KidsFunPlaza

October 2010 | NENY, Northeastern, NY | KidsFunPlaza 1

Super Guide to Local Halloween Events

Tips for Teens to Do Good at Halloween

My Roller Coaster Ride with Post-Partum Depression

The Ultimate Party Guide

Dr. Miguel Diaz:

Health Care Provider of the Month

Teaching Your Preschooler about Halloween Safety

Volume 2 | October 2010 | KidsFunPlaza

OCTOBER 2010 - HALLOWEEN

ContentsThe Push for Science Education Albany County Educator of the Month – Linda Rose ..............4

Saratoga County Health Care Provider of the Month – Dr. Miguel Diaz ...................................................................6

Schenectady County Parent of the Month – Jen Smith .............8

Pregnancy: Instructions Not Included! ...................................11

My Roller Coaster Ride with Post-Partum Depression .........................................................13

Party Guide ...........................................................................14

Bedtime Matters ....................................................................18

Re-Learning to Eat ................................................................19

Teaching Your Preschooler about Halloween Safety ...................................................................22

Creating Halloween Memories for Toddlers ...........................23

Giving Kids Choices at Halloween .........................................24

Tweens and Treats on Halloween ...........................................25

Green Living – Organic vs. Conventional ..............................27

Small Town/Big Town and Guide to Local Halloween Events .....................................................28

Tips for Teens to Do Good at Halloween ................................31

Halloween Costumes for Kids with Special Needs ..................33

Meet Our TeamPublisher

Ana Roca [email protected]

Editor in ChiefChristina Gleason

[email protected] Director

Marcio [email protected]

Production ManagerHeather Sherwood

[email protected] Coordinator

Erin [email protected]

Diversity ManagerRoxanna Homic

[email protected] Manager

Veronica Salas [email protected]

ColumnistsEducator of the Month, Parent of the Month,

Toddler, Kiddo

Beth [email protected]

Baby, Community, TweenVeronica Salas Brito

[email protected] Living, Community, Kids & The Arts,

KidsFunKitchen, Health Provider of the Month, Arts & Crafts

Alina M. [email protected]

Preschooler, Special NeedsChristina Gleason

[email protected]

Ana Roca [email protected]

La Placita, NewbornRoxanna Homic

[email protected] Events

Roxanca [email protected]

TeensSandra Foyt

[email protected]

Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the cooler temperatures be-cause I love being able to wear

sweaters again. I love the vibrant reds and yellows and oranges of the leaves as they change and fall to the ground. And I abso-lutely love Halloween.

In this month’s issue of Kids Fun Plaza NENY, we’re all about Halloween! Beth

will tell you all about wrangling your kiddos by giving them choices on Halloween night, while Veronica has some advice for allowing your tweens a balance of independence and guidance on the holiday. Sandra has some helpful recommendations for how your teens can do some good (instead of getting into trouble) on Halloween. I’ve got some practical suggestions for costumes for kids with special needs. And don’t miss Ali’s arts & crafts project for the month – Mexican sugar skulls to celebrate Dia de los Muertos!

We’ve got a few contests going on this month. Check out the Thanksgiving “giving thanks” contest we have running on our kids activity page; your kids can enter to win awesome prizes! For the parents, we have a Thanksgiving recipe contest going as well, and you can check out the details in our kitchen section in the center of the magazine.

But I get to announce another great contest…and this one’s on Facebook!

This is my first official issue on the job as Editor in Chief of Kids Fun Plaza, and I must say, I’m having a blast! Our Kids Fun Plaza team is made up of all local moms in Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties, and it’s great working with all of them! We come from a wide variety of backgrounds, which means we all have lots of wonderful stories to share with each other…and with all of you! Thank you for coming along with us on this journey as we shape this magazine into something amazing for all parents here in the Capital District and Northeastern New York!

Christina

Kids Fun Plaza Facebook ContestYou can win a $100 Visa gift card from Kids Fun Plaza!

Here’s how:

Like Kids Fun Plaza on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clifton-Park-NY/KidsFunPlaza/144632888894316

Write on our wall and tell us about your favorite part of Kids Fun Plaza or if there’s anything we’re missing that you would like us to add.One lucky winner will be chosen at random for the $100 Visa gift card and announced in our next issue. So stop by our Facebook page today and enter to win!

Check out our Facebook Page for more contests.http://facebook.com/KidsFunPlaza

Follow us on Twitter @KidsFunPlaza

Editor’s Letter

4 KidsFunPlaza | NENY, Northeastern, NY | October 2010

I n the race to keep up with other countries in technol-ogy, medicine, and other fast

moving scientific career paths, the United States is going to have to change practices in science educa-tion. While doing this, educators will need to work on their own skills, knowledge, and abilities to connect and build student confidence within the world of science. This is not go-ing to be an easy task.

As a new educator, I was lucky enough to have an amazing men-tor named Linda Rose. Linda wel-comed me with open arms, sat and brainstormed project ideas, and listened to my fears, hopes, and dreams. As the mother of three children, Linda taught me how to balance family life with work, and how to smile through challenges that crop up. I watched as Linda would set up the science lab, pre-pare for hands on demonstrations in class, and actively engage stu-dents in science discussions outside of the classroom. To this day, I am still in awe of her ability to connect with students, other teachers, and parents. Thanks to her dedication to the world of science, Mrs. Rose was selected as the Albany County Educator of the Month.

Getting to Know Mrs. Rose

Linda Rose has been teaching for over 20 years. She obtained her Master’s degree while her two boys were still young and had a lot of family support while doing this. Linda worked, raised a fam-ily, and went to school. Throughout her career she has taught Pre-K,

5th and 6th grade Social Studies, Science 6-8, and Earth Science. If pressed to proclaim a favorite class, she states Earth Science and 6th Grade Social Studies. She enjoys the variety of subjects within Earth Science like geology, oceanography, weather, and astronomy.

As a respected veteran teacher, Linda Rose still finds that being in the classroom brings her a lot of satisfaction. Staying current is a challenge to her and she wants to re-main effective and energized. Linda states, “I still have that idealistic view that teaching is a noble pro-fession, but I also realistically feel that not everyone is cut out to be a teacher. Some people are natural teachers. Some people learn how to be effective teachers over the course of a few years, and that’s where good mentoring can help the novice improve. That is an area that needs to be addressed in schools. Veteran teachers also need guidance to keep current and meet the needs of stu-dents who live in an increasingly technological work.”

Q&A with Linda Rose

Beth: Tell me about your teaching style. How do you actively engage students into the world of science?

Linda: I tell stories that connect the science material with what is go-ing on in the world in general. I try

to give examples that relate to their lives. For example, the students re-searched what lead does to young children in the year of the recall of the toys with lead paint. Also, I en-courage questions. I actively seek stu-dent involvement. You can’t just sit there and not be engaged. We have discussions. The students have to do activities. Frequently, the students are amazed that time is up because we’ve been busy the whole time. The key is to find some way to make the information relevant to their lives and then to DO something with the information covered that day.

Students like to know about their teachers. How do you share your love of life and ambitions in the classroom?

As a female educator of science, I bring up relevant stories that en-courage them to see that girls can do science as well as boys. I bring my enthusiasm to the classroom. Students can spot phoniness easily, and so to have a teacher genuinely enjoy the subject is important. I share my personal mineral collec-tion. I tell stories of adventures in the environment, hiking or trave-ling, that relate to geology. That sort of thing.

Often, students hear from others that science is hard and they want to give up. How do you work on boost-ing their confidence and interest in this area?

I tell them directly that science is for girls, as well as boys. I appeal to their sense of injustice that girls are equally capable as boys. Also, after a particularly difficult topic or test, I tell them that the level of work is very similar to high school (which is true) and remind them that they have accomplished quite a bit. They want to feel capable and recognized.

Why do you think science educa-tion is often put on the back burner? How do we as educators fight back against this?

Often in elementary school, the

The Push for Science Education Albany County Educator of the Month – Linda Rose By Beth Levine, TheAngelForever.com


Educator of the Month

focus is on math and reading. SS and science are given less time in the schedule. Additionally, many elementary teachers do not feel se-cure in their background knowledge of science, and so they cover the subject in a basic way, not going into detail. We need to have teachers feel more comfortable teaching the sub-ject. They have to have mentors that help them plan and execute activi-ties, not just discuss topics from the textbook. I think teacher education programs should address the issue, as well as in-service programs to en-courage teachers.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing educators today? How are you addressing this within your teaching?

Students have to take ownership of their own learning. Sometimes it takes real effort to understand new information or develop a new skill. Learning is work, but it is definitely worthwhile. The students have to develop the desire to work hard and achieve success. In this day in which there are cheat codes for video games and parents challenge eve-rything on behalf of their kids, we have to foster independence and a good work ethic.

In my teaching, I remind the stu-dents that they can ask questions, discuss topics, make mistakes, and re-write answers. No one is expect-ed to get everything right the first time. Ultimately, they have to real-ize that grades are something that

they EARN, not something a teach-er GIVES them. Also, the knowl-edge they acquire is something to be proud of. Hard work should be recognized, not just the grade at the top of a test.

We have to help students realize that learning science is important. It can lead to wonderful new inven-tions or medical breakthroughs. It can be fun and interesting all by itself! I try to make science inter-esting and counter-act the global feeling that science is for “geeks.” We have to show the importance of learning science and foster the feel-ing that being good at it is positive and important.

What are some of your profes-sional and/or personal ambitions looking ahead to the 2010-2011 school year?

To become more proficient in Smartboard technology to make use of that new technology in my lessons. Become more knowledge-able of astronomy. Learn how to do more advanced labs with the students, including extracting plant DNA and analyzing water samples throughout the Capital District.

A big thank you to Linda Rose for taking the time out of her busy back-to-school schedule to be inter-viewed for this article. It is my hope that parents, students and teach-ers alike will learn something from Linda. We all need to see that sci-ence is something to be embraced and not feared. If you take things

one step at a time and seek out an-swers, you have the ability to be suc-cessful. Science will not be easy for everyone, but that is the beauty of it. There are so many areas within the scientific world so we can each excel in something different. I may be more in tune with chemistry, while you want to explore the new and exciting world of nanoscience. Perhaps your child will be the engi-neer to invent the latest microchip for Intel. We never know what will happen and need to expand our horizons and encourage children to explore subjects like science that may be out of their comfort zone.

Beth is a happily married teacher, now SAHM to her two young sons. She has a passion for all things Disney, reading,

crafting , and traveling. A camera is always close to catch memories for her blog, TheAngelForever.com

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“Look no further, The Court Club has it all.”



“Ican’t remember a time when I wasn’t going to be a doctor.” Dr. Miguel Diaz

leans back in his desk chair and smiles. “I think the vaguest – and fondest – memory I have is, I must have been five or six years old at the most, and my mother saying, ‘You’re gonna be a doctor, that’s what you’re gonna do.’ That’s what I’ve always planned to be. I don’t think I ever chose it. It chose me. I was born to be a doctor. I don’t think I could be anything but a doctor.”

Dr. Diaz himself isn’t a very im-posing man, but his personality fills the entirety of his second story office. I was greeted at the front desk by him tossing jokes around with a few mem-bers of his staff. I already know I’ve met someone who is truly genuine.

It’s clear why so many have chosen him as their primary doctor for themselves and their families.

“I’m a New Yorker by trade.” He laughs. Raised in Manhattan by his Dominican parents, he still has family in the city. But it wasn’t straight to the white coat for Diaz. He took many jobs along the way be-fore going to the Dominican Republic to attend medical school. “I’ve been many things, worked in New York City factories, worked in bodegas; I was a cab driv-er and a lab technician in

the military for years. A jack of all trades, you name it. For a long time, I worked on my mother’s farm in the Dominican Republic. That’s where I met my wife and got married.”

He came upstate from the city in 1991, and has three sons who all attended Shenendehowa Central in Clifton Park, where he now has his practice. He jokes that he is used to the suburban lifestyle. “I’ve got-ten all gentrified,” he admits with a smirk. His Latino roots are still with him, however. Diaz tries to be active in the Latin American communities in the area, including voluntary vis-its to Saratoga during track season to offer clinical services to the mi-grant workers there. “I’m trying to put together some kind of format to do that, create some kind of clinic. There are a lot of people who don’t

have jobs or health insurance. The minority community, by definition, is underinsured.”

