickets ahead of time. 
  • Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center’s Enchanted Forest. Meet mountain creatures, tell stories, make crafts, and more. 3:00 to 6:00pm. $6 advanced or $8 at the door. Great for children of all ages.
  • Louisville’s Monster Dash. 1k kid’s race, 5k/10k adult race.
  • Boulder High’s Kid Friendly Haunted House. They turn on the lights, turn down the scare factor and let kids enjoy a fun haunted house experience. 1:00 to 4:00pm.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.

Sunday, October 27

  • Ghost Walk, Ghost Talk. Learn about the haunted happenings in the historic homes on north Mapleton Hill. This is a family-friendly spooky event. Children $8 [5 and under free] 5:30 to 9:00pm. Purchase tickets ahead of time.

Monday, October 28

  • Bats, Spiders & Pumpkins–Halloween story time & hike. Celebrate the creepy creatures of Halloween as naturalist Ellen Orleans reads lively picture books at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage. Kids join in the fun with foot stomping, arm-flapping, and the color of the week. 3 to 6-year-olds. Wear clothes to match the weather and bring a snack if you like. 10:00am start. 
  • Halloween at the Y. The Arapahoe Y is hosting their annual Halloween Hullabaloo. Venture into the haunted house (not for the timid), enjoy carnival games, explore the cookie forest and light up the night in our new glow-in-the-dark room. Oh, and don’t forget the bone-chilling fun of the ice rink with costumed performances from the Flatirons Figure Skating Club. Free for members and non-members. 5:30 to 7:30pm.
  • Kids Eat FREE: Larkburger & Cafe Mexicali 

Tuesday, October 29

Wednesday, October 30

Thursday, October 31

  • Munchkin Masquerade on the Pearl Street Mall. This is the classic Boulder Halloween event for kids! Join the masses as you walk along Pearl Street stopping into businesses that happily hand out treats. Dress up. Have fun. Great for young kids. 3:00 to 6:00pm.

#getoutside #free #parenting #boulder #colorado #halloween

Halloween Tips for Building Neighborhood Connections & Supporting Children

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halloween old imageHalloween is a perfect time to build connections in your community! Let’s make Halloween an asset-building experience for children by helping them feel more connected to their community. The Search Institute does it again in helping to frame this fun holiday as a way to support children! It’s easy and just these few ideas will make BIG difference for our kids!

11 Halloween Tips for Building Neighborhood Connections

  • If you don’t know the kids who come to your door, ask their names and grades in school.
  • Compliment (or get scared by) their costumes.
  • Ask the child a question or talk to them briefly before you give a treat.
  • Turn on a light so children will be safe.
  • Intervene if trick-or-treaters become disrespectful or damage property.
  • Invite kids with parents you know to come in for a short visit. (Don’t invite kids you don’t know inside.)
  • Offer to take a busy parent’s child or children out along with yours.
  • Share treats that reflect your culture or values.
  • Get together with neighbors to decorate together. (Make it more fun for kids and get to know neighbors at the same time.)
  • Remember to greet kids the next day–when they don’t have costumes on!
  • Consider making a special treat bag (with extra treats or extra surprises) for the children who live nearest to you. When these children arrive, make a fuss about them coming and say you have something extra special for them.

Want to share this with your neighbors and friends? Here is a handout: 11 Halloween Tips for Building Neighborhood Connections

Do you have other ideas for creating a safe, welcoming, community-building experience for kids? Please share!

Yummiest Pumpkin Muffins!

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Photo credit: Elana’s Pantry

 

A quick shout out for the yummiest pumpkin muffins ever! My kids cannot get enough of these easy to make muffins from local author and foodie, Elana’s Pantry. These are slated to be gluten free, but I make them with regular flour and they are delicious! I guess you could say these are super versatile muffins suited for everyone.

For a simple and incredibly delicious pumpkin muffin head to Elana’s Pantry! Enjoy!!!!

Fun Halloween Ideas for Families

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cool pumpkins

Halloween can be so much fun with kids! I will never forget my son’s first Halloween. He went up to the doors in the neighborhood and was in total disbelief that everyone would give him candy. How could this possibly be? How lucky was he? Just walk up and you get pockets full of candy. The look on his face the entire evening [maybe an hour] was pure exhilaration!

Here are some fun kid-friendly Halloween ideas:

What ideas do you want to share with Boulder Families?

Family Friendly Halloween Happenings Around Boulder

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Halloween is right around the corner. Here is a list of family-friendly Halloween events going on around town. Please feel free to email me if you have additions to make to this list. I hope everyone has a safe, fun, fantastic Halloween!!!!

This post replaces the usual Boulder Families Weekly Events Listing.

2013 Family Friendly Halloween Events
Event  Date[s] Location Notes
South Boulder Pumpkin Patch 10/19 3845 Sanford Ave, Boulder, CO 80303 Pumpkin decorating, activities, etc.

11:00am to 2:00pm

Event Website
Ghost Walk, Ghost Talk 10/26 & 10/27 Call 303.444.5192 or click here to purchase tickets A tour of distinctive, ghostly homes with spooky tales to tell. Family friendly, so you can bring the kids.

5:30 to 9:00pm

Event Website
8th Annual Kappa Halloween House 10/27 1134 University Ave, Boulder, CO 80302

 

 Great event for Kids under 10

More details here

Noon to 4pm
Boulder High School Kid Friendly Haunted House 10/26 Boulder High School
Boulder, CO

 

 

 The lights will be on, the actors will tone down their scare factor. There will be a chance to meet the actors & the kids can chat with them, & opportunities for trick or treating. 7:00 to 10:00pm
Munchkin Masquerade 10/31 Pearl Street Mall

Downtown Boulder

 Pearl Street Mall transforms into a kid-friendly mecca with candy for all the kiddos.

