Five Simple Snack Solutions
Short on ideas for easy school snacks? Try one of these!
• Mandarin orange slices with honey for dipping
• Carrots and hummus
• Grape and cheese kabobs
• Cereal with raisins and dried fruit
• Popcorn balls
Kids Can…
… bring water bottles to school to stay hydrated throughout the day. Nalgene’s 12 oz. water bottle with a double-latch lid is a perfect size for kids, and the leak proof top means dry lunch boxes and backpacks. The bottle comes in pink, purple, or blue, and is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. Available at Target stores; $9.99.
… enjoy crust-free sandwiches with sealed edges that appeal to even the pickiest eaters. These pocket sandwiches are simple to make: Just place filling between two layers of bread, then cut and seal. The Cut-N-Seal also makes it easy to create a batch of sandwiches at once, which can then be frozen for future use. Available at pamperedchef.com; $10.
Celebrate Oktoberfest
The Mountain Creek Resort (200 Route 94, Vernon) is holding its annual Oktoberfest celebration with lots to do for kids of all ages, including a petting zoo, pony rides, a bounce house, and more. There will also be a ferris wheel and other carnival rides, as well as live music and animal and magic shows. The event takes places on Saturday, September 21, 11 am–9 pm and on Sunday, September 22, 11 am–6 pm. Admission is free for kids ages 5 and under and $5 for ages 6+; additional fees for food, drinks, and rides. For more information, visit oktoberfestnj.com or call 973-827-5996.
New York Nugget
See the Middle Ages come to life at Fort Tyron Park’s Medieval Festival on Sunday, September 29, 11:30am–6pm. The fair includes puppet shows and storytelling, not to mention minstrels, jugglers, jesters, and jousting knights on horseback. There is also food, drink, and crafts. Performers and vendors will be wearing traditional dress, and visitors are encouraged to come in medieval costumes as well. Admission (near The Cloisters) is free. There is no public parking and public transportation to the park’s entrance is recommended via either the M4 bus or the A train to the 190th Street Station. For all the ye olde details, visit whidc.org.
Grandma, Do You Remember?
Grandparents Day is on Sunday, September 8, and is the perfect time for your children to be first-time reporters and interview their grandparents to learn all about life “way back when.” Let your kids pick their own questions to ask, or use these ideas to get started:
• What was your favorite meal when you were a kid?
• Do you think kids are different today from when you were growing up?
• How do I remind you of my mom/dad when she/he was my age?
• Where was the best place you ever traveled?
• Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
Fashion First
Fashion FirstReady to Wear (Simon & Schuster, $15.99) is the first title in the new series Sew Zoey. The middle schooler creates her own clothing designs and fashion blog on a quest to find the perfect outfit for the first day of school. Chapters begin with Zoey’s blog posts and black-and-white illustrations, which along with a few plot twists, make this a great read for grades 3-7.