As a Dominican, Diaz was raised Catholic, though he describes himself as being less religious and more spiritual. “When I was little, my mom took us to church every Sunday. But the older I get, the more spiritual I think I get. They’ve done studies; spirituality really does help heal. People who pray get bet-ter quicker and stay healthy longer. Doesn’t matter who you pray to,” he holds up a finger dramatically. “Except Satan.” He smiles. “Allah, Confucius, Yahweh, Jehovah, as long as it’s not Satan.”

Between the jokes, it’s easy to see that there’s no question Diaz is pas-sionate about healthcare and what his team provides to the families of the area. When asked what sets him apart from other healthcare provid-ers, he is eager to divulge.

“For me as an individual, being bilingual is probably the biggest thing. We have many patients who only speak Spanish, but the majority of them are truly bilingual. The big distinction is that I speak Spanish as my first and native language; that’s what I bring to this area. There’s only about four or five other bilin-gual doctors here. The second big distinction is that we have a team approach. And I think people like that. They know our team, they know our staff. When people call, they get the same feel.”

Saratoga County Health Care Provider of the Month – Dr. Miguel DiazBy Alina M. Hensley, TheCraningGap.blogspot.com



He’s just as passionate about where his practice is going with regards to the future. “We’ve im-plemented electronic health re-cords, which a lot of practices have, but we’ve been there for 10 years. Eventually, the next big evolution-ary step that medicine has to take is that it has to go online. A patient needs a referral, wants to update us on their blood pressure, they need a prescription refilled, or to make or cancel appointments – these are all things we could be saving people a lot of time by doing online. Instead of, especially with kids, having to

drive all the way here, and then wait an hour for a ten minute visit, or to have to call and be on hold with el-evator music. We’re just waiting for the technology and the insurance companies to be there with us. Once we get there, that’s the holy grail.”

The topic of children comes up next, when I ask him what advice he has for parents who are struggling to be good role models for their children’s health. His face shows his seriousness as he begins to speak. It goes without saying that children’s

health has become a concern in the past several years, and with his own granddaughter to think of, it’s clear that Diaz has taken this to heart.

“First, don’t smoke. That’s the biggest thing. Right up there next to it is obesity, and how we strug-gle with the complex lives we live. When you come home, don’t bring takeout food. Teach them to prepare the meal, which makes a huge dif-ference. Show them that breakfast is important. Teach them from the beginning that exercise is a way of life, and that it should be done every day, outside of the school gym.

“Kids see Mom and Dad come home, they’re tired, they don’t cook their meal, and then they go to the TV or the computer. It’s learned behavior. I think the best parents can do is adopt the behaviors you want your kids to learn down the road.” Diaz, however, recognizes how difficult consistency can be. “With blended fami-lies or divorced families with two homes, the kids learn one thing from one house, then another from the other. It’s not quite the Cleavers anymore.”

Pediatrics is impor-tant to Diaz, who feels that if he didn’t get to see children in his office

regularly, he’d most certainly get bored. He also sees it as grounds for establishing a long term rela-tionship with the patient. “It’s not, ‘We’re your pediatrician and when you turn 18, get out.’ We do the whole thing. So it’s very important to me, a very rewarding part of what I do. Family medicine affords us a broader range.” It’s not all so-briety with Diaz, however. “We sit around and we laugh, and patients like that. It feels home-y.” He tries to use his humor to set patients at

ease in the exam room, “This is just my day job,” he jokes. “I’m really a stand-up comedian by trade. I bust everyone’s chops equally. I try to use humor a lot. That’s why I keep that picture on my wall.” He points to a caricature drawing of himself, framed and hanging where he can see it from his desk. “Keeps me humble. Keeps it real. “The team we’ve put together, we like to con-sider top quality. I think that’s why, when I wake up in the morning, I like to come to work. It’s my career; it’s not just like…” He pauses and makes a comically exhausted face. “I think I help people, and that’s very rewarding. If you get up in the morning for the money, that’s fine, but if you get up because it’s reward-ing, professionally and spiritually, I think people notice that. It shows.”

With a smile, he tells me all I need to know: “I like people. I like what I do.”

Join Dr. Diaz’s practice at 5 Southside Drive, Suite no. 204, in Clifton Park, by calling (518) 371-9355 or visit CommunityCare.Com

Saratoga County Health Care Provider of the Month – Dr. Miguel DiazBy Alina M. Hensley, TheCraningGap.blogspot.com

Heath Care Provider of the Month

Alina Hensley is happily raising her daughter in her native New York, and pas-sionately passing on her

love for writing, culture, and the arts.


When you become a par-ent for the first time, life changes forever. We have

to take care of this new precious life by feeding him/her and providing all of the other basic items needed including unconditional love. In addition to this, we become advo-cates who fight for our children. We make sure that they get the best education, medical treatment and are treated fairly on the path that life takes them on as they become independent.

Now, imagine being a new mother and feeling isolated, alone, and unsure if you are doing the best for your child. Is your new little one growing properly, did they hit mile-stones that they should by a certain age? Often, you do not know who to seek advice from and fear tradition-al resources. Luckily, in this new so-cial media driven society, no parent with a computer is alone. Parents like Jen Smith are leading the way to help parents in our community.

Jen is the voice behind a Times Union blog called Austin Ben Connor (http://blog.timesunion.com/austinbenconnor), the names of her three young boys. The tag-line of her blog is Special Needs & Special Education Yet Completely

Typical. As you get to know Jen, you will understand the sheer pow-er in these few simple words.

History behind Jen’s Mission:

Jen and her husband Jeff have been married nearly 12 years. They have three young sons. Their old-est son, Austin, just turned eight in September. At 16 months old, he began to have seizures. After some time, he was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, which is a rare dis-ease and catastrophic epilepsy. As she explains, “The seizures are noto-riously hard to control, cause severe developmental regression and gen-erally lead to mental retardation. It took us eight months and a non-FDA approved medication to get them under control. Over the years, he’s had the occasional seizures, but today he is seizure free. He’s received help through Schenectady County Early Intervention and now the Niskayuna School District. I’ve never allowed myself to set a future for him or put limits on how far he’ll go. His future is his to write.”

At about the same time that Austin’s seizure started, Jen gave birth to her twin sons, Benjamin and Connor. The boys are now six

years old and going into first grade this fall. Connor was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), a condition on the autism spectrum. Although his cognitive ability has never been af-fected, Connor does struggle with social skills. With the help of Early Intervention and their school dis-trict, Connor carries the diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome, but is in a mainstream classroom with no ad-ditional support.Beth: Why did you start to blog?

Jen: My first reason was because I felt I was a “bad” parent. Experts say your first child has an incred-ible baby book with details down to the minute things occurred, and your second child is lucky to have the month of an occurrence written down. Me? I didn’t even have that for my twins. I was so wrapped up in his medical needs, trying to care for two babies, working full time, and trying to maintain some sem-blance of a marriage that I felt I was losing track of so many cute, note-worthy moments. There are still huge gaps in my memory of those early months, but I am hoping, one day, the boys will look back at all I have captured from 2005 to the pre-sent, and forget my lapses of their early days.

My second reason was to be a voice for all the parents who strug-gle with kids that are identified in some way. Kids with IEPs and di-agnoses that were easier to reduce to abbreviations rather than write them out. I wanted other parents to know they weren’t traveling this rocky road alone.

Has your writing helped you to meet others in the community and find resources that you may not have known about? Please explain.

I have received so many com-ments and emails from read-ers thanking me for speaking out about what we go through. Though

Schenectady County Parent of the Month – Jen SmithBy Beth Levine, TheAngelForever.com


parenthood is never easy, adding the stress of a child with learning or physical disabilities complicates matters. There is no “The First Years” book for dealing with dis-abilities, or handling public per-ception of your less than perfect child. What we do have is a com-mon bond with other parents. Our shared knowledge will make each of us stronger and better prepared to raise our children.

I also read many other blogs, both local blogs and those from around the country. Not only in support of the parents traveling their own bumpy journeys but to share strategies and tips for finding the best medical professionals and helping our children succeed. It’s amazing to be part of a community that cares so much for their chil-dren. We share in triumphs and cry with each other when the news isn’t so good. They are all like a second family to me.

Your blog on the Times Union Web site is called Austin Ben Connor. The tag line is “Special Needs & Special Education Yet Completely Typical.” Could you please explain what that means to you?

I wanted my readers to know that even though I have kids with Special Needs, they are still typi-cal kids that get bumps and bruises and play rough, they still get scold-ed when they are naughty, and I am still the typical parent that has concerns about them having friends and succeeding in life.

Right now (early September) you have a post on your blog that is at the top about the Saratoga Stroll for Epilepsy at Saratoga State Park on September 12th. Why are you in-volved in this charity event?

The Epilepsy Foundation of NENY has been by our side for over six years. I am honored to always do all that I can to raise funds and sup-port the Foundation in return. They have many fundraisers throughout

the year. The funds are used not only to support families and chil-dren in need, but also to educate the population and demystify epilepsy. Over 3 million Americans have epilepsy, including 40,000 people in Northeastern NY.

What other volunteer work do you do or have you done?

Since the beginning, I have been involved in a few online support groups. I also am active with the Epilepsy Foundation, founding and chairing the Parent Support group. I also try and make time to volun-teer with Nisky CARES, an advo-cacy group for Niskayuna parents of children with Special Needs.

I’ve also become involved as a Patient Representative for the FDA. I am occasionally called upon to interact with a panel of profession-als and advise on new drug appli-cations. I find it very rewarding to have a say on potential new treat-ments to treat people with epilepsy.

As a parent with a child that has special needs, do you have any thoughts on how to be the best advocate for your child? This can be when out in the community, at school, and/or beyond.

It’s important to remember that you know your child best. If you are with a medical professional that isn’t giving you the answers you need, do your research and find another specialist. If a therapist is at a standstill with your child, make recommendations or research new therapies to try. Or if the school dis-trict isn’t keeping your child’s best interests in mind, keep working with them until you are content with the services being provided. Never give up. Remember these doctors and therapists and school districts have many patients. You have ONE. It is vital that you are working together towards the common goal of success with your child.

In the community, if you no-tice someone looking at your child, take the time to educate them. Most times, people are just curious. Maybe it’s another parent of a simi-lar child that identifies with you. You may meet another kindred spirit.

A huge thank you to Jennifer Smith for taking the time to shed light on being the parent of a child with special needs. May her words be encouraging to those who find themselves trying to figure out the hoops to jump through with Early Intervention, Special Education Services, or teaching your children to accept everyone as the indi-vidual that they are. I truly hope that more schools look into pro-grams like Nisky CARES to teach children (and even adults) about physical and mental disabilities. Together, we can all make a differ-ence just like Jennifer Smith does each and every day.

Schenectady County Parent of the Month – Jen SmithBy Beth Levine, TheAngelForever.com

Parent of the Month



10 KidsFunPlaza | NENY, Northeastern, NY | October 201010 KidsFunPlaza | NENY, Northeastern, NY | October 2010


In the Oven

I remember walking into the doctor’s office feeling miser-able. The ailment, however,

could not be dealt with immediate-ly. It needed to brew for 40 weeks. I was not expecting to be pregnant after eight years. I was lost confused and even scared for my own health.

What now?

Pregnancy is a confusing time for many of us. Our body takes on the huge task of creating and caring for precious cargo. Whether this is the most awaited time in your life or just an unexpected blessing, now is the time to nurture your mind, body, and soul.

It is time to take action.

Educate yourself, enlighten your loved ones and question it all!

Your body is changing, and no one person will ever have the exact same pregnancy experience. In fact, many moms will tell you that each of their pregnancies was different. All libraries have a rich collection of parenting books. Libraries now of-fer eBooks that you can download right from your home computer. Chain bookstores like Borders and

Barnes and Nobles have incredible selections. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, my own family doctor was able to provide me with litera-ture. The Internet is a great source to track your pregnancy day to day and search out baby names, mom-to-be blogs, and even videos blogs of others moms at your own stage of maternity. These tools can help to reassure you that you are not alone.

Baby-gaga.com provides a week by week relevant book selection starting from fertility to labor and delivery. http://pregnancy.baby-ga-ga.com/books/

Amazon.com provides endless choices of the latest and greatest. http://www.amazon.com/

Your body, your choice! Can your health tolerate a pregnancy? Will you need to search for a special-ist? You may not know this yet, but as your pregnancy progresses, you are going to need to be confident with your provider. Obstetricians and midwives will have to be se-lected carefully and with a lot of scrutiny. Whether you select a large practice or a small birthing center, keep in mind that you need to ques-tion everything and everyone. Keep your own journal of questions that

arise as your pregnancy proceeds; you are your best health advocate. Prenatal care is the most essential gift you can give your kids. It does not have to be expensive. There many organizations willing and able to provide support during this very crucial time in your life.

