With all the different Halloween parties at school, for sports teams and at friends' homes, our kids are getting absolutely smothered in sweets this time of the year. Sometimes, I worry about the effects of all that sugar on my little guy's health, so I put together ideas for a candy-free Halloween. Don't worry, though. Just because you're losing the sweets doesn't mean you can't have fun!

Enter the Sugar Fairy
If your kids are still young enough, introduce them to the Sugar Fairy. When they come back with bags bulging with candy, have them pick out their 10-20 favorites. Then, leave the rest out for the "Sugar Fairy." She'll come in the night, take the sack of sweets and replace it with a gift. And if your kids are older, the gift/bribe will still work when the fairy ruse doesn't. Donate the leftovers bags of goodies to a local food pantry.

Cash for Candy
Many dentists run Halloween promotions where they'll pay your little ones for bringing in candy. Usually, they'll set a price per pound to promote a cavity-free holiday (We all know that the dentist's chair is way scarier than any ghost or ghoul, right?). Check in with your local office to see if they're running a candy exchange this year.

Passing Out Playthings
Help your whole neighborhood stay candy-free by replacing the usual basket o' treats with fun toy giveaways. Hand out mini-Play-Doh containers, temporary tattoos, glow sticks, or spooky wax fangs. Your local dollar store should have no end of cheap goodies to help break up the candy monopoly.

Host a Throwback Harvest Party
Way, way, way back in the day, we weren't buried under mountains of sugary temptations every holiday. Bring back some of the old-fashioned games with a fall Harvest Party—bob for apples, carve pumpkins and build a homemade "fright alley" that the neighborhood kids can run themselves. They'll be having so much fun that they won't notice there's not an ounce of sugar in sight!

Alt. Candy
The list of edible candy alternatives to pass out at your front door or bring to parties seems endless: raisin boxes, chip bags, trail mix, snack bars, roasted pumpkin seeds, and dried fruit should get you started. Start a new holiday tradition and get your kids involved in healthy baking and snack-making. They'll be proud to show off their own creations and have fun doing it, too!

If you have little ones with food allergies among your family or friends, Halloween can be a tough time for them since so many types of candy include traces of nuts or gluten. Check out this Care.com article on kids, food allergies and Halloween.

Are you trying to cut out the candy this Halloween? Or just trying to find a few alternatives to keep the kids (and yourself) healthy this fall? Let me know by joining the conversation with a comment below!

Last week, I read an article about four infants dying in China after drinking melamine-tainted, powdered milk. It was incredibly sad. Melamine is the same dangerous chemical that's been popping up in candy content worldwide.

With Halloween around the corner and our little guy full of excitement about trick or treating, should we be concerned about the candy that our kids get? Here are a few pointers to make sure our little ones stay happy and safe while they're out trick or treating.

Staying Melamine-Free
The media focused most of its attention regarding melamine-tainted candy to Cadbury's and their famous, yummy Crème Eggs. The good news about the health scandal is that the dangerous, China-made chocolates weren't exported to the United States, so all of those goodies are safe here. However, the FDA has found melamine in the lesser-known White Rabbit Candies made by QFCO—both in California and Connecticut. Watch out for that brand and don't let your kids eat it!

Dangers for the Little, Little Ones
Many treats can be choking hazards for your young ones. Watch out for oversized gum balls, lollipops, hard candy and, yes, popcorn. Stick to chocolates, cookies or even fruit smoothies and chocolate milk when it comes to Halloween treats for tots.

Also, did you know that peanut allergies have doubled over the past five years? If your toddler hasn't been tested yet, it's a good idea to take away all trick or treat loot containing nuts. Check the labels for all the candy you take in if your child is allergic—I was surprised to find out that even jelly beans can contain peanut flour! To help keep protests down, stock up on safe candy in advance and swap it with your child—piece for piece—and keep the peace! Check out this Care.com article about kids and food allergies during Halloween, too.

Just Toss It
This is basic advice, but it's always a good reminder to immediately throw away unwrapped candy or pieces that have ripped or opened packaging. Wash and slice any fruit, too, to protect your children from anything that might have been slipped inside. Use your judgment on homemade goodies, as well—if it's not from someone you know, throw it away.

