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 This guide to non-candy treats for Halloween isn’t about taking a stand against sugar.  Not at all is that what it is about!  Toothbrushes, apples and floss are still considered lame.  This is about giving kids with serious food allergies a chance to feel just like every other trick-or-treater on the special night.  The Teal Pumpkin Project (teal is the color of food allergy awareness) started in America in 2014 and is promoted by the Food Allergy Research and Education organization.  Every Halloween since 2014, more and more teal pumpkins have popped up around the country. People place them outside their house to show they have treats other than candy. Kids with allergies carry teal-colored buckets from house to house. There are even teal signs you can buy to let kids know it’s OK to ask for a “trinket instead of a treat.”  If a trick-or-treater carrying a teal pumpkin bucket shows up at your door this Halloween, it means he or she has a food allergy. Consider having a stash of non-food treats like vampire fangs or bouncy balls to hand out. But we know that for all the fun Halloween is for kids, it’s just as stressful for parents to pull off. It can be a lot to have two sets of goodies – one candy and one not – to hand out.  You can find some simple little treats around town at our dollar stores that would be great for those with allergies.  Thank you for helping take care of those with allergies and we hope everyone has a great Halloween! 

 It is one of my favorite times of the year… Fall!  There are so many things to do this time of year.  So many things to enjoy.  I love decorating for the fall.  I love the fall colors so much.  The orange, red, green, gold and browns are so beautiful.  Besides decorating, I love to see the fun things that you can create in the kitchen.  Check out the creation above.  Children can enjoy these and they are pretty healthy.  It seems simple...apples, peanut butter and marshmallows.  Now is a perfect time to make them!  Hope you enjoy them and Happy Fall Y’all! 

 Books and Bubbles is a fun day at The Margaret Jones Public Library every Tuesday at 10:30am.  They enjoy time together reading and doing activities.  The staff encourages you to keep books around and read whenever you can. You are providing the building blocks for language while developing a love of reading for your children.  Reading is an important skill that needs to be developed in children. Not only is it necessary for survival in the world of schools and universities, but in adult life as well. The ability to learn about new subjects and find helpful information on anything from health problems and consumer protection to more academic research into science or the arts depends on the ability to read.  Futurologists used to predict the death of the printed word but, ironically, The Internet has made reading more and more a part of people's daily lives. The paperless society is a myth. The computer's ability to process and analyze data means that endless variations on reports and other types of documents can be and are generated. Internet, itself an enormous new source of information and recreation, is based on the humble written word. To effectively utilize the web and judge the authenticity and value of what is found there, both reading and critical thinking skills are of prime importance.  The more children read, the better they become at reading. It's as simple as that. The more enjoyable the things they read are, the more they'll stick with them and develop the reading skills that they'll need for full access to information in their adult lives. Reading should be viewed as a pleasurable activity - as a source of entertaining tales and useful and interesting information.  The younger children are read to, the greater their interest in mastering reading. Reading out loud exposes’ children to proper grammar and phrasing. It enhances the development of their spoken language skills, their ability to express themselves verbally. Reading, by way of books, magazines, or websites, exposes kids to new vocabulary. Even when they don't understand every new word, they absorb something from the context that may deepen their understanding of it the next time the word is encountered. When parents read aloud to children, the children also hear correct pronunciation as they see the words on the page, even if they can't yet read the words on their own. 

 SIDS is the sudden, unexpected death of an apparently healthy baby under one year of age that remains unexplained after the performance of a complete postmortem investigation, including an autopsy, examination of the scene of death and review of the medical history.  SIDS is the leading cause of death for babies one month to one year of age.  It occurs in all socio-economic, racial and ethnic groups, but African American and Native American babies are 2-3 times more likely to die of SIDS than Caucasian babies.  Most SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between two and four month with 90 percent of all SIDS deaths occurring before a baby is 6 months old.  Despite awareness campaigns promoting the back sleep position and other safe sleep practices, deaths continue to occur as a result of unsafe sleep practices such as bed sharing, use of soft bedding and stomach sleep position.  At this time there is no known way to prevent all sudden infant deaths, but there are lifesaving steps parents and caregivers can take to help protect their baby.

· Babies should always be placed to sleep on their backs. Side and tummy sleep positions are not safe.

· Do not fall asleep with a baby in an adult bed or on a sofa.

· Do not smoke while you are pregnant and do not expose babies to second-hand smoke after they are born.

· For sleep, use a safety-approved crib, portable crib, play yard or bassinet with a firm mattress that fits snuggly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet.