Free or Low-Cost Prenatal Care

If you don’t have insurance or can’t afford prenatal care, find out about free or low-cost services care in your area:

Call (800) 311-BABY (800-311-2229). This toll-free telephone number will connect you to your lo-cal health department.

For information in Spanish, call 800-504-7081.

Organizations like Birthright can provide services that are vital dur-ing confusing times of any young mom’s life. 1-800-550-4900 http://www.birthright.org/htmpages/in-dex.htm

Some services you can expect from Birthright are:Free pregnan-cy testing Medical referrals Legal referrals Educational assistance and referrals Maternity and baby clothes Housing referrals Referrals

Pregnancy: Instructions Not Included!By Veronica Salas Brito, ParishMoms.org

Continued on page #


to social agencies Referrals for pro-fessional counseling

Healthy babies equal happy ba-bies. So go. Get the prenatal care for yourself and your baby.

Emotional Roller Coaster.

Pregnancy can be very stress-ful. Not only do you question those around you, but you question your-self and your capacity to handle it all. Sometimes, no matter what you do or what any one does, you’re just not yourself. There is much confu-sion about postpartum depression, and little is spoken about depres-sion during pregnancy. It’s as if, as a woman, you have to suck it up

and put on a happy face. According to the March of

Dimes, as many as 1 out of 5 women have symptoms of depression during pregnancy. For some women, those symptoms are severe. In pregnancy, women who have been depressed before are at higher risk of depres-sion than other women. Depression is a serious medical condition. It poses risks for the woman and her baby. Your provider can help you determine if you are just stressed or in fact dealing with depression, and together you can make the best de-cision for you and your baby.

The Federal Government for Women’s health has a great link with frequently asked questions about depression during and after pregnancy (in English and Spanish). Check it out! http://www.women-shealth.gov/faq/depression-preg-nancy.cfm

Symptoms of Depression:

A woman who is depressed feels sad or “blue” and has other symptoms that last for 2 weeks or longer.The other symptoms include the following:

• Troublesleeping• Sleepingtoomuch• Lackofinterest• Feelingsofguilt• Lossofenergy• Difficultyconcentrating

Changes in appetite Restlessness, agitation or slowed movement Thoughts or ideas about suicideSome of the treatments available are therapy, support groups and medications. Healthy women make happy mom-mies. Take care of yourself. You have so much to look forward to!

Happily married to her teen-age sweetheart, Veronica and her husband make Clifton Park, NY their home town, for the

past 13 years. Photography and digital media are her favorite hobbies. Capturing life’s pre-cious moments and sharing them with loved ones is the way she unwinds after a busy day with the family.


Newborn

Being pregnant with my first baby was a roller-coaster of emotions. After 41 weeks,

finally I was at the hospital, my doctor telling me push, push, puuushhh! My husband counting with me. One, two, three, four. Breathe! After a couple of minutes, the nurse put in my arms this little pink ball with a lot of black hair – my beautiful girl, Eva. My husband and I were crying tears of joy, both looking at our angel and thinking, “Now what? Does the baby come with an instruction book?”

The nurse asked me if I wanted the baby in the room with me or in the nursery during the night. I decided on the nursery, so I could sleep and recover before going back home. The two days in the hospital went very smoothly; it was a very nice experience.

I was so excited, on the top of the roller coaster. I got to go home and begin my new life as a mother with my family. The first day at home was nice. People came to meet the new baby, and at the end of the day, I was exhausted.

As the days went on, I felt that I was going downhill fast. I started to feel sad and insecure. I didn’t un-derstand why, if I wanted so much

to have this baby, I was feeling so terrible emotionally. I was afraid; I couldn’t get to sleep during the day or night. I felt trapped, lonely, hopeless, and didn’t want to eat. I asked my husband, “Don’t go to work please. Don’t leave me alone. I don’t know what to do.” It took just three weeks, and my nervous system shut down. I felt very scared. My body started to make uncon-trollable movements, so we decided to go to the hospital. After a couple hours of evaluation, the diagnosis was postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a general term used to describe a wide range of emotional disorders that a woman can experience after the birth of her child. Three types of disorders are generally recognized: the “baby blues,” postpartum de-pression, and postpartum psychosis. It can be caused by a number of fac-tors that vary from individual to in-dividual. Some of these factors are:

The dramatic change in hormone levels occurring during and after pregnancy (some women are more sensitive to this change than others)• Sleepdeprivation• Psychological stresses of new

motherhood• Previous postpartum or clini-

cal depression• Afamilyhistoryofdepression• Fatigue

The doctor told us about the use of medication that won’t affect breastfeeding, as well as going to therapy, rest, and some other things I could do in order to feel better. I decided to take control of my brain. My mom came over and stayed for a couple weeks while I was resting and taking care of Eva. During the day, I went for walks with the baby and met other moms with babies of the same age. Chuck and I took turns during the night; I finally let him be a part of the responsibilities. I think that was my biggest problem – not letting anybody help, thinking

that I could be Superwoman.I won’t say that medication is a

bad idea. I know that everybody is different, but if you can avoid it, I recommend it. Instead, there are a lot of support groups that can assist you and many places to visit. Here some tips I personally can give you:

Sleep when the baby sleeps. Take naps together.

Let your husband be a part of these wonderful moments. Even if you are breastfeeding, he can change diapers during the night, bring the baby to the bed, or give baths. It helps you rest, and also he won’t feel left out.

Find a support group for moth-ers. Many churches, hospitals, fam-ily centers, and other institutions have one. You can also meet other moms and do activities together.

Take some time to pamper your-self. Ask your husband or somebody you trust to watch the baby for an hour so you can take a long shower, do your nails, do your hair, take a nap, or anything you would enjoy by yourself.

We just have to be aware of any of the symptoms mentioned before, so we can detect early if we are going true the baby blue, and do not be afraid to ask for help. Motherhood is a great gift and a blessing from God, so He will provide all the help that we can need. Just remember that you are not alone, enjoy your baby as much as you can.

My Roller Coaster Ride with Post-Partum DepressionBy Roxanna Del Rosario, ParishMoms.org

Roxanna was born and raised, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Wife and mother of three kids,

expecting her fourth. Member of the moms group of Saint Edward the Confessor Parish in Clifton Park and the Spanish community of Saint Anthony Church in Schenectady. Spanish Writer on the Parish Mom of Saint Edward Blog.


Party Guide

Achild’s birthday is a special day and you want make it as picture perfect as possible.

So many details go into organizing the ideal party that it can sometimes be overwhelming and disastrous without the proper knowledge. With this party guide, we hope to give you the knowledge you need

to host a memorable birthday party from start to finish. By planning ear-ly, you’ll avoid as many headaches as possible, so let’s get started...

Checklist

2-4 Weeks in Advance• Pick a date and time for the

party• Sendoutinvitationstoguests• Placeguest list sheetbeside the

phone (to check off names when guests RSVP)

• Bookentertainment• Findhelpers• Buybatteriesforvideocameras

and digital cameras• Pickupanyextragameprizesor

game items• Planthemenu1 Week Before• Do any heavy cleaning where

the party will be held• Ordercakefromthebakery

• Buycandles• Followupwithguestsyouhave

not heard back from• Determine the schedule for the

whole party• Buy any groceries you require

for the party

Day Before

• Cleanupanyofthepartyareas(including bathroom)

• Confirmentertainment• Defrost frozen foodsorprepare

other foods• Decorate• Puttogetherthegoodiebags• Makesureyouhavecandlesand

matches for the cake

Bella's Delicatessen

(518) 668-3354

Lake George42 Amherst St

Lake George, NY 12845



The Big Day

• Finishtheremainingdecorating• Put balloons outside by your

house address• Preparefood/orderfood• Havethecameraready• Placepetsinanunusedroom• Setupandpreparethegames• Prepare payment for the

entertainment• Expect the entertainer 15 min-

utes before show time• Takeadeepbreathandhavefun!

Afrim’s SportsSuzette Pennacchio

636 Albany Shaker Road Colonie, NY 12211

[email protected]

A Magical EntertainerDomino the Great

P.O. Box 5551 Albany, NY 12205877.322.1566

www.dominothegreat.com [email protected]

Beyond the Rainbow Nursery School

A great affordable birthday party place!

Linda Hoyt or Laurie Jones 5 Metro Park Rd. Albany, NY

12205 518 435-1391

www.beyondtherainbownursery-school.com

Bits, Bytes & Bots - Computer Adventures

Bits, Bytes & Bots offers a variety of classes including robotics, stop-mo-tion, animated movie making and game creation. Birthday parties for

children 6-14 yrs of age.

Karen Doescher 10 Donwswood Ct. Clifton Park,

NY 12065 518.533.8018

www.bitsbytesbot.com [email protected]

Bumble BeadsOffer awesome birthday parties and special events. Come in anytime and create… no appointment necessary.

Karen Macielak620 Loudon Rd Latham NY 12110

518.690.7896www.bumblebeadsstudio.com

[email protected]

Capital Northeast Martial Arts.Offering a one month “test drive”

for just $29.95!Bob Esposito 1811 Western Ave.

Guilderland, NY 12203518.452.3065

www.capitalnemartialarts.com [email protected]

Drama Kids InternationalDrama Kids provides remarkable creative drama education for chil-

dren and young adults.Deanna Stickles-Bach

36 Graffin Drive Latham, NY 12110

518-458-1313http://www.dramakids.com/ny5

[email protected]

Games 2UAn adventure at your doorstep – the most unique entertainment package in the Capital District!

Mobile Video Game Theatre with pumping music and lights, 5 TV’s,

XBox 360s, and Wiis -High Tech Outdoor Laser Tag - Giant Human Hamster Balls -

with us your child can Party like a Rock Star!

Bella's Delicatessen

(518) 668-3354

Lake George42 Amherst St

Lake George, NY 12845

Continued on page 16


John Genest 19 Delehunt Drive

East Greenbush, NY 12061

518.488.8303www.g2u.com

[email protected]

Joyful Jumpers“Where kids jump for joy” Offering Open Play, Mommy & Me classes,

birthday parties & Events!Cindy Snearly

22 Vics Ct Albany, NY 12205518.396.7885

www.JoyfulJumpers.net [email protected]

Jumping Bean Party Rentals IncJumping Bean Party Rental is a

full service party rental company in the capital region and sur-

rounding counties. We have water slides, bounce houses, tents, tables, chairs, cotton candy, snow cones,

clowns, and much more! Great fun for everyone!

PO Box 2501 Wilton NY 12831518.581.7100

www.jumpingbeanpartyrental.com jumpingbeanpartyrental@gmail.

com

KidzArtKidzArt is a confidence building drawing program. Students will explore all available media. Our projects never repeat. If you can

dream it, you can draw it.Susan McCarthy

PO Box 645 Guilderland NY 12084

518.456.4101www.kidzartcrny.com smccarthy@

kidzartcrny.com

Mad Science of the Capital District

Mad Science is an enrichment pro-gram for elementary aged children.

Jennifer Miller 635 Plank Rd Suite 101 Clifton

Park NY 12065

518.373.2864www.madscience.org/

thecapitaldistrict [email protected]

Magicman EntertainmentMagicman Entertainment has all the best for your special day.

Entertain at your event with amazing magic tricks, fun balloon sculptures, cute face painting, and silly comedy that are all specifically designed with your guests in mind.

Chris LaBargeWatervliet, NY12189

518.221.7499magicmanentertainment.webs.com

[email protected]

Oasis Family Fun ParkTom Paone

97 North Greenbush Road Troy, New York 12180

518.283.3646www.oasispark.net

[email protected]

Stardom School of DanceFun, affordable, professional dance

instruction for boys and girls 18 months to adults.

