Kids love to draw with chalk. Okay, tiny kids like to eat chalk and draw later. In our house, we draw with chalk a lot and make up stories to go along with the pictures. Here is a picture I drew for my boys.

Make your own chalk drawings and come up with a Halloween story to go with them, or borrow this one and make up a story about a witch.

Once upon a Halloween night there was a witch…

Every October, National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM) is a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America. Kids are natural advocates of the arts and humanities - they often love music, storytime and playing with finger paints.

Celebrate all year long with your kids - take them to the library, visit a museum, or see a show.

Halloween trick-or-treating is around the corner, but in our house the festivities and treats have already begun. And I am trying to keep all of our sugar intake to a moderate level. I LOVE chocolate and am trying to keep myself from digging into the candy I bought for the trick-or-treaters when my kids are asleep. My goal is to make sure our kids (and my husband and I) eat healthy meals every day while doling out the sugary snacks in moderation. Personally, I am striving for moderation NOT denial.

Here are some helpful tips for restraining the sugar rush:
• On Halloween day, try to have your kids eat healthy meals. Prepare dinner for the kids before they head out to trick or treat.
• Great tips from other parents for managing the mountains of candy after Halloween include: Limit your kids to maybe two pieces of candy a day, save it to decorate your holiday gingerbread house (thanks to Parent Hacks), or have your kids barter their candy for non-edible treats (stickers, small toys) or for a special outing or event (thanks to the Savvy Source for Parents).
• If your kids have food allergies, read Sure Foods Living for useful ideas on How to have an allergy-free Halloween.

As we prepare our kiddos for a fun day or evening of trick-or-treating, let’s also help make it safe for them. The American Red Cross offers us some common sense safety tips worth repeating:

• Walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street.
• Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms.
• Don’t hide or cross the street between parked cars.
• Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards, and brooms, too!)
• Plan your route and share it with your family if you go only with friends. If possible, have an adult go with you.
• Carry a flashlight to light your way.
• Keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flammable.)
• Only Visit homes that have the porch light on.
• Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger’s house.
• Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover your eyes.
• Be cautious of animals and strangers.
• Have a grown-up inspect your treats before eating. And don’t eat candy if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.

Read more safety tips at the National Safety Council (NSC.org).

Here are some creepy crawly treats to make for Halloween from Not Martha—a blog filled with great ideas on how to make things, from home improvements and the holidays to things to eat or things to wear.

Spider Cupcakes look relatively easy—just draw spiders with melted chocolate chips from a plastic bag, with the tip cut off, onto vanilla cupcakes. The Crawly Spider Cakes look awesome but require many more ingredients and greater technical skill. If I get ambitious I may try a modified version of the cakes or I may just make the vanilla cupcakes from Betty Crocker, frost and top them with the plastic spiders, bats, and witches I got at Job Lot the other day - fifty for $2.49. (Thanks, Katy!) I will let you know how it goes.

By Marianne Ruggiero
Coordinator of Family Programs at The RISD Museum

What do all the above things have in common? Think for a minute…

Got it? If not, look for a minute at the title of this article… That’s right, they are all good luck charms, also called “amulets.” Jaguar tooth might have fooled you, but if you lived in the Amazon rainforest, chances are you might wear a jaguar tooth around your neck for extra protection.
Different types of amulets can be found in most cultures and throughout history. The ancient Egyptians believed very strongly in the power of amulets that would protect the wearer in the afterlife. These objects were worn in life and also in death. Archaeologists have found them in tombs, sometimes tucked into the bandages wound around mummies.

Magic Bugs and Fish
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Note: The images of artwork from The RISD Museum collection will remain on the  Kidoinfo website for only 3 months as requested by the Museum.  Although the images have been removed, kids may still enjoy doing some of  the following projects.
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Take a look at pictures of some ancient Egyptian amulets made more than 2000 years ago! Why do you think they would have been considered lucky objects?

Egyptian, New Kingdom (around 1200 BCE)
Scarab (beetle)
Gold and enamel
1. 25″ x .875″
Gift of Mrs. Murray S. Danforth

The “dung beetle” or scarab had the habit of laying its eggs inside a ball of manure. Egyptian people, seeing the baby beetles emerge from manure, may have thought the insect was born magically. It became a symbol of rebirth.

