Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Boston, MA

Rainy Weekend Fun

by Jill Notkin

Somehow, it never fails that our best family time happens when we have nothing planned. I dont know about you, but it's tough to plan when the weather promises nothing but rain. However, despite the rain, or rather in spite of the rain, we managed to have a great time this weekend, doing nothing special but having special times. Here's what we did: After a bit of a sleep-in on ... Read more >

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Gonna Dress Me Up For Halloween

by Jill Notkin

Halloween is absolutely, unequivocally, 100% my favorite unofficial holiday. As a child, I enjoyed planning out my costume, and deciding on my Trick or Treat route. Invariably, my candy would disappear too quickly (nothing at all to do with an older brother and sister!) as would the evening. As a teenager, I still loved planning the costume (albeit maybe a touch less innocent than those of ... Read more >

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History of Halloween - Salem Style

by Jill Notkin

Every October, our family ventures to Salem, Ma., site of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, to get in the spirit of Halloween. I mean, this place embodies 'spook' so it stands to reason that it would be the perfect place to teach, and show, the history of age old tradition. Though Halloween has its true origins in the Celtic festival which celebrates the end of the harvest season and involves ... Read more >

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Haunted Happenings

by Jill Notkin

Since Massachusetts is home to the Halloween capitol of the world, it has a lot to live up to! That said, there is no shortage of related activities, parties and events happening in Boston and beyond, between now and October 31 st . Here's a list of the spookiest, creepiest outings, Halloween-style. Head over to Harvard's Coop for a Halloween Carnival ! Play games, read stories, and ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

Yup - you guessed it! It's that time again. Time to make plans, schedules, agendas for the upcoming weekend. It's high leaf-peeping season, but if that's not enough enticement, here are a few ideas for the upcoming weekend: Head to City Hall Plaza in Boston for the 6 th annual Camp Sunshine Pumpkin Festival . In 2006, Bostonians carved enough pumpkins to break the Guinness World ... Read more >

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Wild Weekends

by Jill Notkin

It's the final weekend before Halloween and haunted happenings are in full swing. Head over to Harvard's Coop for a Halloween Carnival ! Play games, read stories, and join a costume contest! Kids can decorate a pumpkin and get their faces painted. October 25 th , 1 - 4pm. 18 Palmer Street, Cambridge. Trick or treat for charity at the Prudential Center's 14 th annual ... Read more >

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Easy Homemade Last-Minute Costumes

by Jill Notkin

Ok, so you've been inundated with all kinds of things and never made it to the store to buy your child a Halloween costume. Since today's the big day, chances are the good ones are sold-out and the ones that are left will break the bank. Not to fear - the good people at Craft Magazine have come up with ways to make fun and funky costumes for your kids, from items found in your recycling bin, ... Read more >

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Trick or Treat!

by Jill Notkin

Don't feel like traipsing along from house to house to trick or treat with your kids? Despite the fact that no activity is more fun, there are alternatives to the typical Halloween tradition. Below are spots to hit with your kids which are fun and have the spirit of the holiday. Halloween in the Highlands : Bring your children to Newton Highlands on Friday from 4 to 5:30pm for ... Read more >

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