Family Matters: Halloween and Honk

Family Matters: Halloween and Honk

Every Friday, enjoy inside tips for modern family life from Anisa Raoof, publisher and founder of Kidoinfo, the parents' guide for Rhode Island and beyond.

Kido Tip 1. Halloween paper craft

Decorate your windows with cut paper bats, moons, and stars from colored paper. Fold a piece of construction paper in half and draw half an outline of a shape; a bat, a moon, a house. Cut out shape. Fold sections of the paper again to cut out small designs (similar to cut paper snowflakes). For details and to download a bat or moon template, visit Kidoinfo.

Kido Tip 2. Halloween costumes

Time to start thinking about what your child will wear for Halloween. Depending on your child, every day may be dress-up day. If you tend to buy ready-made costumes, shop the

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

consignment and second-hand shops first or ask friends to borrow something from their dress-up box. DIY does not have to mean sew it, from start to finish. Costumes can often be put together with things from home and a few accessories  purchased from the party store and/or thrift shop. I have one kid in my house who tends to change his mind about his costume at the last  minute. I give him the seven-day rule. No costume changes once we are seven days from Halloween. So far it's worked. No costume regrets. Find some simple costume ideas here.

Kido Tip 3. Make some noise at the HONK! Festival on Sunday!

Street bands from all over world come together to make some noise and have some fun. After playing in Somerville, MA, brass, reed, percussion, and dance bands will be in 

Providence to honk. This totally fun and free musical celebration will take place Monday, October 11th at India Point Park in Providence, followed by a parade down Wickenden Street. Everyone is invited to join in. Last year it was a bit cold, so we left before the parade to warm up and have dinner. We dined at a window table on Wickenden Street  and watched the parade from inside. Also fun!

Anisa Raoof is the publisher and founder of Kidoinfo, the parents' guide for Rhode Island and beyond.