Daytime, Evening, Summer Classes and Camps. Mommy and Me,

Kinderdance, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Bellydance, Birthday Parties and

More!Nanette Garmley

828 Hoosick Rd Troy NY 12180 518.279.1510

www.stardomschoolofdance.com stardomschoolofdance@hotmail.

com

The Children’s Museum of Science and Technology

(CMOST)Laurie Miedema - Director of Member and Guest Relations

250 Jordan Road Troy, NY 12180 518-235-2120 extension 202

www.CMOST.org [email protected]

Tiny Tots Tea Room and Learning Center

Kate Cross1536 Crescent Road Clifton Park,

NY 12065518.348.1050

www.tinytotstearoom.com [email protected]

Tumbling TykesWhere Fun and Learning Go

Hand in Hand! Children birth-6 welcome. Indoor playground,

“Mommy & Me” Classes, Enrichment Classes, Drop Off

Program, Birthday Parties, Summer Camp and Nursery

School.Stacy Myron

1050 Troy-Schenectady Road Latham, NY 12110

518.783.0767www.tumblingtykes.org [email protected]

Twinkle Design StudioTwinkle Design Studio is a graphic

boutique where I create custom stationery, jewelry and home sewn

goodies!

Kimberly Savage13 Bedell Ave. Delmar, NY 12054

518.466.9320www.twinkledesignonline.com

[email protected]

Wee AffairsWee Affairs specializes in coor-

dinating and planning events for children.

We create magical adventures for birthday and holiday parties... or

just because!Colleen Reichlr

16 Knob Hill Rd, Loudonville NY 12211r 518.421.5507

www.capital-region-events.com [email protected]

Zero Gravity Laser TagCompete with up to 40 players in our 5,000 sq ft Laser Tag Arena.


Wanna Play Tag?Andrew Hazelton or Mike Fucilli

1240 Central Ave Albany NY 12205

518.437.9334www.albanylasertag.com

Cool Cat Entertainment & Party Store

Albany NY 518-384-2288

http://www.partypop.com/Vendors/4353610.htm

Faces by FerdinandSue Ferdinand518-668-3942

[email protected] facesbyferdinand.com

Storybook Princess PartiesWappingers Falls, NY

845-296-0732 Enchanted Parties

Wallkill, NY 845-591-2571

Teddy Bear ExpressRotterdam , NY 518-887-2664

Party with a PrincessAlbany, NY

518-928-7108

Amapro Family Fun CenterLiberty, NY

845-292-2386

Sportsplex of HalfmoonCLIFTON PARK, NY

518-383-0991

The Party Warehouse:

Fuller Road76 Fuller Road

Albany, NY 12205(518) 458-1144

Fax: (518) 458-1188

9:30 am - 9:00 pm M-F,9:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday

Clifton ParkShopper’s World Plaza

Route 146Clifton Park, NY 12065

(518) 383-6146Fax: (518) 383-6148

to inspire a sense of wonder about extraordinary scientific and technological developments: past, present, and future



Baby

Ihave to admit I was spoiled rot-ten with both of my babies. As if they knew I had to work the

next day, they both slept through the night by two months. KC and MA were breastfed, so it was just more convenient to have their crib by my side at night. In fact, I often checked on them at around 1:00 am to change a diaper or give them a bottle, but I was hardly ever woken up in a stir of cries. I often credited my children’s sleep patterns to the way I scheduled their naps. During the day, whether they were in day care or home, I would try to keep them up, playing and active, until it was nap time. I limited their tel-evision time. At around four to five months, MA took three long naps during the day, while my niece and nephew slept in short spurs, but many more times.

My sister was awakened every hour on the hour by my niece and nephew in the evenings. She wore her fatigue as badge of honor. Sometime the babies were hungry, wet, or just lonely, but the tears seemed to go on forever. I don’t think they slept through the night until they were around nine months. My sister’s frustration was evident. She read book after book. She tried the warm bath, the lavender scent-ed lotions, the warm bottle, and even the sounds of the nature CDs. The babies found their own comfort

eventually and finally slept through the night.

One thing to keep in mind is that all babies aren’t the same; some transition to two naps at five months, while oth-ers still have four shorter naps at the same age. Some transi-tion to two naps at six months old, and others not until nine months. All babies vary.

A very popular sleep book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Weissbluth, says that only 17% of babies need

a third nap after five months old. I can’t even imagine how grumpy my niece and nephew might have been if they did not receive enough naps. The hardest part of being a parent is the sense of helplessness and confu-sion that comes with babies. Every baby blossoms at their own time, and every baby has their own indi-vidual needs. While lavender scent-ed lotion and bubble baths might have worked for me, they certainly did not work for my sister.

Sleepy Time Comfort

Are the baby’s PJs comfortable?Is the room temperature adequate?

Is there a humidifier available to counter the act the drying effects of the central heating units?

Ambiance

Some babies prefer white noise or even lullabies to soothe them to sleep, while others prefer complete silence. Parents can try a lullaby CD or white-noise machine that shuts off after 15 to 20 minutes.

Baby Bedtime Routine

Try a routine that includes feed-ing the baby, giving him a bath, rubbing him with lotion, reading a book, snuggling for a few minutes, and then placing him in his sleep space. Tell him it is bedtime or use some other verbal cue every time he is put to bed. I often rub or pat his back to soothe him.

There is no perfect or ideal method to getting babies to sleep through the night. Babies are like little snowflakes – so unique, so spe-cial, and yet so beautiful. Continue the conversation on our blog at Kidsfunplaza.com

Bedtime MattersBy Veronica Salas Brito, ParishMoms.org

Happily married to her teenage sweetheart, Veronica and her hus-band make Clifton Park,

NY their home town, for the past 13 years. Photography and digital media are her favorite hobbies. Capturing life’s precious moments and sharing them with loved ones is the way she unwinds after a busy day with the family.


learning how to interact with the food using our senses. Please share your re-learning to eat experience on KidsFunKitchen.com and enjoy the adventure.

KidsFunKitchen

We all struggle with diets and keeping healthy eat-ing habits. At the end of

the day, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not a problem of quantity – it’s just that we have simply forgot-ten how to eat the right way. Have you ever seen a baby breastfeeding? The baby uses every sense to enjoy his meal. It becomes a bonding ex-perience. Every sense of his body and mind are suddenly satiated.

Smell: The aroma starts the appetite. Our meals have to smell great. Let’s begin by appreciating the smell of the key ingredients. Before you bring the next spoonful of food to your mouth, I encour-age you to play the sommelier and close your eyes, smell what you are about to eat, and try to explore the different aromas.

Touch and feel: I know we learn to be polite, but I dare you to touch and feel the texture of your food. The way I know my pasta is ready – al dente – is by breaking it. If there’s white in the middle, then it

still needs a minute or two. Meat readiness depends on how deep my finger can squeeze its surface. The crunchiness of the salad is based on how sharp I can cut the leaves.

See and admire: Who said food only has to taste good? It must look good. Find the joy in decorat-ing a dish. Play a 5-star hotel chef at home, and you’ll start to have a whole different experience at din-ner. Take pictures, post them on our fan page, enter cooking contests, and get the kids to vote for their fa-vorite plate decorations.

Keep it a bonding experience: This is the most important part of eating. It must be a bonding experi-ence for the family. Turn off the TV and make dinner a no-fighting hour. Have conversation starters under your sleeves until your family mem-bers get used to sharing something about themselves around the table. I’d rather starve than eat alone. Breaking bread together reminds me of the joy of having family.

These are all different ways of

Re-Learning to EatBy Ana Roca Castro, KidsFunKitchen.com

A fun game idea tore-learn to eat:

1) Make dinner, but don’t let anyone see what you’ve cooked.

2) Cover everyone’s eyes at the table.3) Serve them one bite of every

dish and have them write what it is; preschoolers can whisper in your ear.

4) Whoever guesses the most dishes correctly wins a prize.

AnaRC is a Social Entrepreneur, Social Media Developer: iP-hone, Twitter, Facebook Apps. CEO of Premier Social Media, Proud

Latina, Mother and Wife

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B y the time they start pre-school, kids realize that holi-days can be a lot of fun, and

Halloween is no exception. We dress them up in cute costumes when they’re babies and toddlers, but our kids start to have an opinion about what they’re wearing once they’re in preschool. They have favorite characters, and they may start to care what their friends like, too.

While preschoolers certainly aren’t old enough to go trick-or-treating by themselves – so we’ll be with them at all times – it’s the right time to start teaching them about Halloween safety. The lessons we teach them now will (hopefully) stick with them as they get older.

Costume Safety

When shopping for costumes, you’re bound to have to say no to some of your preschooler’s sugges-tions. He may want that cool comic book hero costume with the plastic mask, but you have to say no be-cause he won’t be able to see very well out of it. Or she may want that pretty princess dress that would be so long she’d trip over it when she’s walking. They’ll be disappointed,

but make sure to give them the very good reasons why they can’t wear costumes that may cause a problem for them.

You’ll also want to make sure that your child’s costume has some sort of reflective material on it so they can be seen by cars when it starts to get dark. They won’t mind it at this age, but it’s a lesson you’ll have to reinforce when they get older and may complain that it makes their cos-tume look uncool.

Trick-or-Treat Safety

Trick-or-treating around the neighborhood with your pre-schooler is a great time to review

road safety rules like looking both ways before you cross the street. If you have to drive around to visit grandparents while you’re trick-or-treating, you can point out other trick-or-treaters who may or may not be behaving safely on the road.

Let your kids know that they should never go inside a stranger’s house when trick-or-treating, no matter what. You should always stay outside the door when waiting for treats. We all hope that we live in safe neighborhoods, but it’s best not to take any chances of your kids get-ting lured inside.

Never approach a house that isn’t well-lit. Aside from the fact that it probably means the owners aren’t home or don’t want trick-or-treaters, it also creates an unsafe environment where kids could get hurt – either by tripping on unseen hazards in the walkway or if some-one is hiding in the shadows to jump out and scare them…or worse.

Always carry a flashlight. It helps you see and be seen. Don’t cut through fields or other wide open spaces away from the road. Your kids should know that they need to stay where they can be seen at all times. You don’t need to scare them

about “bad people” at this point in time, but they’ll understand better when they get older.

Candy and Treat Safety

Check over your child’s can-dy stash when you get home for the evening. Homemade goodies and unwrapped candy should be thrown out – unless, of course, it’s something you know came from the grandparents. If anything looks like it’s been tampered with, it should also be tossed into the trash. This will also give you a chance to take out anything you don’t want your child to eat.

Of course, the best way to avoid unsafe or unwanted treats is to avoid trick-or-treating completely, but this isn’t necessarily an option! You may want to talk to the parents of your child’s friends from preschool, though, about hosting a party on Halloween where each parent brings a healthy snack so that the kids can “trick or treat” from differ-ent locations around the house.

Christina Gleason is a happily married mom of one very active lit-tle boy and Founder of

Phenomenal Content LLC, which provides online copywriting for businesses. Read her blog at www.CutestKidEver.org!

Some Preschooler-Friendly

Halloween Treats

• Pre-wrapped Rice Krispie treats•Boxesofraisins•Singleservingcupsofapplesauce•Granolabars•Cerealbars

Preschooler Teaching Your Preschooler about Halloween Safety

By Christina Gleason, CutestKidEver.org


A s a parent, you start to make plans when you bring your child home. Holidays im-

mediately take on a new meaning. You start to think about what you are going to do, where you will go and which side of the family you will spend time with.

This is no different with Halloween. The day filled with candy, costumes, and kids begins to become a reality for toddlers. Thanks to this, parents often won-der what they should or should not do on Halloween with their young children. As the mother of two little boys, I have learned that it is best to take it one day at a time. Halloween can be tricky (no pun intended) with this age group, so keeping it simple and making sure to be flexible is key.

To Trick-or-Treat or not?

Most toddlers are already walking, so parents are eager to take them out to trick-or-treat on Halloween. Is this a good idea or not? Nobody can really tell you if this is right; you know your child best. You must weigh the pros and cons. When making this decision, you may want to take these items into consideration:

Where do you plan on going to trick-or-treat? Location, location, location! Think ahead about where you plan on taking your child. Are you simply going to neighbors and relatives or will it be a bigger ad-venture? A familiar place for the child in the daylight may be best, especially for the first trick-or-treat-ing experience. Many malls and

community centers sponsor free Halloween events that are perfect for toddlers to get a taste of the holi-day fun.

How will Mother Nature be-have? Life in the Northeast can be unpredictable at best. Some years we have snow flying in the air by Halloween; other years, it may be 70 degrees and balmy. Always have a backup plan ready just in case you need it.

What costume will your child wear? Toddlers like to move, ex-plore, and get into things. Costumes that are easy to put on and take off in a hurry are best. Make sure that they do not have too many little parts or sharp pieces and are safe for your child to move around in. Costumes that can handle layers under them are great to accommo-date unpredictable Northeast NY weather patterns. No matter what the situation, always practice safe costume etiquette. Make sure your child can see clearly and is able to move around without difficulty.

