Cackleberries.com is back with its Children’s Stories and Bedtime Stories Series.  We showcase our unique characters and wonderful town through our eye-catching stories while providing parents with a great way to encourage children to read!  To see other stories we’ve released, check out the ‘children’s stories’ category on the right side of the page.  Make sure you check back each and every week as we offer a brand new story every Friday!

Just in time for Halloween, Cackleberries has another children’s read-along video book to share with you.  This week, we feature the creepy, crawly…..

Scary Skulk

A Cackleberries REad-along Video Book

We hope you enjoyed today’s Classic Children’s Stories & Bedtime Stories Feature.  See you all next week!

Scouring the Internet for your enjoyment, Cackleberries has located some of the most popular video doing the rounds on the World Wide Web.

This week dancing reigns supreme as we provide a trio of videos featuring babies shaking their groove thing!

Video # 1

Child Dancing to the Banjo

Video # 2

Newly walking, newly dancing

Video # 3

Yankee Doodle Dance

Along with the onset of school, fall, foul weather, and the pending winter, come a few perks too.  One such bonus of this time of year is the annual tradition of Halloween.  All this month, Cackleberries will be pulling out the stops to bring you plenty of Hallow’s Eve themed posts.

You can view all of our expert articles on the right side of the page under the “Expert Articles” category.  If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, feel free to let us know at info@cackleberries.com

Child Safety Tips for Halloween Night

While Halloween can be an absolute blast, it can also be downright bust.  Poor weather, avoidable injuries, fear of vandals, or any number of other concerns can easily turn a night of delight into a night of distress.   To help mitigate any of these potential pitfalls, we’ve compiled a list of tips to make sure your Halloween is as stress-free as can be!

Check and Re-Check your Child’s Candy!

Always go through your child’s candy haul when you get home. Never allow your child to eat opened goodies or treats. While it’s entirely possible that these sweets are fine, it’s simply not worth the risk. The vast majority of packages should be sealed and the few that have to be disposed of won’t affect your kid’s stash. Also, be sure to take some for yourself.

When Out at Night, Make Sure to be Bright!

This tip is especially important when the weather is rainy or foggy. In conditions when it has hard to see and with plenty of dark costumes being worn, make sure your child can be seen! There are plenty of ways to have your child visible without detracting from their costume.

• Attach light reflective strips to their arms and legs – As these appendages are constantly in motion, their reflective capabilities will be maximized.
• Outfit them with glowing light-sticks for their wrists or necks – These glowing accessories will last for hours and are available in a variety of different colours ensuring that even the most picky of children will be appeased.
• Use a Flashlight – Avoid unseen curbs or cracks in the sidewalk, keep better track of your kids, tie loose shoelaces easier, or do pretty much anything else you need light to do!

Avoid Houses with Their Lights Off

These lights are off for a reason – they want to be left alone. If someone does not want to participate in Halloween, that should be respected. Constant annoyance could result in unnecessary confrontation.

Cross the Street Safely

Make sure to cross the roadway from sidewalks or via intersections. It might seem like a minor piece of advice but simple road safety can go a long way, especially for tiny children.

Try to Avoid Firecrackers and Fireworks

While these can be dazzling on the eyes, they are best viewed from a distance or in controlled environments. The power contained in these tiny items is enough to send a child to the emergency room.

Avoid Large Groups and Stick Together

Large groups can lead to confusion and mini-members of your troupe can get lost in the melee.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

Winter is fast approaching. Mix in a little rain or snow, and Halloween can make for a downright chilly experience and we’re not just talking spine chilling scary, we’re talking cold! Make sure you and your kids are wearing warm clothing in layers. You can always take extra clothes off but it’s a lot harder to add clothes you don’t have.

So with that, have a safe and fun Halloween night!

With Halloween closing in on us, The Cackleberries Club is providing a new 5 part feature where we showcase some fun Halloween themed drawing lessons.  If you missed any of our Halloween drawing lessons Series you can find them as follows:

Part 1 can be found here, Part 2, can be found here, Part 3 here, and Part 4 of our How to Draw Monsters Series can be located here.  This week, we present to you the last in our 5 part series as we provide the final instalment of our how to draw monsters series….

After having taught you;

How to draw a Monster

How to Draw a Werewolf

How to Draw a Zombie

And How to Draw a Vampire

Today, we have a special treat.  In our final Halloween drawing lessons feature, we show you……

How to Draw Frankenstein!!!

A Cackleberries Halloween Special Drawing Lesson

The How to Draw Monsters Series!

We hope you enjoyed this Halloween Drawing Lessons Special!

Well on our way to Halloween, Cackleberries is pleased to offer a new feature over the next few Monday’s as we set out to provide some fun Halloween themed recipes for you and your kids!  If you missed the last few weeks recipes, you can view part 1 of our Halloween recipes series here, part 2 here, part 3 here. and part 4 of our special Halloween recipes feature here.

Today, with Halloween just days away, we have the final instalment in our 5 part Halloween recipes series.  After having presented Pumpkin Pizza, Halloween Trail Mix, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, and Witches Fingers, we have finally come to our last Halloween recipe feature.  For this treat, we have some creepy fun with Marshmallows as we make two different items……

Marshmallow Eyeballs!!!

Ingredients

• Large Marshmallows
• Brown M&M’s, Reeses Pieces, or Smarties
• Assorted Coloured Icing Sugar
• Food Colouring can also be substituted
• Red decorating gel

Directions

1. Place all Marshmallows in a standing position
2. Spread a small amount of Icing Sugar on the top of the Marshmallow
3. Place a M&M on top of the icing
4. Take Decorating Gel and draw bloodshot line from the eye outwards
5. Serve and Enjoy

*** Bonus Fun Marshmallow Halloween Treat ***

Marshmallow Ghosts

Ingredients

1. Marshmallows
2. Dark Chocolate

Items Needed

1. Toothpicks
2. New, Fine Paintbrushes

Directions

1. Melt a small amount of dark Chocolate
2. Take a fine paint brush (or even your finger) and simply draw ghost faces on the side of a marshmallow!

• *Slight alterations in eye shape and mouth expression provide great variety in ghost appearance!
• **Try this with your family for a fun filled Halloween activity!