Egyptian, New Kingdom (around 1391 – 1335 BCE)
Fish Amulet
Faience
1 9/16″ x 13/16″
Helen M. Danforth Acquisition Fund

The fish was also a symbol of rebirth and long life in ancient Egypt. A hole in the dorsal fin of this little blue fish tells us it was once a pendant on a necklace.

Egyptian , Ptolemaic Period (around 250 BCE)
Coffin of Nesmin
Wood, gesso, gilding
70 ½” x 17″
Museum appropriation and Mary B. Jackson Fund

A priest named Nesmin was laid to rest in this wooden coffin. The artists who painted the coffin wanted to make sure that Nesmin would have some powerful protection in the afterlife. Can you find an amulet just above his face?

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For extra protection against goblins and ghouls on Halloween!

Make an Egyptian Amulet
Using Sculpey clay (available at most crafts stores) to form an amulet of your choice. Use one or more colored clays. If you are going to wear your amulet as a necklace, make a little clay loop at the top for cord or ribbon. Have an adult bake your amulet in the oven following the instructions on the Sculpey wrapper. After your amulet comes out of the oven and cools, you can apply some details with permanent markers or acrylic paint.

ARTplay is a monthly column by Marianne Ruggiero from The RISD Museum in which various themes and activities will introduce kids and parents to the museum’s collection both online and off. Each month Kidoinfo will help spark your children’s interest in art – they can learn about different works at the museum and download a related activity to create offline. Be sure to visit the museum and explore the art in person. On Free-for-All Saturdays (the last Saturday of every month), kids may continue their exploration through a variety of hands-on workshops, performances, videos, and special gallery quests throughout the day.

All additional inquires or requests should be directed to: Melody Ennis, Coordinator of Photographic Services, The RISD Museum, 224 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02903. 401 454-6535. E-mail inquires to: mennis@risd.edu

I believe making arts and crafts part of our everyday lives is important. Whether you buy a handmade card to send to a friend or have a dining room table custom-designed for your home, you can support the arts at many levels and many different price points. But if we consumers continue to shop strictly by price (and who doesn’t love a deal) without caring who makes it, more and more products will be made overseas for cheap regardless of other, less obvious costs (think of all the recent toy recalls).

Help prevent this from happening and check out the Fine Furnishings Show at the Rhode Island Convention Center this weekend. Now in its twelfth year, this show brings together furniture makers and other artisans from around the country for three days to display and sell their work. I recently wrote about my past job co-running the Providence Craft Show, which operated alongside the Fine Furniture Show for three years. Although the craft show in name is no longer, my former partner has organized the craft section of this year’s furniture show. There is sure to be a range of unusual and beautiful things to choose from no matter what your particular style or budget.

Here is our Kidoinfo take on some cool things to check out:

Red Rover Clothing Co. | Fleece Children’s and Baby’s Clothing
Lovely colorful outerwear, accessories, and blankets for children and adults. Made from warm, lightweight, and washable Polartec(R) fabrics as well as several textured fleece fabrics from domestic mills. Accents are added with woven trims (designed at their studio), appliques of ultrasuede and buttons that are exclusive to their line. My boys have unfortunately outgrown their Red Rover hats and mittens - time for some new ones!
artist: Cindy Walsh
studio location: Framingham, MA
email: info@redroverclothing.com)
phone: 508-820-2542
website: www.redroverclothing.com

Underground Velvet | Holiday Stockings
Embossed holiday stockings made by hand from the finest velvets. Velvets are a rayon/polyester blend and iridescent, which means that the fabric is woven from two contrasting thread colors. When embossed, the nuances of color are apparent in bright highlights and colorful shadows. These sturdy and roomy stockings can be filled with holiday cheer for years. Each stocking contains a black rayon lining and has a black ribbon attached. At our house, we each have our own stocking.
artist: Amy Hedler
studio location: Arlington, MA
phone: 781-641-0580
email: amy@undergroundvelvet.com
website: www.undergroundvelvet.com

Karen Krieger Metals | “Hugs and Kisses” Game
The miniature pewter game board is about 1.25 x 1.25″ and comes with 10 pieces in lovely drawstring bag. Retail price - $12
artist: Karen Krieger
studio: Springfield, VT
phone: (802) 885-8777
email: kkmetals@vermontel.net
website: www.karenkrieger.com

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Here is a list of some fun local events!