· Do not place babies to sleep on soft surfaces such as adult beds, waterbeds, and sofas.

· Do not use loose blankets in a baby’s crib. Layer clothing or use a wearable blanket or other sleeper clothing to keep baby warm.

· Remove all soft bedding and other soft items from the sleep area, including pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper pads and stuffed animals or toys, before placing the baby to sleep.

· Take care not to overheat babies with too much clothing or too warm of room. Keep temperature at what would be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.

· Use a pacifier at naptime and nighttime for the first year.

· Educate all of your baby’s caregivers regarding these life saving tips.

For more information about SIDS, visit www.cdc.gov. 

It’s almost that time for Halloween and trick-or-treating!  Did you know that Chocolate makes up about three-quarters of a trick-or-treater’s loot, according to the National Confectioners Association?  That’s an awful lot of chocolate.  Sometimes you may have so much candy that you don’t know what to do with it.  In the event that you have so much candy, separate the chocolate out and keep it in a cool, dark, dry place. Milk chocolate is good for no more than 8 to 10 months, while dark lasts up to two years. Hard candy will also keep in a cool, dry place for about a year. Store your soft candies in a covered dish away from direct heat and light. Enjoy them within six months.  Have fun this year with your children Trick or Treating and stay safe!

 Have you ever thought about a fear that your child has but did not know how to handle it?  In the Home & School Connection there was an interesting article about this, and I want to share it with you.  It makes perfect sense.  The question was how a parent could help their son who is afraid of storms to feel more secure.  I am sure that someone has a child that is afraid of storms.  I am more than my child, does that count?  Fears are normal at the age of primary and elementary age children but there are ways you can help.  Home and School Connection suggested that this family could stop by their local library or school library and check out books on storms.  If their child understood storms, he may not be as afraid.  Teaching their child simple rules such as stay away from trees, don’t use a corded phone or take a bath during the storm.  Another great piece of advice was keeping their child occupied during the storm.  They suggest for them to look out a closed window and count the seconds between the lightning and the thunder.  He can divide by five to find out how far away the storm is (if they count to 10, the e storm is two miles away).  Another idea is to turn your child into an artist and let them paint or draw their fear out.  Keep them in a folder and before long they will be looking for every opportunity to draw about the fear.  Then the fear has become a liking instead of a fear.   

 I love all the snack ideas they have out this time of year.  It’s great to have new ideas of things to make in the kitchen, especially the fall time of the year.  I love to fix snacks and treats but mine do not look as good when I make them as they do in the picture but they are just as yummy.  This is a great family time idea.  Both the parents and children can have fun making these and then top it off by eating them all up.  What is a great fall snack that you fix?  If you have any snack ideas for the fall, please send them to us at lmanley1210@gmail.com and we will publish them.  Happy Fall Y’all! 

I say this all the time but I LOVE this time of year!  I love the fall smells and fall festivities.  I really love the fall colors and decorations.  What do you have planned for the next several weeks?  There will be so many things going on in Sylvester and surrounding towns.  I sure am hoping it starts cooling down a good bit to feel more like fall all the time.  Be sure to stay tuned to the Facebook page so that you won’t miss an event!

 This week is time to celebrate department stores!  I have told everyone that there is a day to celebrate just about anything and this week they celebrate department stores!  Which department store is your favorite or was your favorite if they have already closed down? My favorite department store was from when I was a little girl and that was Sears.  Sears was located in the Albany Mall and was the store to shop at when I was growing up.  That is where mother and daddy took us for all of our back to school shopping and I loved it!  They had everything I wanted and more. At one time they even had a snack counter in the store. You could get popcorn, candy and drinks.  I can even remember when they turned their icee's clear because the red of the Cherry Icee stained the floors.  Daddy always sat outside of Sears to people watch and I loved doing that with him too.  I can also remember the Sears Christmas catalog.  Now that was fun to mark what you wanted for Santa to buy.  What great memories!  So where do your shopping memories come from? 