Is your child afraid of costumes? Even if your child has never cried at the sight of Mickey Mouse, Chuck E Cheese, or other costumed char-acters in the past, Halloween can be intimidating for many children. It may not actually be the costumes that bother them, but the sheer number. Most toddlers have never seen so many Buzz Lightyears or Elmos and may be frightened be-cause of all of the costumes on Halloween. Keep this in mind and have a plan of action.

Halloween Safety

By the time our children are tod-dlers, we have already baby-proofed our homes. Still, Halloween deco-rations may toss some new items your way. Thinking ahead is the best way to prevent Halloween ac-cidents from happening. Keep these in mind for not only your toddler,

but other children as well.Halloween decorations appear in

a lot of homes. You may have them in yours right now. Check them out before you put them where your child can reach them. Many Halloween decorations have smaller parts that can break off. Remember that toddlers often put items in their mouths while they are teething. This may also be the year to think differ-ently about your Jack-o-Lantern. If you still want to carve a pumpkin with your family, be sure to think of safe alternatives to candles.

The best advice I can give any parent of a toddler for Halloween is to have fun and try to relax. If your child sees a smile on your face, they will be happy. Dress up with them, enjoy and take a camera along to capture the memories of a lifetime.

Creating Halloween Memories for ToddlersBy Beth Levine, TheAngelForever.com

Tips for Toddler Trick-or-Treating

• Beflexibletoworkaroundnapsand older or younger siblings.

• Headouttoseefriends,family,and neighbors early. Daylight keeps things less spooky.

• Dress for the weather. Kidsoverheat easily, so remember the weight of their costume as you toss a coat on. Layers are easy to add un-der costumes if needed.

• Use the experience to teach asmall lesson in manners. It is never too early to learn to say please and thank you.

• Keep Halloween fun, notfrightening for children.

• Always inspect your child’sgoodie bag before allowing them to have anything. Small candy pieces, lollipops, and other items may not be suitable for toddlers.

Toddler




Growing up, I have fond memories of celebrating Halloween. I remember

dressing up as a clown, hobo, and graduate complete with cap and gown. Each year, all of the neigh-borhood kids would go out together. When we were little, parents would rotate who would go out with us, while others manned the houses on our block. As we entered middle school and high school, many of us would take the younger kids out to trick-or-treat.One year, my parents asked me not to go trick-or-treating. My Nana and Papa bought my brother and me some Halloween goodies, along with other items from my parents. When I was older, I found out the following year that we had had sus-picious items found in candy that local children had received. There were also some fights not too far away from our home. My parents wanted to keep us inside and watch over our block. Times have changed, yet much remains the same since the Halloween that changed my life.

Preparing for Halloween:

Enjoy the month of October get-ting ready for Halloween with your children. Spend time doing arts and crafts together before October 31st. Do you decorate for Halloween? If you do, allow your older children to help decorate inside and outside of your house. Have them come up with a plan to make it really special for your entire family. Once the plan is set, go shopping for some new, fun, festive, and even spooky items to decorate with.

It is NOT all about the candy:

We need to be realistic here. A lot of children love Halloween because it is the one day of the year that they are able to get away with eating a bit more candy. I think we can all admit to liking it for that reason. Still, we have to teach our children that this holiday means more than just going from house to house and collecting sweet chocolate goodness.

Trick-or-treating is a great time to socialize. Gather a group of friends for your child and make it an outing. If your elementary age child is younger dress up with them, be a kid and have some fun alongside them. Do not forget to take photos; your child will thank you one day.

Halloween parties are also sea-sonal favorites, whether the party is at your child’s school, the mall, a friend’s house, or your own. If you are hosting the party yourself, make sure there will be age appropriate activities for the kids. Have a fun time creating a menu of goodies that are not only delicious, but healthier options. Yes, I am a firm believer that not everything for Halloween has to have a ton of sugar within it.

The yearly costume craze:

Each year, I cringe when it’s time to take my oldest son to pick out a Halloween costume. I always wonder if he’ll try to select some-thing that I don’t feel is appro-priate for his age. When our kids are little, we get to pick out their Halloween costumes. As they reach school age, many begin to express their own thoughts and opinions on the matter. Whether they beg to be Spiderman, Ben 10, Buzz Lightyear, a High School Musical Cheerleader, Dorothy, or Jasmine, we are the adults who get the final say on the purchase. Although we need to let our children have their say on things like this, we do need to

guide them. When we go Halloween shop-

ping, my husband and I often let our son look at everything while we step back. Then, we talk about what costumes he likes. Once we rule out items that may be cost prohibitive (when did costumes get to cost so much money?), we narrow it down to 2-3 possible choices. Our son tries on those costumes and we al-low him to make the final selection.

On your mark, get set....go!

Go and enjoy the month of October and Halloween with your fam-ily. Have your school-aged child help with Halloween preparations, while allowing them to slowly gain more creative control. Being there for your child and helping them to create lasting memories will be the items that they remember when they are grown up and taking their own children out to trick-or-treat. Remember, the more you focus on safety and good choices now, the more likely they are to use them when out alone in their teen years and beyond.

Giving Kids Choices at HalloweenBy Beth Levine, TheAngelForever.com

Kiddo

Basic Halloween Safety for Kids

•See and be seen, especially afterdark.

•Avoidtrippinghazards.•Nevergooutalone.•Planoutyouradventurebeforeyou

set out. •Nevergoinsideahousewhiletrick-

or-treating, no matter what.•Nevereatyourtreatswhileoutand

about. •Donotoverdothecandy.




I t is hard to miss the signs of fall – back to school sales and a cos-tume store with “opening soon”

sign on the window. I turned to my nine-year-old and asked her what she wanted to be this year. Soon af-ter the “I don’t know,” came, “How about Lady Gaga?”

We both had a giggle and talked about what was appropriate for her age. Inevitably, it came to, “Mommy, why can’t I wear that?” To which I responded, “Just be-cause they make it in your size, it does not mean you should wear it!” Halloween is truly a fun experience for all of us. Costumes give kids and adults the opportunity to be their alter egos for a few hours. As kids get older, the once cute costumes seem to get more provocative or gruesome, and it is up to us to help them make the right choice without throwing a wet blanket on the fun. We should be open to their ideas, but we still must set ground rules. Let tweens be inspired by their own personality without compromising family boundaries.

So what works for you?

Before you decide on a costume, be sure to consider: location (indoors or outdoors)• weatherconditions• whether the little ones will

want to walk or will you need a stroller or wagon

• thelevelofcomfortandeaseofthe costume

• snacksanddrinks• bathroombreaks• visibility–howwellthekidscan

see through mask or make-up

Give the kids some input.

Avoid selecting a costume without the kids. It’s their night, after all, and they have to have some input. Getting cute pictures is great, but maybe the group costumes won’t work this year.

As kids approach the tween years, they need to feel a sense of individuality and empower-ment through decision making. Homemade costumes = quality time together.

Buying packaged costumes or renting them can get expensive, especially if your entire family is

dressing up. A great alternative is to make costumes at home for free. Closets, basements, and attics are a great source for all kinds of out-fits and accessories. You will be surprised at the creative combina-tions your family can come up with. Got a...... communion dress? It can be turned in to a princess bride gown....plaid shirt and jeans? It can be turned into a scarecrow....black sweat suit? It can be a base for many homemade costumes, from animals to ninjas. Hats and belts can be the final touches on your creations.

Think arts and crafts on a larger scale.

You do not have to be a master seam-stress to get the job done. Fabric glue, a glue gun, staples, or masking tape can hold together hems, seams, fringe, fake fur, and sequins.

Making Halloween costumes at home is also a great way to spend quality time with the kids and have their creativity and individuality at center stage months before the ac-tual Halloween night.

Save time browse online for more ideas:

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/halloweenhttp://www.coolest-homemade-cos-tumes.comhttp://www.robinsfyi.com/holidays/

Tweens and Treats on HalloweenBy Veronica Salas Brito, ParishMoms.org

Tweens

Continued on page #


halloweenhttp://www.costumepage.org/hal-locst.htmlh t t p : / / f a m i l y f u n . g o . c o m /arts-and-crafts/http://www.1halloween.net/html/costumeshttp://www.costume-works.com/homemade_halloweenh t t p : / / w w w . m a h a l o . c o m /homemade-halloweenh t t p : / / d i r . y a h o o . c o m /Society_and_Cultureh t t p : / / w w w. s t r e t c h e r . c o m /stories/961021a.cfmhttp://www.1halloween.net/html/costume.htmlhttp :/ /www.familycorner.com/

family/kids/halloween/cre-ative_costumes.shtmlhttp :/ /www.halloween.com/

Halloween Safety Tips Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

All dressed up:

• Plancostumes thatarebright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, en-tanglement, or contact with flame.

• Consideraddingreflective tapeor striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

• Becausemaskscanlimitorblockeyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.

• When shopping for costumes,wigs, and accessories, look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.

• Ifasword,cane,orstickisapartof your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.

• Obtain flashlights with freshbatteries for all children and their escorts.

• Teachchildrenhowtodial911on the cell phone if they have an emergency or become lost.

• Keepyourhomesafeforvisitingtrick-or-treaters:

• Remove from the porch andfront yard anything a childcould trip over.

• Check outdoor lights and re-place burned-out bulbs.

• Wetleavesshouldbesweptfromsidewalks and steps.

• Restrainpetssotheydonotin-advertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

5 Suncrest DriveWaterford, NY 12188

Debi CondonSales Consultant

[email protected]

Madison HandbagsDesign your own handbag

Phone (518) 235-3896

Happily married to her teenage sweetheart, Veronica and her hus-band make Clifton Park,

NY their home town, for the past 13 years. Photography and digital media are her fa-vorite hobbies. Capturing life’s precious moments and sharing them with loved ones is the way she unwinds after a busy day with the family.


You can’t set foot in a lo-cal grocery store, co-op, farmer’s market, or roadside

stand without getting bombarded by the words organic and conven-tional. More often than not, they’re locked in an eternal struggle, both with one another, and with your pantry. Like most of us, you prob-ably believe that organic foods are at least better for you and better for the planet, since they’re not always better for your wallet. But is this necessarily the truth?

The sad fact of the matter is, the laws regulating the use of the term organic may as well be as loose as the laws regarding all natural – that is to say, just because it says it on the package, doesn’t make it the best choice. Take for example your standard crate of a dozen eggs. As long as the chickens who laid them were fed organically grown feed, it doesn’t matter if they were packed in cages for the duration of their sad little lives, never seeing a bit of sun-light, and pumped full the antibiot-ics necessary to survive the unsani-tary conditions they’re forced to live in. Those eggs? Organic by law.

Your kids have a chicken coop in your back yard with a healthy, beautiful laying hen. She runs around in a field eating bugs and greens, gulping down fresh, clean water, sunning herself, and groom-ing her feathers. Those eggs sound like they’d be beautiful, right? But

they’re not organic. Not legally. Obviously you want your chil-

dren and your family to eat the healthiest food possible for them. You want your kids to grow up with a good sense of nutrition, and a good sense of doing what’s right for the world, but with so many backwards standards, how can you ever be sure?

Your best place to start is locally. In Western civilization, we have be-come accustomed to our removal from the farm. We shop at grocery stores, buying and eating apples that came all the way here from Washington State. Nearly 3,000 miles away. Don’t we have perfectly good apples growing right here in New York? We do, and getting to know the growers of those apples – or anything else – is the best way to know what methods are being used to produce them.

Visit a local food co-op or farm-er’s market and ask questions. If you feel uneasy about buying conven-tionally grown tomatoes as opposed to the organic ones three stalls down, the farmer who grew them is standing in front of you. Literally! Ask him what you need to know. Encourage your children to ask those tough questions, too. After all, they deserve to know where their food came from. Who knows? Your eldest might realize she’s a journalist just from one conversation.

Organic animal proteins lead

very different lives from organic grains and organic produce. Don’t use organic as a qualifier when buy-ing meat and eggs. Instead, concern yourself with the term pastured or, in the very least, cage-free. The term free-range, like organic, does not re-quire truth in advertising. Also be sure your meats are hormone and antibiotic free, which suggests that they live in a natural state under relatively sanitary conditions.