Talk to Your Kids
Before you head out trick or treating, have a safety chat with your kids. Have them watch out for anything suspicious. Tell them not to eat anything until you've inspected it first, after you get home. Prepping your little ones to wait to eat their loot in advance will save you from any meltdowns while on the candy trail. Since they won't be sampling any of their goodies while collecting, bring some of their favorite treats along to munch.

Halloween is so much fun for the kids. They're so cute when they're all dressed up! What are some of the things you do to keep the little ones are safe this time of year? Share your thoughts in a comment below!

Also, check out prior posts on safe costumes for kids and Halloween pet safety.

Have a spook-tacular holiday!

Boo!

I'm happy to announce the 1st Annual Care.com Halloween Costume Contest! We're getting into the spooky spirit over here at Care HQ and wanted to share that fun with everyone.

I've got two Visa gift cards loaded with $100 sitting in front of me as I type. And I can't wait to give them away! One is for the best kids' costume and the other is for the best pets' costume. All you have to do is go to the Care.com Halloween Costume Contest group on Flickr, upload your photos by November 2, and we'll announce the winner in the next week's newsletter.

So snap some shots—if you haven't already—and upload them. We all can't wait to see how creative (and spooky) you can be!

Good luck… and Happy Halloween!

My mom called me the other day asking about Facebook. She'd heard about it from some of her friends. I think it's great that they all surf the web, email and watch videos on YouTube, but I was a little surprised when I found out that my own parents are actively part of the social networking phenomena. Soon, she'll be following me on Twitter!

Jerry Shereshewsky, CEO of Grandparents.com, chatted with us about why so much of the older generation is going digital. He wasn't at all surprised—in fact, he said the move made sense. After all, the first computer users were the business people who are today's boomers and grandparents.

"Those baby boomers (and older) who faced off with a desktop computer in the workplace in the late '80s, early '90s, and beyond will remain users for the rest of their lives," Jerry said.

Jerry told me about half of the boomers are now grandparents. Boomers make up a third of all internet users. Millions have started up profile pages on social networks like Facebook and MySpace, according to this study. Perhaps the biggest reasons they go online is to stay in touch with their kids and grandkids.

"As many as half of all grandparents have at least one grandchild living more than three hours distant," Jerry said. "That means infrequent visits. Hence, we’re seeing incredible adoption of video chat, digital exchange of pictures and videos, and even newer technologies coming soon."

Getting Grandma and Grandpa online can be a great thing—both for them and your kids! If your parents, like mine, live far away, the internet is a wonderful tool for chipping away at the distance. Photo-sharing sites like Flickr or Picasa are immensely popular ways to show mom and dad the latest snapshots. If you have a digital camera, you can easily have your little ones make short videos for relatives' birthdays and post them online. Some families even set up blogs so grandparents, grandkids, aunts, uncles, and cousins can all stay in touch.

Jerry told us a touching story of a woman who lived in New York, but had grandkids in Los Angeles and London. During the holidays, she "lit" Hanukkah candles via online video so she could pass the tradition down to her loved ones. Definitely something, I'm sure, that her grandkids will never forget.

If you find your own mom or dad going online more, show your support! You can create your own set of lifelong memories. No matter how far apart you are, it's a great way for the grandparents to get involved with the kids on a daily basis. And who knows, maybe you can write on your mom's Facebook wall the next time the little guy gets sick or you just need some special parenting advice?

Are your parents joining the digital revolution? How do you use the web to keep in touch? Join the conversation by adding a comment below and check out these nifty resources I found.

Mom’s list of fun sites:
Grandparents.com – currently offering an e-booklet of 100 free things to do with grandkids
The Flip Side – from the NY Times—what happens when your kids won't friend you?
AARP’s brand new, online community
reZOOM – news and resource site for seniors
Skype – free phone and video chat over the web

October 15 is Blog Action Day—an annual event where bloggers around the world join forces to write about a certain topic. This year's is poverty. I started thinking about how I could do my part and chose to write about something that often goes overlooked—the rising number of children among the homeless population here in America.