 Our children keep us so busy these days.  We tend to forget some of the most important things and one of them can be breakfast.  Who hits the alarm clock a few times in the morning?  We are just about all guilty for that.  We get up running and try to get out the door for school and work that we sometimes just say we are not hungry and keep running.  Truth is we all need breakfast.  The kids and the parents do.  Breakfast has benefits.  Breakfast equals better behavior.  Children who skip breakfast are more tired, irritable, or restless by late morning. These symptoms lead to aggressive behavior that causes children to get in trouble in school. Children who regularly eat a morning meal have more energy, are less likely to exhibit aggressive behavior, and have a better attitude toward school.  Breakfast leads to higher test scores.  Eating breakfast leads to better class attendance.  Children who eat breakfast are absent from school fewer days. They also spend less time in the nurse's office complaining of stomach pains. Ironic as it may be, children who claim they don't eat breakfast due to a lack of time in the morning are tardy more often than those who take time for a morning meal.  We all get more nutritious intake by eating breakfast.  Breakfast eaters generally meet vitamin and mineral requirements for prevention of deficiencies. They consume more fiber, vitamin C, calcium and folic acid. Unfortunately, children who miss breakfast do not make up for lost nutrients later in the day.  Eating breakfast helps weight control in all of us.  Eating breakfast helps to establish a normal eating pattern. Eating regular meals and snacks is a key to maintaining a healthy weight throughout life. Increasing childhood obesity is in part attributed to the disappearance of normal eating patterns in many of today's households.   Now I know some of you are asking” Why do some children still resist breakfast?”  Given the abundance of compelling information on the benefits of breakfast consumption, why does one out of eight school children start the day without eating breakfast? Some are not encouraged to do so by their parents, while others make arguments for avoiding breakfast. Some common arguments are lack of time, absence of hunger, and distaste for breakfast foods. No matter what the barrier, parents can and should find a way around them.  One way is creating healthy habits in your children.  Here are some tips for parents on incorporating breakfast into their children's before-school routines:  Prepare for school the night before by preparing the next day's clothes, lunch and backpack.  Set the alarm for 15 minutes earlier to allow more time for breakfast.  Say no to TV, video games and computers in the morning.  That may be hard but we can do it!  Choose foods that require little preparation such as fresh and canned fruits, milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, whole grain cereals or instant oatmeal.  Eat on the run with celery stuffed with peanut butter or cream cheese, dried fruits, string cheese, juice boxes, milk cartons, or breakfast bars.  For those with little hunger in the morning, offer juice, milk or a fruit smoothie made with skim milk and fruit.  For those who dislike breakfast foods, offer something non-traditional like cold pizza or leftover chicken. Set a good example to your children: eat breakfast yourself!  Children imitate the behavior of adults, so if they don't see their parents eating breakfast, they are likely to resist themselves. Children are not only more likely to eat breakfast themselves if they see their parents eating breakfast each morning, they are also more likely to develop healthier eating habits overall. Parents can encourage their children to eat breakfast by having them help plan the week's breakfast menu and making breakfast food readily available by storing them in low cabinets and having fresh fruit on the counter.   With breakfast and lunch being free at our schools, we should encourage our children to eat there.  Not only is there no charge, but it is healthy too!      
                                                              Source:  kidshealth.org 

Did you know that Candy Corn has been made with the same recipe by the Jelly Belly Candy Company since around 1900?  What's in that recipe, exactly? Sugar, corn syrup, and marshmallow.  One serving (about 30 pieces) has 140 calories, the equivalent of three miniature Hershey bars.  The National Confectioners Association reports that more than 35 million pounds of candy corn is sold annually which amounts to almost 9 billion kernels.

  Here we are welcoming in October.  This year seems to be flying by.  Our children have been in school a full two months now.  Are they still excited about being back in school?  With the crisp fall air, new friends and now used sharpened pencils, is your child still talking about how great it is to be back in school or has the pressure of the new school year sunk in?  Even though school is tough, the teachers want it to be fun too.  Add to their excitement and motivate them to learn with these four great back - to - school ideas from the Home & School Connection.  I find the ideas shared in this publication to be great and I hope you do as well.  One great back to school idea is to find out what your child is learning this year.  Some examples would be cursive writing, state history or even the solar system.  Then you as a parent can get a head start.  Leave a note on their bedroom door in cursive.  Visit a battlefield or history museum.  Read a book about the planets, or gaze at the night sky together.  This connects you to what your child is learning in school and may even help them to learn more.  A second great back to school idea would be to share your own report card or photo from the grade your child is starting.  Tell them what you like most about that year.  Let them ask you questions about when you were in school.  It is so much fun to bring back good ole memories.  Another great idea would be to attend a play at your local theater or a nature program at the community center.  You’ll get your child back in the habit of sitting still and paying attention.  Playing school at home is good practice too.  The “teacher” can read aloud to the “student”, write out math problems and even give a spelling test.  And last but not least, check out the school website and see what activities your school may offer.  If your child likes to sing, they may be able to join the chorus.  A child with good leadership skills might want to run for the student council, while a sports lover may want to join a team.  Some of the groups have already started but always make sure to look at the school’s website to see the event listings.