Hello all... I need to make a healthy snack for my kindergartener's class for Halloween this year. I'll need to make enough for about 20 kids. Does anyone have any halloween-themed zone snack ideas that 5 & 6 yr old kids would like? I would really appreciate any ideas on this topic. Thanks in advance! Starz :D

Good Day, You can find a couple of recipe ideas if you go to http://www.drsears.com and look for the e-magazine archive link to the right of the page. Once you are on the archive home page you should see a link for October of 2002. There is an article called prevent carb. over-load on Halloween. The e-zine comes out on the 15th of every month, so you may want to check-out the issue for October 15, 2003. Also, if you write Dear Lynn from the e-zine home page you could request some more ideas from Lynn Sears. Hope this helps? Sincerely, WM

Thank you, Carla, for the hint about the archived e-magazine. I did check it out!...sounds like some neat, sort of greusome (just what some kids would go for) halloween snacks! I think I need to look for something a little less complicated and more easily transportable, however. I will take your suggestion and watch for any tips given in the October "issue". I'm also planning to check out the sites that those recipes on the 10/2002 issue originated from. Thanks again Carla! Starz :D

Did a little looking, and found a website for a great "little junk" resource. (Elementary teachers order from them often.) It's called Oriental Trading Company, and is at "www.orientaltrading.com". They have lots of little goodies for cheap in large quantities, including pencils, stickers, erasers, little toys, and lots of noisemakers (for other kids, not yours! ) Most items come in dozen quantites, and are at very reasonable prices. I will probably order for Halloween this year. Much easier and better for the kids anyway. I could easily purchase enough for the whole year for 10 bucks, and likely it will be a hit. (Have my eye on the Halloween slide whistles, halloween clackers, and the pencils you can tie in knots. Cool! 8) ) Plus, these things keep, so if you don't get rid of them this year, just save in the closet for next year! Just though you'd like to know. Ronica

Hi Ronica! I, too, get that catalog. Last year we ordered a bubble maker and set it up on our front porch blowing bubbles out into the front walk way and yard. We then gave out halloween bubble necklaces and other little halloween bubble bottles instead of candy. We're kind of hoping to become known as the bubble house as far as halloween night is concerned. Last year, the weather was so miserable, though (very cold), that we didn't have many kids come by....hopefully, this year we'll have more. I think I still have plenty of bubbles left for this year. It was fun anyway! I'm always trying to make my kid's meals and snacks loosely "zoned" too. I would love it if more parents gave out halloween pencils, etc. instead of candy! Kids get just way too much by way of sweets, etc....and then just watch the colds and flus take hold! Yikes! Thanks for reminding me about that catalog! I'll be sure to thumb through it again or check out their website again soon... :-) Donna (starz)

Just wanted to let you know that I did purchase toys from Oriental Trading for Halloween (warning--find a way to get free shipping if you can, this gets very pricey!). The kids LOVED them, and thought that they were REALLY COOL. (Their words!) I got halloween slide whistles (cheap and didn't work very well, but the kids liked them anyway) and press on Eyeball tatoos (some were really gross, and some were kind of pretty).. I told my students that I got toys because the amount of candy around was directly proportional to the size of my rear end--they got a big kick out of that. No complaints (which is not something I could say when I used to buy candy--there were always kids that didn't like whatever kind you had. I distinctly remember my own disdain of "Bit 'O' Honeys".) For future reference--hope you all had a Great Halloween! Ronica

Ronica, Just wanted to let you know that I think your comment:.... I[i:d60ff65ec4] told my students that I got toys because the amount of candy around was directly proportional to the size of my rear end--they got a big kick out of that.[/i:d60ff65ec4] ... is excellent. it gives them the idea of what candy can to to their shapes but in a non threatening way, as you have taken all the responsibility onto your self. what a great way to teach our kids. Well done! Top