Pumpkins in the Park
Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8:45 pm
Daggett Delights present Pumpkins in the Park with hundreds of jack-o’-lanterns. This a great place to take little kids. Although this show is not as grand as the thousands of pumpkins that used to be on display at the Roger WIlliams Park Zoo and are now currently on view at McCoy Stadium, little kids will still enjoy the music and the jack-o-lanterns without waiting in long lines or wading through the crowds at the larger events. This event runs concurrently with the Haunted Tunnel. On Saturday also check out the Carousel Fest from Noon to 5 pm at the Slater Park Carousel.
Daggett Farm (Located within Slater Park) - U.S. Route 1-A , Pawtucket, RI
(401) 728-0500, x 245
Admission: For Pumpkins in the Park - $5; free for children under 12.

Halloween Hike - Saturday, Oct. 27, starting at 5:30 pm
(Groups of 15 go off every 10 minutes)
A great alternative to the usual haunted houses. On the guided, mile-long hike through the eerie night forest, participants will encounter characters who will explore with you the myths, legends, and creatures associated with Halloween. These walks are great for young children and the whole family. (In the event of rain, the fun will be moved indoors, where the same skits will be performed in the Nature Center. The building will be transformed into an autumn setting, complete with pumpkins, hay and lanterns.) Refreshments, children’s activities, and a special treat (donated by Whole Foods Market) await your return.
Audubon Society of RI at the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
- 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA
(401) 949-5454, ext. 3041
Admission: Registration is required to reserve a time. Spaces are limited. Program Fee: $9/member adult, $7/member child (12 and under); $14/non-member adult, $11/non-member child.

Halloween at the RISD Museum - Saturday, Oct. 27, from 11 am - 4 pm
Third Dimension: Halloween Costumes and Activities.
Children are encouraged to come dressed in costume to this day of art making with a Halloween twist. Discover sculptures of all times and places in the galleries guided by some mysterious mascots. In workshops make special Egyptian-inspired protective amulets or imaginative creatures from wire. At 3pm, the RISD Auditorium is the scene for a special marionette performance of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by New York’s award-winning company “The Puppet People.” Halloween-themed activities for the entire family.
The RISD Museum of Art - 224 Benefit Street, Providence, RI
For more information, email Marianne Ruggiero at mruggier@risd.edu or call (401) 454-6674
Admission: The program is for families of all ages and all activities are absolutely free!

Spooky Zoo Sundays - Sunday, Oct. 28, from 11 am - 3 pm
Head to the zoo for some Halloween-themed family fun. Ghosts and goblins of all ages will enjoy Trick-or-Treat stations, a costume parade, live music, roaming entertainers, and other fun surprises around every corner. On October 28, meet Arthur, courtesy of RI PBS, and hear frighteningly fun music and more with Jordan Cannady.
Roger Williams Park Zoo - 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI
(401) 785-3510
Admission: Activities are free with regular zoo admission. All children (12 and under) dressed in costume get in free.

Boo Bash - Sunday, Oct. 28, from 1 - 4 pm
A little bit spooky, and a whole lot of fun. Come in costume to the Children’s Museum Halloween party. Join the friendly witch for special treats in the Pumpkin Patch Cafe, meet scorpions, snakes, lizards and other creepy creatures, play bewitching games, create Halloween crafts to take home and much more! For ages 3 - 11.
Providence Children’s Museum - 100 South Street, Providence, RI.
(401) 273-5437
Admission: $6.50 per person (free for chidren under the age of 12 months). Free for members.