Here are the facts:

• Each year, 1.35 million children in the United States will experience a period homelessness (lived in a shelter, with friends and relatives or on the streets).
• Families with young children make up 38% of all requests for housing in shelters.
• Nearly two-thirds of shelters nationwide don’t have adequate facilities to accommodate families.
• Limitations on length of stays in state-run shelters mean families can be returned to the streets without having adequate housing lined up.
• Homelessness is on the rise, with the most recent research showing a 10 percent increase.

As the economic crisis runs through the system, many of us are beginning to feel things tighten up. But still, most would never dream of losing our homes. Sadly, this possibility has become a fact of life for many in our country.

Often, homelessness is more the result of the increasing cost of living and bad luck than poor financial decisions or personal problems. One in four households in the United States spend more than 30 percent of its income on housing, which crosses the threshold of what our government puts in the "affordable" range. According to this USA Today article, "Nearly a quarter of all Americans would be late on mortgages, rent or other bills if a single paycheck were delayed." When circumstances change suddenly—through layoffs or injury—people can find themselves without a roof over their heads.

"People are not able to make ends meet," says Meryl Sheriden, Chief Development Officer for Horizons for Homeless Children, "It's a combination of higher rents, cost of child care, higher gas and food prices and the loss of jobs."

Horizons for Homeless Children (HHC) is a Massachusetts-based organization that helps families break the cycle of homelessness. To combat the problem, HHC runs three Community Children's Centers—places where kids learn and play in classrooms while their parents take classes or job-hunt. They also touch the lives of 2,200 children each week through a Placespace Program, which allows children living in 148 different shelters to spend time in safe, stress-free environments.

"We also provide families with the support and resources they need to get back on their feet," says Sheriden. "And we advocate on the state and federal levels for homeless children and their families to encourage support."

While the homeless stats paint a bleak picture, organizations like HHC are helping improve the quality of life for affected children and the adult education programs are helping parents get back on their feet. Lobbying efforts have also helped sway the state and federal lawmakers to prioritize early education subsidies for homeless children, too, ensuring they don’t risk falling behind.

But in order to continue the work, charities and non-profits cannot be forgotten. When faced with situations like our current economic crisis, charitable giving can dry up. While taking care of our own families is a priority, please also consider the plight of those around you. Your pocketbook isn’t the only way you can help. In many cases, your time is equally as valuable—if not more so.

Some ways you can help out:

• Spread the word on homelessness to your circle of friends, family and elected officials.
• Volunteer your time at a shelter or soup kitchen.
• Organize blanket/clothing drives as winter approaches.
• If your kids who are involved in an organization like the Boy or Girl Scouts, have their club run a fundraiser drive. Or do it on your own, as a family.
• Contact your local program to see what their specific needs are and how you can help meet them.

Thank you for taking the time to participate with me in Blog Action Day. I hope you've been inspired to help take on poverty and homelessness here in the United States. If you have any suggestions for how to help out or would like to share your thoughts, post a comment below.

Links and resources:
Horizons for Homeless Children - main website
Donate now to HHC
National Center on Family Homelessness - resource site loaded with information
United Way – find regional homeless programs
Alpha Project - California-based homeless outreach organization
Coalition for the Homeless - New York-based homeless outreach organization
Moving Up USA - blog devoted to reducing poverty in America
Global Issues - resource site aimed at global poverty issues

"Mom, how much money is $700 billion?" the little guy asked the other day on the way to school. He'd overheard us talking about the bailout plan and, as usual, had a non-stop stream of questions. We took the opportunity to talk to him about the dangers of borrowing too much and ways to save money. Our little financial adviser even had some of his own suggestions, but we’re not going to start charging his big brother, Ryan, for rent anytime soon.

It's important to talk to your kids about everything that's going on, but discussing money is never simple. Here are a few ways to make the conversation easier:

Be Honest and Have an Open Exchange
It's okay to talk about the big stuff with your kids. When you do, be open and direct, responding to all of their questions. If they stump you, admit you don't know everything, but say, "Let's go try and find the answer together."

