Sophia already had a black turtleneck, leggings and black gloves, so all I needed were a few items to spice it up.  Sophia and I made a trip to Joann’s Fabrics and grabbed the following items totaling just over $10:

• ½ yard of black faux fur $2.99 (priced half off….bonus!)
• Black furry kitty ears $5.99
• A spool of black thread $1.99
• A Kit Kat bar for the ride home $0.75

Monday night I dusted off the old sewing machine, yes I literally had to wipe it down from sitting in the basement for four years, and decided to give it a whirl.  First, I cut out a big piece of faux fur and sewed it on the front of the turtleneck to resemble a furry tummy.  That was the easy part.  The challenge was the long furry tail.  I realized that while dreaming of the Kit Kat bar while shopping at Joann’s, I forgot to grab the cotton batting to fill the tail.  So I dug around my cupboard until I found the next best thing…..napkins?  Sophia helped me wad them up, but I didn’t have anything to push them down into the fabric tube I’d sewn.  Hmmm….what about her “horse head on a stick?”  This got some laughs out of my daughter, but it worked!

Although I haven’t let her wear it yet for fear it might fall apart, Sophia loves her semi-homemade kitty costume.  She’s excited to show it off to her friends at preschool and the neighborhood this weekend.  In the end, I not only saved money, but had fun spending quality time with my daughter and  creating a masterpiece we’re both proud of.

[See post to watch Flash video]

 Costume Safety
-Avoid masks that limit or block eyesight.  Instead consider facepaint or make-up.
-Avoid black costumes and choose bright or reflective colors if possible.  If your child’s costume is black think about using reflective tape on the costume for greater visability.
-Purchase costumes, wigs and accessories that are flame resistant.
-Make sure the costume isn’t too long, so your child doesn’t trip.

Pumpkin Carving Safety
-Small children should never carve pumpkins.  Let little kids draw a face on the pumpkin with a marker and parents can do the cutting.
-Young children can also paint pumpkins instead of carving them.
-Votive candles are the safest for inside a pumpkin.  There are also candle alternatives offered at many stores.
-Make sure pumpkins are placed on a sturdy surface where kids can’t knock them over.

Welcoming Guests
-To keep homes safe for trick-or-treaters, remove all planters, toys, bikes and decorations from the front porch.
-Wet leaves should be swept away from sidewalks and steps, so no one slips.
-Restrain pets so they don’t jump up or bite trick-or-treaters.

Gathering Treats
-A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children.
-Teach kids to only go to homes with porch lights on and never enter someone’s house for a treat.
-Make sure each child has a flashlight with new batteries for Halloween night.
-Carry a cell phone in case of an emergency.
-Only cross the street at established sidewalks and never assume you have the right of way.  In the dark, motorists often have trouble seeing little kids crossing the street.

• The most important thing a parent can do to help their child overcome fear, is to respect what their child is feeling.  Listen to your child and reassure them that they are safe.
• Normalize your child’s fears, then teach them how to handle them.
  Feel – “Wow, you really feel frightened of those kids in costumes.”
  Felt – “I felt that way, too, when I was your age.”
  Found – “I found that it was less scary when I…”  Offer your kids some suggestions, and ask  if they think that strategy might work for them.  If they say no, ask them what they think might work better.  This way, you have them focusing on a strategy to cope.

• Let your child set the pace and determine how involved they want to be with Halloween.
• If your child is fearful of going out to trick-or-treat, offer to stay home and have them help hand out candy.
• If even that is too frightening, allow your child to watch from across the room, or avoid the situation entirely.
• Many communities hold costume parties on Halloween as a safe alternative to trick-or-treating.  Ask your child if they are interested in doing that instead.

Dr. Bowman’s Halloween Candy Buy-Back Program
Monday, November 2nd
Dentistry at the Springs – 6650 Crossings Dr. SE, Kentwood
616-554-2100
Dr. Robert Bowman is giving your kids cash for their upopened Halloween candy.  Kids will get $1 per pound and be entered to win awesome prizes including a iPod Nano!  Simply bring in your candy the Monday after Halloween between 3:30-6:00pm.