Halloween Storytelling and Parade - Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 4 pm
Join Books on the Square for some spooky storytelling, creepy crafts, and a parade around Wayland Square. Don’t forget to wear your costume! This party is for babies and toddlers…but moms and dads can dress up, too!
Books on the Square - 471 Angell Street, Providence, RI
(401) 331-9097
Admission: Free

Photo Caption: Meet characters and creatures who explore the myths and legends of Halloween on the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Mother Nature’s Halloween Hike. Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA.

When my kids were toddlers, I found they didn’t like to sit at the table very long while eating their food. And usually one of them was bound to be fussy about something. When they were young, my husband worked late and we had not started having family dinners yet, so I was I always looking for new ways to make mealtime a bit more fun. Sometimes I would draw on a chalkboard, tell them a story, or a do a project like making these bats. I like to make things – in fact, sometimes this was more for me to have a creative outlet – but since it helped pass the time with fewer tantrums, it benefited all of us. Now my kids are older and prefer to be much more part of the process with these projects.

Make Paper Bats, Moons, and Stars

This is a simple Halloween craft for kids that’s based on snowflakes cut out of folded paper. If your kids are too young to use scissors, it’s fun for you to do while they can watch.
• Supplies: Construction paper (8.5 x 11), scissors, pencil
• How-to: Download Bat or Moon templates and use them to trace their outline on colored paper or fold a piece of colored paper in half and cut out your own bat, moon, or star. Fold bat, moon, or star shape in accordion pleats and cut out small shapes. Sometimes I found folding and cutting one area and then folding and cutting another area worked well rather than folding the whole shape at once. Unfold and you are done! Experiment and have fun!

Here is the Kidoinfo guide of ideas and resources for carving or decorating a great pumpkin this year. No matter what age your kids are, they can participate in some way – from picking out a pumpkin to drawing the face on the jack-o-lantern.

1. Tools: When I was young, we carved our pumpkin with a serrated knife. Now you can find a range of inexpensive pre-packed carving tools that really work—and are probably much safer than a kitchen knife. They are widely available at most stores that carry Halloween decorations, including CVS, Michaels, Target, and Stop-n-Shop.

2. Draw your own Jack-o-Lantern face or download cool free templates from Ehow.

3. Simulate what your pumpkin will look like before carving it.

4. When carving our pumpkin, we cut a hole from the bottom of the pumpkin instead of the top, thanks to this great tip from a friend. Using this method, you can even out a lopsided pumpkin by how you angle the hole and you can put a votive flat on the table with the Jack-o-Lantern placed over the votive. Learn more carving tips and tricks from the Pumpkin Masters.

5. Pumpkin preservation techniques from the Pumpkin Masters:
• To have your pumpkin look its best, carve 2 to 3 days before Halloween. Although you may want to carve it earlier if you like when the face starts to shrivel a bit - spooky!
• Rub petroleum jelly on the cut edges of your carving to prevent your pumpkin from drying out.
• Spray your pumpkin with water, cover it with plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator whenever it’s not on display. This helps prevent premature decomposition.
• Soak or spray the pumpkin with water mixed with a little bit of bleach. This will extend the life of your carved pumpkin by warding off mold and killing insects.

More Pumpkin Ideas

• Easy for little Kids
Little kids can paint their own pumpkins (big or small) with washable poster paints and brushes. Make sure you spread the table with newspapers first. This can be a great project to distract kids while you are using a knife to carve the Jack-o-Lantern.

• Cinderella’s Coach (pictured above)
My son found a picture of a golden coach in the Halloween Pumpkins & Parties: 101 Spooktacular Ideas book by Better Homes and Garden last year and was obsessed with replicating it. Our finished coach does not quite look like the one in the book, but we had fun figuring out how to assemble our coach with supplies from around the house - paint, ribbon, paper plates, foam board, thumbtacks, and toothpicks. Once the coach was done, my son and I drew a road on a large piece of poster board. Then he rounded up his toys to complete the scene.

• Martha Stewart Style
Make Spooky Silhouette Designs or Translucent Pumpkins

• Play With Your Pumpkins by Joost Elffers, Saxton Freymann, Johannes Van Damm
This book will teach you to look at your pumpkin with new eyes. Which way is up?