If things are starting to tighten up with your family budget, definitely share that with your little ones, as well. If your kids are like our boys, their hearing is like sonar and they'll find out anyway. You may as well be proactive.

Our kids want to be treated like adults—whether they’re eight or 18. Finances are definitely an adult-world issue, but you may be surprised by how much of this "big people stuff" they can handle. Make the talk an equal exchange, not a lecture, and listen to their ideas and suggestions.

Be Reassuring
Our children look to us to provide for their needs, both physical and emotional. If you're facing tough times, stress to your kids how much you love them and how your family will pull through together. Being a family and caring for each other transcends the checkbook—make sure they know that.

Seize the Day
This crisis actually holds potential for great learning opportunities. The next time a story about the economy comes on TV, point it out to the kids and have them watch with you. If you're balancing your checkbook, invite them to sit down and work the calculator. When out grocery shopping, have the little ones compare prices on generic and name-brand products, clip coupons, and spot sales. When we're eating out and our little guy asks for a soda, we'll ask him, "Would you rather have a soda or a dollar in your piggy bank?" You can easily use these daily activities as simple ways to teach your kids what it means to make smart, practical money decisions. It's a lesson that will stick if you’re engaging.

Make Sure Your Caregivers Are Aware of the Lessons
Talk to your babysitters and caregivers about the lessons you're teaching your kids. If you don't typically buy them whatever they point out at the grocery store, then you should certainly let your babysitter know that. Make sure that your kids are constantly seeing similar adult behavior from their role models—that means you and their nanny.

Check Out These Great Resources:

• Financial expert Dave Ramsey’s kids' site, "Junior’s Clubhouse" has a bunch of games and lessons designed to help our little ones learn about money.
• Kidnexions has free, kid-friendly finance software. Help your children track where their allowances are going and how to start saving.
• Our friends at FamilyEducation.com have put together a nice collection of articles on the little ones and finances for these difficult times.
• This Wall Street Journal article has great tips for offering an older child a loan (and making sure they pay it back!).
• Last, but not least, here’s a list of great money books for kids on Amazon.com.

What you teach your children about money will follow them for the rest of their lives. Financial responsibility is one of the most important things you can pass on to your children, so take the time to talk.

How do you handle "the money talk" in your own family? Share your thoughts and experiences on the financial crisis with the entire Care.com community by posting a comment!

For Part 1 of the cost-saving series, click here.

Lately, it's tough to turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper and not be faced with our nation's current financial woes. Many of us know families struggling to make ends meet, and caring for our children during these times can be an even greater challenge. We have heard from many of our members asking for advice about ways to save on child care and more.   

In the first of a two-post series on the blog, I've pulled together some cost-saving tips to address the current crisis without compromising on the quality of care for your loved ones.

Sharing Caregivers
Many of us are going through difficulties right now. You may want to approach another family about sharing caregivers—a great way to help each other out. Perhaps you need a sitter during the mornings but a neighbor needs afternoons? Splitting the price of a full day of care really brings down that hourly rate.

Start a Co-op
If you have kids or pets, many parents need help looking out for the little ones, so why not pool resources? Take turns watching each others' kids (whether they have two legs or four legs)! Set up a system where one day's worth of kid-watching for friends earns you the right to drop off your children at their house when needed. Rotate days, share the load, save dollars. And the kids benefit by having more regular play dates.

Post a Care Gig
If you are looking for ways to make extra cash and flexibility, post a job you're willing to do on Care.com. It can even be something you're already doing! Say you watch your kids on weekday afternoons…maybe others will pay for you to watch theirs, too? Or if you're around town running errands or doing holiday prep work, offer your services as a personal shopper. There are plenty of people willing to pay you to save the headache of doing it themselves.

Have fun, make money
Despite the crisis we are going through, try to find ways to teach your kids a lesson and have fun doing it. For example, take advantage of the few warm weekends left and organize a yard-sale to clean up your clutter. The kids will love getting organized for the sale and being in charge of the cash register.

Are you finding creative ways of dealing with the budget squeeze when it comes to child care? Please add a comment below to give others advice through these difficult times.

Please click here for Part 2 of the cost-saving series.