The moral of this story is that the word organic can legally be thrown around by anyone who meets the very slim and loophole-ridden cri-teria. With the advent and soaring popularity of organics, companies will market anything they can get away with which will pass the requi-sites. After all, they can charge your family an extra dollar for it. The question is: will you let them?

Green Living – Organic vs. ConventionalBy Alina M. Hensley, TheCraningGap.blogspot.com

Green



Gearing up for an All-Natural Halloween?

Check out these naturally flavored and colored treats, available at local grocery stores:Yummy Earth Lollipops ($1.99 for 15)Wonka Whipped Wingers ($2.99 for 5.5oz)Endangered Species Chocolate ($1.99 for 1.4oz)Panda Liquorice in Black or Raspberry (65¢ for 1 1/8oz)Go Naturally Organic Hard Candies in Cherry, Pomegranate, Apple or Honey Lemon (Individually wrapped, $2.99 for 3.5oz)Let’s Do Organic Gummy Bears (Vegan, $3.98 for 4 bags)Newman’s Own Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups ($1.43 for 2)Surf Sweets Jelly Beans, ($1.79 for 2.7oz)

Phone (518) 235-3896


I used to watch Gilmore Girls. Ever see that show? It’s about a young single mother and her

teenage daughter living in a small New England town called Star’s Hollow. At the time, I was a teenage daughter to a young single mother, and it was all I was ever raised to know. I figured when I grew up I’d be the same.

Now I do have that daughter I al-ways suspected would be there, but much to my surprise, I’m not a sin-gle mother at all. Something about that show has always stayed with me though, and that’s the sense of com-munity surrounding Star’s Hollow, and how I wanted my daughter to experience that same cozy quaint-ness of everyone knowing everyone and all that comes from it.

It’s always at this time of year, the

height of autumn, that that longing for community strikes me the hard-est. Harvest festivals and hayrides, pumpkin patches and apple pick-ing, buying pies at orchards and trick-or-treating around the neigh-borhood. It never fails to put me in the spirit of togetherness, and that sense of goodwill carries me straight through the holiday season.

Last year was my first back in New York after spending four long years in Arizona, and I was so excit-ed to take my daughter apple pick-ing, to carve pumpkins together, to go to harvest festivals and visit all the places I’d visited as a child – everything I’d missed in a place with no autumn! It never happened that first year, but this year was go-ing to be different.

Being given this column has been something of a blessing in dis-guise – an excuse to get out there and seek out the undercurrent of the small town vibe that courses just beneath every big town façade. Growing up in downtown Colonie and then coming north to Clifton Park for high school, I never noticed it, but I was determined to find it now. Visiting the farmer’s markets last month was an inkling of this. But I’m hungry for more.

We set out for Riverview Orchards in Rexford to attend their Harvest Days festival, in hopes of seeking out that ever-elusive sense of community I was so desper-ately craving. It felt like the sort of event a small town would host, and

Rexford is, indeed, a small town. Dressed up in our best fall boots and sweaters and feeling the part, we played carnival games (won a bear!), watched cider donuts being made, ate hot dogs, listened to local teen bands, spied busy bees churn-ing out honey, perused pumpkins, and took a pony ride (for the low cost of four tickets). From the top of the hill, the view of the Mohawk nestled between fiery autumnal trees was gorgeous, to say the least. It was a full but shining afternoon.

The harvest festivals may be over for this season, but there’s still plen-ty more to look forward to. All those pumpkin patches and haunted hay-rides are awaiting us, our kids, and our costumes. There is something here, something to enjoy, to find more of. So I’m going to find more of it, and my plan is to bring it to you. Check out our guide to the up-coming Halloween and Pumpkin Festivals and events happening lo-cally, then get out there and find your own big town’s small town community.

In and around Saratoga County:

Fright FestWeekends 10/2 – 10/31 Six Flags Great Escape, Lake George Free with Admission (518) 792-3500 http://www.sixflags.com/GreatEscape/

Small Town/Big Town and Guide to Local Halloween EventsBy Alina M. Hensley – TheCraningGap.Blogspot.Com

Community

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Garrison Ghost Tours Fri’s & Sat’s, 10/22 - 10/30 Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga $35 (518) 585-2821 http://fort-ticonderoga.org/

Harvest Haunts Fri’s & Sat’s 10/1 – 10/30 Liberty Ridge Farm, 29 Bevis Road, Schaghticoke Free (518) 664-1515 http://www.libertyridgefarm-ny.com/hauntednights.html

Spirits of History Ghost Tours Fri’s & Sat’s 10/1 – 10/23 Fort William Henry Museum, Lake George Children 3-11yrs $7.95, Adults $14.95 (518) 964-6647 http://www.fwhmuseum.com/

Boo to You! Trick or Treat in Glens Falls Fri, 10/29, 4:30 to 8:00 PM Glen Street, Downtown Glens Falls, NY Free (518) 761-3864

Clifton Park Halloween Parade Fri, 10/29, 4:30 PM Clifton Common, Clifton Park, New York Rain Site: Shenendehowa Adult Community Center. Free (518) 371-6667

Halloween HootWed, 10/27, 6:30 to 7:30 PM Clifton Park- Halfmoon Public Library, Clifton ParkFree(518) 371-8622

Falling Leaves FestivalSat, 10/23, 3:00 to 9:00 PMWiswall Park and Kelley Park, Ballston SpaFree (518) 885-5711Clifton Park Historic Cemetery TourSat, 10/23, 1:00 to 5:00 PM Town Hall, Clifton Park$16.50 (518) 371-6651

Thurman Youth Halloween PartySat, 10/23, 1:00 to 3:00 PM Thurman Town Hall 311 Athol Rd, AtholFree(518) 623-9961

Family Activity Day: Halloween LuminariesSat, 10/23, 1:00 to 3:00 PM Chapman Historical Museum, 348 Glens Street, Glens Falls $3 per child (518) 793-2826

11th Annual Haunted Trails and BarnsFri, 10/22, & Sat, 10/23Up Yonda Farm, Bolton Landing, NY (518) 644-9767

ZomBIE Prom at Bettie’s CupcakesFri, 10/22, 7:00 to 10:00 PM 454 Broadway, Saratoga Springs(518) 894-1179

Halloween Pug Party & ParadeSun, 10/17, 9:00 to 2:00 PM Dynamite Hill Recreation Area, Rt 8, ChestertownFree (for pugs and their people!)

Canine Howl-O-Ween Costume P a r a d e / C o n t e s t / P a r t y S u n , 10/31, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Sloppy Kisses, 493 Broadway, Saratoga$5.00 (518) 587-2207

Haunted HayridesEvery Thurs-Sun in OctoberDouble M Western Store, 678 Route 67, Ballston Spa$20.00 per person, (includes 4 attractions.)(518) 884-9122http://www.MMHauntedHayrides.comIn and around Rensselaer County:

Spooky Science Magic Camp-In7:00 PM Sat, 10/23 until 9:00 AM Sun, Oct 24. Childrens Museum of Science and Technology, Troy Children $30, Adults $15(518) 235-2120 http://www.cmost.org

Slimy Science & Halloween Fun!Sat, 10/30, until Sun, 10/31, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Childrens Museum of Science and Technology $5 per person(518) 235-2120 http://www.cmost.orgIn and around Washington County:Pumpkin Fest 2010Sat, 10/16, 2010 until Sun, 10/17, 1:00 to 4:00 PM 29 Bevis Road Schaghticoke, NY 12154 (518) 664-1515

Knick at Night - Candlelight visits with Ghosts from Old Schaghticoke Fri 10/29-30, 6:00 to 9:00 PM Knickerbocker Mansion, 132 Knickerbocker Rd, Schaghticoke$5.00 (Optional additional $7.00 for soup dinner)

Walkers Fall FestivalSat, 10/16, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 5565 State Route 4, Fort AnnFreehttp://walkerstore.cc/store/content/44/Calendar-of-Events/

In and around Albany County:

Halloween Howl ProwlFri, 10/22 & Sat, 10/23, 6:30 to 8:00 PM Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center 195 New Karner Road, AlbanyAdult, $2, family, $5, children younger than 5, free.(518) 785-1800

Art for All: Halloween MasksSat, 10/30, 1:00 to 4:00 PM Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, New York Free with Admission (518) 463-4478

Small Town/Big Town and Guide to Local Halloween EventsBy Alina M. Hensley – TheCraningGap.Blogspot.Com



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Tips for Teens to Do Good at HalloweenBy Sandra Foyt, AlbanyKid.com

Hours: Mon–Fri 10am–8pm; Sat 9:30am–6pm; Sun 10am–5:30pm

Teens love Halloween, but of-ten we don’t like them dur-ing this holiday. Costumes

veer toward the super skimpy or truly horrific, and roving bands of trick-or-treating teens can get into all kinds of trouble. This Halloween, consider redirecting this energy into a positive experi-ence that they can be proud of long after the celebration ends.

You’ve Been “BOO”ed!

In the weeks leading up to Halloween, teens can “phantom” neighbors with a poem and treats. Kids get a kick out of surprising others with this anonymous act of kindness, and they earn good will in return.

The first step is to print out the Phantom Poem. There are many versions of this poem that can be found online, here is one that we use in our neighborhood:

You’ve Been Boo-ed!

The air is cool, the season fall, Soon Halloween will come to all.

Ghosts and goblins, spooks ga-lore… Tricky witches at your door.

The spooks are after things to do, In fact a spook brought this “Boo” to you!

Just two short days to work your spell, Keep it secret, hide it well.

Please join the fun, the seasons here. Just spread these “BOO’s” and Halloween cheer.

First, post this Phantom where it can be seen, And leave it there until Halloween.

Second, make two copies of this poem. Then deliver to homes where your roam. Be sneaky, be si-lent, and be quick. Leave it at doors where the Phantom hasn’t hit. This is all in good fun and we are just trying to say…Happy Halloween and Have a Great Day!

The second step is to draw or download a phantom onto a sepa-rate sheet of paper. Both are at-tached to a bag with a few treats, and then the games begin when the kids sneak in to drop these off on neighbors’ doorsteps without get-ting caught.

Reverse Trick-or-Treating

When your teen heads out to trick-or-treat on Halloween, they can give instead of receive. Through the Global Exchange Reverse Trick-Or-Treating Campaign, they will hand out mini-chocolates and informa-tional brochures that promote the purchase of Fair Trade products to help end child slavery in the cocoa fields and raise awareness of social and environmental injustices.

In early October 2009, our teen

Girl Scout troop signed up on the Equal Exchange Reverse-Trick-or-Treating Registration page. Shortly before Halloween, we received ma-terials for each girl to hand out 15 kits, which were easily assembled. Then, on Halloween night, each girl went into her own neighborhood, handing out the cards and talking about the program while trick-or-treating as usual.

The girls liked handing out the chocolates, but it was also benefi-cial to them because it gave them good reason to consider how they represent themselves and their worthy cause. Reverse Trick-or-Treating may inspire teens to dress and behave responsibly on Halloween night.

Host a Halloween Party for UNICEF

For over 60 years, costumed trick-or-treaters have been collecting coins for children in need, helping UNICEF provide nutrition, medicine, and ed-ucation worldwide. While teens can still go door-to-door toting the iconic orange box to collect spare change, they can take their collection efforts to a new level.

At many high schools, students can join a local chapter of the Key Club, which has been participat-ing in the Trick-or-Treat Campaign for UNICEF since 1994. They will receive a fundraising kit, collection boxes, a campaign kit and poster, a DVD, and more resources. Joining with like-minded teens, they will a great time while making a difference.

For a truly memorable experi-ence, teens can host a Halloween party to benefit UNICEF. When they register their party on the UNICEF site, they will get access to cool invitations and party tips. They can throw a party for other teens so that they all have some-thing fun to do on Halloween night, or they can organize an

Teens

Continued on page 32


Phone 783-9296 [email protected]

Bring Freckles to your birthday party and smiles are guaranteed.

Serving the Capital District area for 25 years.

event for disadvantaged youth in their community.

Although it can take a lot of hard work to pull off a successful Halloween party, teens will receive instant gratification as they see how their efforts impact others. Often, a Halloween party is as much fun for the hosts as it is for the partygoers.

Doing Good at Halloween

Helping others in their communi-ty and around the world is a wonder-ful way for teens to remember that it’s just as much fun to give, as it is to receive. Doing good will make them feel good, and that’s a sweeter, longer lasting feeling than any candy.