3:00 to 6:00pm

Event Website
Halloween at the Y 10/28 Arapahoe Y

Lafayette, CO

 Join the Lafayette Y for Halloween Hullabaloo. Venture into the haunted house (not for the timid), enjoy carnival games, explore the cookie forest and light up the night in our new glow-in-the-dark room. Oh, and don’t forget the bone-chilling fun on the ice rink! Free for members and non-members.

5:30 to 7:30pm

YMCA Website
WOW! Museum Family Halloween Party 10/27 WOW! Museum

Lafayette, CO

 Pumpkin painting, Halloween crafts, face painting, an ooey gooey science demonstration and giveaways.

10 to Noon

WOW! Website
Bug-a-Boo at the Butterfly Pavillion 10/19 & 10/20 Westminster, CO Costumes, Candy, Crawlies!

9:00am to 5:00pm both days

Event Website
Boulder Parks and Recreation’s Halloween Carnival 10/25 South Boulder Recreation Center Kids ages 3 to 8

3:00 to 5:00pm

Event Website

 

Boulder Family Events: October 11 to October 17, 2013

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Wondering what to do this week? Check out this list of fun family-friendly events and happenings around town!

Friday, October 11

Saturday, October 12

Sunday, October 13

  • Nature for Kids & Parents: Looking at Leaves. Take a hike in the woods with Naturalist Debora Martin and enjoy the beauty of Autumn. We’ll use our senses, record on our observation sheets, and go on a scavenger hunt!  Meet at the Lehigh Street entrance to Shanahan Ridge (map search 1903 Lehigh Street in Boulder, where Lehigh and Lafayette Streets intersect) for a hike on Shanahan Ridge Trail. 1:00pm. Ages 6 and up.
  • Go Club for Kids & Teens. Learn to play the ancient and mysterious board game known as Go. Developed 4000 years ago in China, the rules are so simple they can be taught in a few minutes–but it can take a lifetime to master the game. Go boards are provided and take-home sets made of cardboard are available for free. Ages 5 and up.
  • Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde presented by Theater Hikes Colorado at Chautauqua. This is a unique opportunity for families to enjoy the outdoors, hiking and theater. It is appropriate for children 8 and up. Buy tickets ahead of time here. Starts at 3pm.

Monday, October 14

Tuesday, October 15

  • Lap Babies at the Main Boulder Library. Babies (birth-12 months) and their caregivers explore language and books in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to babies up to 12 months of age; no older children please.

Wednesday, October 16

Thursday, October 17

  • Musical Storytime with Alice and Melanie. Join these creative performers for stories, music, and more. 10:15am at the Main Boulder Library.
  • Toddler Time at the Main Boulder LIbrary. Toddlers (18-36 months) and caregivers explore language and books in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to toddlers up to 36 months of age; no older children please. 10:15am

#getoutside #free #parenting #boulder #colorado

Want To Find A Great Book For Your Child? Here Are Some Resources!

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Screen Shot 2013-10-08 at 10.18.18 AMThere are so many great books. At times it can feel like there are too many options. Where are the really great ones? Other times it is easy to feel stuck in a reading rut. When you have already read all the books you have in the house–a dozen times–it’s time to find more resources.

  1. Ask a friend with a child your child’s age or above
  2. Ask a teacher/childcare provider
  3. Head to the library and browse some books. Let your child take a look at lots of books, read a bit of each of them, etc.
  4. Go to some story times at your local library to be inspired by the great picks from your librarian
  5. Check out the lists created by the Boulder Public Library

The Boulder Public Library has created lists of interests to children. Some examples of list topics:

  1. Strong females
  2. Fairies
  3. Dragons
  4. Fire Trucks
  5. Early readers
  6. Pirates
  7. Chapter books for boys
  8. And many, many more!

FInd some great lists from the Boulder Public Library here.

Boulder Family Events: October 4 to October 10, 2013

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Wondering what to do this week? Check out this list of fun family-friendly events and happenings around town!

Friday, October 4

Saturday, October 5

Sunday, October 6

Monday, October 7

Tuesday, October 8

  • Lap Babies at the Main Boulder Library. Babies (birth-12 months) and their caregivers explore language and books in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to babies up to 12 months of age; no older children please.
  • Read to the Dog at the Meadows Branch Library. Whether your child needs to practice reading or not they all love reading to the sweet dogs at the library! Practice your reading by reading aloud to one of our calm and certified therapy dogs. They love to be read to and they never criticize! Parents must sign up ahead of time. Call Pam at 303-441-4390 to reserve space.

Wednesday, October 9

  • Wednesday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Children enjoy stories, songs and more in the Children’s Area.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, buy some veggies, get some dinner, listen to live music and even have a beer. There is always so much going on at the market and it’s not as crowded as Saturdays, so it’s great for families! 4:00 to 8:00pm.
  • FREE Night at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits. 4 to 8pm.
  • Kids Eat FREE tonight at Wahoo’s!

Thursday, October 10

  • Toddler Time at the Main Boulder LIbrary. Toddlers (18-36 months) and caregivers explore language and books in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to toddlers up to 36 months of age; no older children please. 10:15am

#getoutside #free #parenting #boulder #colorado