Fire Prevention Week, pumpkins and friends are the focus this month. The statistics on children playing with fire is alarmingly high. Review the stop, drop, and roll drill with children and other information to keep your child educated.

#1 Each year, children set more than 100,000 fires, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA). Children make up nearly a quarter of all fire-related deaths. About 40 percent of fires that kill children under 5 years old are set by children playing with fire.

• This month has a Fire Prevention Week. Since 1925 the President of the United States signs a proclamation announcing a national observance week, the Sunday through Saturday in which October 9th falls. This is the date the Great Chicago Fire occurred in 1871.

• Find information of this fire which burned more than 2,000 acres in 27 hours leaving 250 people killed and 100,000 homeless.

• Review your home’s fire escape plan for each room with your child.

• With your child at your side, check your home’s smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to ensure they are in working order.

• Teach a child that fire is a tool, not a toy. Children that play with fire often use lights, matches, and other ignitables in bedrooms, closets, or under beds. Check these areas for burnt matches.

#2 As a child begins the school year, it is an opportunity to make new friends.

• Select an evening for your child to invite a friend over for dinner.

• Encourage him/her to plan the menu, help with the preparation and decide on an activity to share after or before dinner. (Look at other Little Bit of Learning activities) .

• Limit the time to about an hour. This is an opportunity for showing how to be a good hostess with dining and conversation. Think kids fare – macaroni and cheese, pizza, spaghetti, waffles, etc.

Our family enjoyed Wednesday evening waffles with their friends once or twice a month. The simple menu varied between waffles baked with chocolate chips, waffles with bacon, plain waffles topped with strawberries, plain waffles with REAL maple syrup, or waffles with whipped cream. We made fresh squeezed orange juice or had hot chocolate with counted out mini marshmallows in the mug for the age you were. No dessert was needed and the children enjoyed watching over the waffle iron. Sometimes we made waffles from scratch and other times with a mix depending on the kid-time factor. Regardless of the menu , everyone had fun, clean-up was easy and many returned on future Wednesdays.

#3 Selecting and decorating pumpkins is a fun October event. For a different twist, encourage a child to design a pumpkin to look like their own face.

• Carefully look in a mirror and determine the shape of the child’s face. For an accurate decision in what type of face use these guidelines …

• Write down the following measurements

  1. Measure the face across the top of the cheek bones to ears

  2. Measure across the jaw line from widest point to widest point

  3. Measure across the forehead at the widest point touching both hairlines

  4. Measure from the tip of your hairline to the bottom of the chin

Oval Face = Length equal to 1 ½ times width
Round Face = Face is as wide as it is long
Oblong = Longer than it is wide
Heart = Narrow at jaw line, wide at cheekbones and/or forehead
Square = Face is about as wide as it is long
Diamond= Widest at cheekbones, forehead and jaw line about same width

• When shape of face is determined, head to the pumpkin patch and find a similar shape pumpkin for each child or family member.

• Gather art supplies – paint, markers, yarn, buttons, etc.

• REMEMBER – Do not puncture the pumpkin. Everything should be glued or drawn on the pumpkin so no rotting will occur.

• Encourage child to attach yarn the color of their hair, freckles where they have freckles, glasses if worn, buttons or painted eyes, etc.

• This is a fun activity that encourages creativity along with good observation skills.

• You can take a picture of the child holding the pumpkin in front of their face and compare characteristics.

Let me know by e-mail what your favorite activity was this month. I am compiling information for a resource book and want your input. Thanks.