Resources for a Do Good Teen

Halloween:

•You’ve Been Boo-ed!: www.been-booed.com

•Equal Exchange Reverse Trick-or-Treating Registration: www.equalexchange.coop/rtt/index.html

•Trick-or-TreatforUNICEF:www.youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/participate

•How to Throw a HalloweenParty for Teens: www.ehow.com/how_1398_throw-halloween-par-ty.html

•HalloweenPartyGamesforTeensand Grown-Ups: www.partygamei-deas.com/halloween-games/index-adult-games_4.php

Sandra Foyt is the mother of two: a teen girl and a tween boy. She has been eagerly

exploring Northeastern New York since both gave up naps on their first birthdays, and she writes about fun and learning in the Capital Region on www.AlbanyKid.com.



Phone 783-9296 [email protected]

Bring Freckles to your birthday party and smiles are guaranteed.

Serving the Capital District area for 25 years.

Halloween Costumes for Kids with Special NeedsBy Christina Gleason, CutestKidEver.org

Getting dressed up for Halloween was one of my fa-vorite things to do as a child,

and even as a teenager and an adult. Lots of us love getting dressed up, and we love getting our kids dressed up as well. When our kids have spe-cial needs, we have an additional challenge in helping them find ap-propriate Halloween costumes.

Let’s take a look at some Halloween costume ideas for two different categories of kids with spe-cial needs: kids in wheelchairs and kids with sensory issues.

Costumes for Kids in Wheelchairs

Some costumes that their friends are wearing may be impractical for kids who need wheelchairs, but that doesn’t mean that they have to be left out without a great Halloween costume. You’ll have to avoid any costume with long pants or acces-sories like feather boas that could get caught up in the wheels, but remember that the wheelchair itself can be a fascinating accessory that most kids don’t have!

If you have a little one who still loves the Cars movie, you can dress up his or her wheelchair to look like Lightning McQueen, Mater, or even Sally. Dress your child in matching colors so they can be the driver. Or you can dress up the chair like one of the Thomas the Tank Engine trains, and your child can dress up like the conductor. Older kids may want to dress their wheel-chair up to look like their favorite NASCAR or Indy driver’s vehicle.

Look around to find a Jeff Gordon or Danica Patrick uniform to help complete the ensemble.

If your child has a sense of hu-mor, he or she may want to consider dressing up like a skier or snow-boarder who’s had an accident. Bandage one leg with gauze to look like it’s in a cast. If this Halloween is a cold one here in Northeastern New York, your kid’s friends will be jealous that he or she gets to be bun-dled up in the winter clothing that makes this costume great!

Costumes for Kids with Sensory Issues

My son has Asperger Syndrome, and there are certain types of cloth-ing he can’t wear. He can’t abide wearing shirts with tags, and he doesn’t like wearing button down shirts either. Other kids on the au-tism spectrum and those who have Sensory Processing Disorder may have even more severe tactile issues. Mass-produced Halloween cos-tumes often are made with scratchy materials, but there are still some great dress-up options for kids with sensory issues.

Steer your child away from cos-tumes that include any type of mask. My son was set on wearing a Spider-man costume last year, but I told him he needed to try it on to make sure it fit, and he wouldn’t put the hooded mask over his head. We settled on a Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi costume instead, which had no headpiece and allowed him to move freely. Always have your child try on the costume he or she wants to wear, since the experience of wearing it may not be what they expected.

Fun and Function is an online store that offers costumes with weighted vests for kids who need a special “hug” in their clothing. They offer EMT, police officer, fire-fighter, and fairy princess vests for little boys and girls. Vests can be

purchased online at http://funand-function.com/fine-motor-dressup-c-66_1_56.html

Boys and girls can dress up as doctors and nurses by purchas-ing an actual set of scrubs to wear. They are roomy and comfortable, and not made of irritating plastic like store-bought doctor and nurse costumes are. Real medical profes-sionals need to be comfy wearing them all day! Accessorize by adding a name badge sticker, a toy stetho-scope around the neck, and a pocket full of bandages.

Your child can also dress up like a rock star by mixing up clothing that they already wear. Boys can wear jeans and a favorite t-shirt with an iron-on transfer or sticker that says “Rock Star” on it, and you can spike up their hair with gel. Girls can wear a colorful skirt with leggings underneath and a t-shirt on top, wearing as many bracelets and necklaces as they like. Boys and girls alike can carry a toy microphone as a prop, but make sure they have a belt it can be tucked behind later when they get tired of carrying it.

If your child has an idea for a costume that isn’t feasible because of his special needs, ask him if he has any ideas for how you could do the costume differently to make it work.

Non-toxic face paint or makeup can take the place of uncomfort-able masks.

Let your child help assemble her costume to the best of her abilities. She’ll feel a sense of accomplish-ment if she helps make it!

Special Needs

Christina Gleason is a happily married mom of one very active lit-tle boy and Founder of

Phenomenal Content LLC, which provides online copywriting for businesses. Read her blog at www.CutestKidEver.org!


F or me and my daughter, October is all about tradi-tion. We celebrate ancestral

holidays, remember those who have passed before us, and really appreci-ate the stillness of this place where the life of summer gives way to the silent slumber of winter.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday which takes place just as Halloween is wrapping up. Unlike our modern interpretations of Halloween, Dia de los Muertos is a time of celebra-tion, of love. Families and commu-nities come together to share the joy of being able to “party” with their deceased loved ones, laying out food and sweets for the spirits to partake of. One such treat are the beautiful, vibrant sugar skulls

(calaveras de azúcar) which are artfully cre-ated and used to adorn the altars to the dead.

Though I am not of Mexican descent my-self, the need to remem-ber one’s ancestors is no stranger to any culture.

Because I’m the sort who loves eve-rything bright and gorgeous, the brilliant, joyful celebrations of the dead which take place south of the

border really touch my heart. For this month’s Kids & The Arts

project, I decided to head out to my local craft store and see what I could scrounge up in order to craft some non-edible sugar skulls to decorate my table with this year.

What You’ll Need:

• Paper mache skulls ($1.99 eachat Michael’s.)

• Acrylic paints in various colors(I chose white, black, yellow, tur-quoise, lime, red, and purple for this project, 59¢ for 2 oz bottle at Michael’s.)

• Paintbrushes• Apencil• Finetippedpermanentmarkers

How to Do It:

• Paintyour skullswith twocoatsof white paint. (Allow to dry after each coat.)

• Lookonlineoratalocallibraryfor pictures of sugar skulls, using these as inspiration, sketch your designs onto the painted skulls with your pencil.

• Useacrylicstofillinlargerareasof color, allow to dry.

• Usemarkersforfinerdesigns.• Incorporate these skullsaspart

of your Halloween décor, or work with your kids to create an altar at home, place these skulls, bright seasonal flowers (such as chrysanthemums,) candles and photos of deceased relatives and friends you wish to remember.

Create a meal using favorite foods of those you’re remembering, keep your heart joy-ful as you remember good times with them!

Bring the Family!

Kids & the Arts – Mexican Sugar SkullsBy Alina M. Hensley, TheCraningGap.blogspot.com

Arts & Crafts



Not only do we provide classes for all ages and levels, but we also offer many school events throughout the dance season such as: Apple Picking, Halloween Parties, Holiday Parties, and various Fundraisers. We also participate in local community parades, perform at local fundraising events and charities, and we proudly support Hannah's Hope Fund Foundation.

Stars of Dance “Where everyone is a STAR!”

509 Moe Road Clifton Park, NY 12065(518) 280-3467

Instruction begins Tuesday September 14th

World Awareness Children’s Museum89 Warren St., Glens FallsSaturday, October 30 from 10:00 - 11:30amLearn about Dia de los Muertos and make a traditional Mexican craft!Call 518-793-2773 for more information.

34 KFP


Child’s First Name: ____________________

Age: _______Grade: _____

School: _____________________________

Parent Full Name: ______________________

Email: _________________________________

Address: _____________________________ City ____________ State, ________ Zipcode ________

Yes, I authorize KidsFunPlaza to publish the letter/drawing and to send my child a prize if he/she wins.

Parent Signature: _____________________

KidsFunKorner

509 Moe Road Clifton Park, NY 12065(518) 280-3467


Write or Draw your THANK YOU letter and Win!

Prizes1st Prize-----$50 Visa Card

2nd Prize----$25 Visa Card

3rd Prize----$15 Visa Card

Plus lots of winners will get a surprise in the mail

Send your Thank You letter/drawing to KidsFunPlaza at 90 State Street – Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207


OCTOBER 15Albany 10:00 AMWilliam K. Sanford Town LibraryROMP ‘N READ This is a 45 minute drop-in session for little ones 12-36 months old with an adult. Phone: (518) 458-9274Email: [email protected]: www.colonie.org/library

Saratoga 10:00 AMThe Children’s Museum at SaratogaStretching with Stuffee Stuffee will be out today to facilitate exercise through silly songs, games, and stretching. -Phone:(518) 584-5540. Email: [email protected]: www.cmssny.org

Rensselaer 10:30 AMTroy Public LibraryPreschool Family Story TimePhone: Phone: (518) 235-5310 Email: [email protected]: www.thetroylibrary.org

Scenectady 5:00 PMMuseum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium. Come to the Museum during ART NIGHTPhone: (518) 382-7890 - Email: [email protected]: www.schenectadymuseum.org

Rensselaer 7:00:00 PMHudson Valley Community CollegeLearn the myths and realities of witches, ghosts and hauntings with Pauline Bartel.Phone: (518) 629-4822 Email: [email protected]: www.hvcc.edu

OCTOBER 16Scenectady 10:30 AMMuseum & Suits-Bueche PlanetariumLittle Wonders of Science: From Seed to PumpkinPhone: Phone: (518) 382-7890 - Time: Email: [email protected]: www.schenectadymuseum.org

Saratoga 11:30 AMSaratoga Springs Public LibrarySaturday Family Story Time. For Children ages 2-5Phone: (518) 584-7860 - Time: 1:00:PMEmail: [email protected]: www.sspl.org

Rensselaer 1:00 PMChildren’s Museum of Science & TechnologyThe Life of a Leaf Come explore why the leaves on the trees change color in the fall.Phone: (518) 235-2120 - Email: [email protected]:www.cmost.com

Rensselaer 7:00 PMHudson Valley Community CollegeLearn the myths and realities of witches, ghosts and hauntings with Pauline Bartel.Phone: (518) 629-4822. Email:[email protected]. Website: www.hvcc.edu

OCTOBER 17Rensselaer 1:00 PMChildren’s Museum of Science & TechnologyChemistry of Toys. In celebration of National Chem-istry weekPhone: (518) 235-2120. Email: [email protected]:www.cmost.com

Rensselaer 7:00:PMHudson Valley Community CollegeLearn the myths and realities of witches, ghosts and hauntings with Pauline BartelPhone: (518) 629-4822. Email:[email protected]://www.hvcc.edu

OCTOBER 18Saratoga 9:10:AMClifton Park-Halfmoon Public LibraryParent/Child Library TimePhone: (518) 371-8622. Email: [email protected]:www.cphlibrary.org

Saratoga 9:30:AMSaratoga Springs Public LibraryToddler Story Times For Children ages 24-42 months. Phone: (518) [email protected]. Website: www.sspl.org

Rensselaer 10:30:AMTroy Public LibraryPreschool Family Story TimePhone: (518) 274-7071. Email: [email protected]:www.thetroylibrary.org

Rensselaer 7:00:PMHudson Valley Community CollegeLearn the myths and realities of witches, ghosts and

hauntings with Pauline BartelPhone: (518) [email protected]://www.hvcc.edu

OCTOBER 19Albany 9:30:AMBethlehem Public LibraryWee Read 35 months and younger with parent/care-giver. Sign up is required. Phone: (518) 439-9314. Email: [email protected]:www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org

William K. Sanford Town Library 9:30:AMTODDLERTIME A 45-minute program for children up to 36 months with an adult. Phone: (518) [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library

Saratoga 9:30:AMClifton Park-Halfmoon Public LibraryBouncing Babies Share fun interactive rhymesPhone: (518) [email protected]:www.cphlibrary.org

Saratoga 2:00:PMSaratoga Springs Public LibraryPreschool Story/Music Program For children ages 42 months-5 years. Phone: (518) 584-7860Email: [email protected]. Website: www.sspl.org

Rensselaer 3:00:PMTroy Public LibraryTeen Time at Lansingburgh Come play the Wii, board games, and much more!Phone: (518) 274-7071. Email: [email protected]:www.thetroylibrary.org

Rensselaer 7:00:PMHudson Valley Community CollegeLearn the myths and realities of witches, ghosts and hauntings with Pauline BartelPhone: (518) 629-4822Email: [email protected]://www.hvcc.edu

OCTOBER 20Albany 9:30:AMWilliam K. Sanford Town LibraryON MY OWN STORYTIME A 30-minute program for children ages 3 years & older

here is WHAT ’S HAPPENINGAdd your own events free of charge at KidsFunPlaza.com/NENY



Phone: (518) 458-9274Email: [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library

Saratoga 10:00:AMNational Museum of RacingHorses & Hands Do you know how to measure a horse? Phone: (518) 584-0400 ext. 118Email: [email protected]:www.racingmuseum.net

Rensselaer 10:30:AMTroy Public LibraryPreschool Family Story TimePhone: (518) 274-7071. Email: [email protected]:www.thetroylibrary.org

Saratoga 10:30:AMThe Children’s Museum at SaratogaAlphabet SoupPhone: (518) 584-5540. Email:[email protected]:www.cmssny.org

Albany 4:00:PMWilliam K. Sanford Town LibraryTREEHOUSE CLUB An after-school club for chil-dren in grades 1–4, this 45-minute program features exciting stories, creative crafts, fun games, and an occa-sional snack. Phone: (518) 458-9274. [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library

Rensselaer 7:00:PMHudson Valley Community CollegeLearn the myths and realities of witches, ghosts and hauntings with Pauline BartelPhone: (518) 629-4822. [email protected]://www.hvcc.edu

Saratoga 7:00:PMSaratoga Springs Public LibraryAn Evening with Arthur and Marc BrownPhone: (518) 584-7860. Email:[email protected]

OCTOBER 21AlbanyWilliam K. Sanford Town LibraryFAMILY DROP-IN STORYTIME A 45-minute program for children of all ages with an adultPhone: (518) 458-9274Email: [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library

Albany 10:30:AMBethlehem Public LibraryThrees, Fours and More Age 3-6; no adult. Sign up is required. Phone: (518) 439-9314Email: [email protected]:www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org

Saratoga 10:30:AMThe Children’s Museum at SaratogaStory Art Reading together is always better, so please join us Thursdays for an exciting new story each week! Phone: (518) 584-5540Email: [email protected]:www.cmssny.org

Saratoga 11:00:AMClifton Park-Halfmoon Public LibraryParent/Child Library TimePhone: (518) 371-8622. Email: [email protected]:www.cphlibrary.org/

Rensselaer 1:00:PMChildren’s Museum of Science & TechnologyHomeschool Lab: Ready, Set, ReactionPhone: (518) 235-2120. Email:[email protected]:www.cmost.com

Rensselaer 7:00:PMHudson Valley Community CollegeLearn the myths and realities of witches, ghosts and hauntings with Pauline Bartel.Phone: (518) 629-4822Email: [email protected]: www.hvcc.edu

OCTOBER 22Rensselaer 3:30:AMChildren’s Museum of Science & TechnologyKitchen Chemistry Join us in this exploration of the chemistry in our kitchens. Phone: (518) 235-2120. Email: [email protected]:www.cmost.com

Albany 10:00:AMWilliam K. Sanford Town LibraryROMP ‘N READ This is a 45 minute drop-in session for little ones 12-36 months old with an adult. Phone: (518) 458-9274Email: [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library

Saratoga 10:00:AMThe Children’s Museum at SaratogaWiggle & Giggle A time for children to explore the many different things that they can do with their bodies! Phone: (518) 584-5540Email: [email protected]. Website:www.cmssny.org

Rensselaer 10:30:AMTroy Public LibraryPreschool Family Story TimePhone: (518) 235-5310. Email :[email protected]:www.thetroylibrary.org

Albany 3:00:PMBethlehem Public LibraryTeen time Grade 6 and up. DDR, Guitar Hero, Wii and games! Phone: (518) [email protected]:www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org


Saratoga 7:00:PMBettie’s CakesZombie Prom at Bettie’s Cupcakes. There will be Halloween cupcakes, karaoke, a prom king & queen contest . Phone: (518) 894-1179Email: [email protected]:www.bettiescakes.com

OCTOBER 23Saratoga 11:30:AMSaratoga Springs Public LibrarySaturday Family Story Time For Children ages 2-5Phone: (518) 584-7860. Email: [email protected]

Rensselaer 1:00:PMChildren’s Museum of Science & TechnologyCome and design your own experiments and see hats going on inside your pumpkin! Ages 5+ Phone: (518) 235-2120. Email: [email protected]:www.cmost.com


Rensselaer 7:00:PMChildren’s Museum of Science & TechnologyScience Magic Patch program, and the Cub Scout Science Belt Loop. Phone: (518) 235-2120Email: [email protected]. Website:www.cmost.com

OCTOBER 22Rensselaer 7:00:PMHudson Valley Community CollegeLearn the myths and realities of witches, ghosts and hauntings with Pauline Bartel.Phone: (518) 629-4822Email: [email protected]: www.hvcc.edu

OCTOBER 25Saratoga 9:10:AMClifton Park-Halfmoon Public LibraryParent/Child Library TimePhone: (518) 371-8622. Email:[email protected]:www.cphlibrary.org

Saratoga 9:30:AMSaratoga Springs Public LibraryToddler Story Times For Children ages 24-42 months. Phone: (518) 584-7860Email: [email protected]. Website: ww.sspl.org

Rensselaer 10:30:AMTroy Public LibraryPreschool Family Story Time.Phone: (518) 274-7071Email: [email protected]:www.thetroylibrary.org


OCTOBER 26Albany 9:30:AMBethlehem Public Library .Wee Read 35 months and younger with parent/caregiver. Sign up is required. Phone: (518) 439-9314Email: [email protected]:www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org

William K. Sanford Town LibraryTODDLERTIME A 45-minute program for children up to 36 months with an adult. Phone: (518) 458-9274Email: [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library

here is WHAT ’S HAPPENING


SaratogaClifton Park-Halfmoon Public LibraryBouncing Babies Share fun interactive rhymesPhone: (518) 371-8622. Email:[email protected]:www.cphlibrary.org/

Saratoga 10:00:AMThe Children’s Museum at SaratogaTuesday for Tots Halloween This is a special time for our littlest visitors! Phone: (518) 584-5540Email: [email protected]:www.cmssny.org

Saratoga 2:00:PMSaratoga Springs Public LibraryPreschool Story/Music Program For children ages 42 months-5 years. Phone: (518) 584-7860Email: [email protected]: www.sspl.org

Rensselaer 3:00:PMTroy Public LibraryTeen Time at Lansingburgh Come play the Wii, board games, and much more!Phone: (518) 274-7071. Email: [email protected]:www.thetroylibrary.org

Rensselaer 6:00:PMFranklin Terrace Ballroom’s PIZZAPALOOZA EVENT! Third Annual fund-raising event-Pizzapalooza. Phone: (518) [email protected]:www.franklinterraceballroom.com


OCTOBER 27Albany 9:30:AMWilliam K. Sanford Town LibraryON MY OWN STORYTIME A 30-minute program for children ages 3 years & olderPhone: (518) 458-9274Email: [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library

Saratoga 10:00:AMNational Museum of RacingAutumn We’ll talk about how we can tell it is fallPhone: (518) 584-0400 ext. [email protected]:www.racingmuseum.net

Rensselaer 10:30:AMTroy Public LibraryPreschool Family Story TimePhone: (518) 274-7071. Email:[email protected]:www.thetroylibrary.org

Saratoga 10:30:AMThe Children’s Museum at SaratogaAlphabet Soup. Making Music Strike up the band! Phone: (518) 584-5540Email: [email protected]:www.cmssny.org

Albany 4:00:PMWilliam K. Sanford Town Library

TREEHOUSE CLUB An after-school club for chil-dren in grades 1–4, this 45-minute program features exciting stories, creative crafts, fun games, and an occa-sional snack. Phone: (518) 458-9274Email: [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library


OCTOBER 28AlbanyWilliam K. Sanford Town LibraryFAMILY DROP-IN STORYTIME A 45-minute program for children of all ages with an adultPhone: (518) 458-9274Email: [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library

Albany 10:30:AMBethlehem Public LibraryThrees, Fours and More Age 3-6; no adult. Sign up is required.Phone: (518) 439-9314Email: [email protected]:www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org

Saratoga 10:30:AM The Children’s Museum at SaratogaStory Art Reading together is always better, so please join us Thursdays for an exciting new story each week! Phone: (518) 584-5540Email: [email protected]:www.cmssny.org

Saratoga 11:00:AMClifton Park-Halfmoon Public LibraryParent/Child Library TimePhone: (518) 371-8622. Email: [email protected]:www.cphlibrary.org

OCTOBER 29Albany 10:00:AMWilliam K. Sanford Town LibraryROMP ‘N READ This is a 45 minute drop-in session for little ones 12-36 months old with an adult. Phone: (518) 458-9274Email: [email protected]:www.colonie.org/library

Saratoga 10:00:AMThe Children’s Museum at SaratogaStretching with Stuffee Stuffee will be out today to facilitate exercise through silly songs, games, and stretching. Phone: (518) 584-5540Email: [email protected]. Website:www.cmssny.org

Rensselaer 10:30:AMTroy Public LibraryPreschool Family Story TimePhone: (518) 235-5310. [email protected]:www.thetroylibrary.org

Albany 1:30:PMBethlehem Public LibraryHalloween parade Up to age 6 and family. Come in costume! Phone: (518) 439-9314Email: [email protected]:www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org

Albany 3:00:PMBethlehem Public LibraryTeen time Grade 6 and up. DDR, Guitar Hero, Wii and games! Phone: (518) 439-9314Email: [email protected]:www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org

OCTOBER 30Rensselaer 10:00:AMHudson Valley Community CollegeGreenberg Train & Toy Show All aboard!!(630) 279-4087. Email: [email protected]://www.hvcc.edu

Rensselaer 11:00:AMChildren’s Museum of Science & TechnologySlimy Science & Halloween Fun!Phone: (518) 235-2120. Email:[email protected]:www.cmost.com

Saratoga 11:30:AMSaratoga Springs Public LibrarySaturday Family Story Time For Children ages 2-5Phone: (518) 584-7860. Email:[email protected]

Scenectady 1:00:PMMuseum & Suits-Bueche PlanetariumHalloween Science Have a spooky adventure in science! Phone: (518) 382-7890Email: [email protected]:www.schenectadymuseum.org

OCTOBER 31Rensselaer 10:00:AMHudson Valley Community CollegeGreenberg Train & Toy Show All aboard!!(630) 279-4087.Email; [email protected]://www.hvcc.edu

Children’s Museum of Science & TechnologyHalloween Happening for Kids! Kids in costume get in for FREE! Phone: (518) 235-2120Email: [email protected]. Website:www.cmost.com

Saratoga 12:00:PMThe Children’s Museum at Saratoga HalloweenTrick or-Treat. Phone: (518) 584-5540Email; [email protected]. Website:www.cmssny.org

Rensselaer 12:00:PMChildren’s Museum of Science & TechnologySlimy Science & Halloween Fun!Phone: (518) 235-2120Email: [email protected]. Website:www.cmost.com

NOVEMBER 1stSaratoga 9:10:AM-Clifton Park Halfmoon Public LibraryParent/Child Library Time. Phone: (518) 371-8622Email: [email protected]:www.cphlibrary.org/

Saratoga 9:30:AMSaratoga Springs Public LibraryToddler Story Times For Children ages 24-42 months. Phone: (518) 584-7860. Email:[email protected]. Website:www.sspl.org

Please go to KidsFunPlaza.com to see all the kids related events in the Northeastern NY region


Editorial Calendar for KidsFunPlaza!

Stuyvesant Plaza

Albany, NY 12203

518-438-75-62

Latham Farms

Latham, NY 12110

518-783-7224

Clifton Park Center

Clifton Park, NY 12065

518-371-9400

Junior Shoe Port an independently owned and operated

retailer serving the capital district for over 40 years. Come see Karen, Hannah, Courtnie, or Crystal for

a great shopping experience for your child!

Our hours are Monday to Friday 10 to 9 Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5

KidsFunPlaza

Documents

halloween night

halloween safetyvolume

halloween costumes

halloween memories

local halloween eventstips

absolutely love halloween

health provider

kids choices