Why Dress Up Games are Important in Building Children's Life Skills?

Dress up games helps children in more ways than you might think.

Improving vocabulary
Children who play imaginary dress up games tend to have noticeably better vocabularies.

Taking control
Dress up games lets your children be anyone they want, practice things they've learned, and make situations turn out the way they want.

Learning social rules
Sometimes it's hard for children to know what to do in a social situation. When children test out different pretend scenarios during their dress up games, they're learning complex, real-world rules about social interaction.

Solving problems
Dreaming up imaginary situations for their dress up games teaches children to think creatively in real life. A study at Case Western Reserve University found that young children who are imaginative tend to remain so as they get older and to become better problem solvers.

Find out more about How to Raise an Imaginative Child from ParentCenter.

Don't Forget: Christmas is the perfect time to start building your child's imagination trunk and costume collection.

Give the Gift of Imagination: Kids Dress Up Costumes

Top 10 Dress Up Costumes for Children
1. 3in 1 Dress Up For Girls: Princess, Fairy & Zarina
2. 3 in 1 Dress Up For Boys: Cowboy, Indian, Peter Pan
3. Snow Queen Costume
4. Captain Jack Sparrow Dead Man's Chest Costume
5. Princess Cinderella Toddler Size Costume
6. Batman Begins Deluxe Costume
7. Princess Leia Costume
8. Radiant Fairy Costume
9. Superman Returns Deluxe Muscle Chest Costume
10. Deluxe Supergirl Costume

Monsters Come Out to Sing Christmas Comedy Songs

A Merry Monster Christmas CD has fun parodies of Christmas carols, making it a great Christmas CD for kids.

Frankenstein, Count Dracula and the Wolfman have come together to sing some Christmas comedy songs to celebrate the holidays. A Merry Monster Christmas CD has silly parodies of popular Christmas carols, fun holiday skits and several one liners that kids of all ages can appreciate.

“A Merry Monster Christmas CD is truly a unique Christmas CD for kids,” states Shari McConahay, Vice President of Marketing for leading holiday costume website Santa Suits.com, “It takes the best of Halloween and gives it a new holiday twist that kids can appreciate.”

A Merry Monster Christmas CD uses the amazing talents of American voice actor, Len Maxwell, who is best known for voicing the character of Nick Diamond on MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch from 1998 to 2002. Originally released in 1964, A Merry Monster Christmas CD has been entertaining families for decades. Recently, in 2005, Len Maxwell returned to the studio to put a modern update on this classic Christmas CD for kids.

The Christmas CD for kids that you don’t want to go without, A Merry Monster Christmas CD is available for $14.95 at Santa Suits.com.

All I want for Christmas is....

When I was a little girl I LOVED playing dress up. I'd be a princess, a cowgirl, a doctor and my favorite Princess Leia.

For many children, playing dress up is a favorite kind of pretending. By interacting with each other in "make believe" conversations, it helps them develop their language arts skills and helps them express their feelings in a positive way. To help encourage this kind of pretend play, dress-up costumes are the perfect holiday gift for all of the good little girls and boys on your list.

Most popular this year for girls and boys are anything pirates. Other options include the always popular princesses, from Snow White to Cinderella, for girls and super heros - Superman, Batman, Spiderman - for boys. Other cool costumes include fairies, Barbie, rock stars and monsters.

Check them all out at Annies Costumes.

Last Day for Halloween Costume Sale

Today, November 9th, is the last day for After Halloween Costume Sale at Annie's Costumes. All order over $50 will get 15% off, using coupon code "AFTER".

Remember, Halloween isn't the only time that kids like to dress up. There are plenty of fun costume ideas to do all year round. Dress up and put on a play from Fabulously Funny Fairy Tale Plays, invite the your daughter's friends over and have them be a Princess for the Day, or bring to life one of your child's favorite stories. All you need is a little imagination and a few kids costumes then you're good to go.

Halloween Hangover

"Parents need to watch the amount [of candy] their kids are eating" - School Nurse Beth Dittman at Pirrung Elementary School in Mesquite, TX

Halloween has come and passed, leaving in it's wake the victorous capture of goodies and treats in little kids' bags. But before you let your kid indulge in a gluttony of candy, remember, too much of a 'good' thing can be bad.

Nutritionists say that gorging on Halloween candy may cause blood sugar levels to spike and drop. Dr. Greene's article, "The Relationship Between Sugar and Behavior in Children" notes that highly refined sugars and carbohydrates, which are found in most Halloween candy, enter the bloodstream quickly, produce more rapid fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Now for most kids, this can create hyperactivity during that sudden burst of adrenaline. Once the Halloween candy has worked its way out of your child's system, tummy aches and crankiness are left behind.

Is there a way to beat the Halloween Hangover? You bet. Spread out your child's consumption of their Halloween candy, and don't give it to them on an empty stomach. Make sure your child has a breakfast which contains fiber (oatmeal, shredded wheat, berries, bananas, whole-grain pancakes, etc.), and add delicious fiber-containing treats (whole-grain breads, peaches, grapes, a myriad of other fresh fruits, etc.) to their lunch box. Fiber is nature's natural remedy to keeping a steady level of adrenaline.

Time to Get Ready for Thanksgiving, Christmas Costumes and Santa Suits!

Happy Halloween!




The big day is here! The Extreme Halloween Family wishes everyone a happy, healthy and safe Halloween! And most of all - Have Fun!

Now it is time to start getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We carry a full line of costumes for Thanksgiving, Turkey mascots, pilgrims for kids and adults and Native American Indians too! We also have a whole website: www.santasuits.com dedicated to Christmas Costumes, Santa Suits, Costumes for Mrs. Claus, Santa's Helpers, Reindeer, Snowmen, Elves, you name it! We laso carry a full ine of biblical character costumes perfect for passion plays and church reinactments.

Halloween by the Numbers

Reprinted from the Look @ OKC from Oklahoma City.

790.7 million Number of pounds of pumkin in used by Americans each year in Jack O' Lantern and pies.

106 million Number of potential stops for "trick-or-treaters" i.e. housing

93 percent The estimated number of children who plan to go trick-or-treating.

80 percent The estimated number of adults who plan to give out candy.

41 million The estimated number of potential "trick-or-treaters" 5 to 14 years old.

What Do Halloween Costumes Mean About You?

Here is something fun for Halloween! A fun Article I found at Love on AOL

Exposed: What His Halloween Costume Could Mean
By Margot Carmichael LesterCourtesy of Match.com's Happen magazine

Dates & Hidden Meanings. Know what your date is really saying by the date venue he/she chooses. Know the message up front and get some tips to make it interesting -- just in case your date isn't.

Here's a look at 10 popular Halloween costumes and what they may tell you about your man:

No.1 Peter Pan Upside: Brings out the kid in you, doesn't take himself too seriously Downside: Won't grow up And: May look better in tights than you do

No. 2 Super Hero Upside: Strong, willing to put his life on the line for you Downside: Spends too much time on other things and not enough on you And: A tragic flaw or Achille's heel -- has a secret identity or may think your family's Kryptonite

No. 3 Casper or Cousin It Upside: Appreciates the value of simple elegance Downside: Needs something to hide behind, is afraid of letting you see him for who he is And: Is visible only at night

No. 4 The Devil Upside: Fulfills your naughtiness quotient, good libido Downside: Loose morals, no ethics And: Eternal damnation

No. 5 Frankenstein's Monster Upside: Tall and dark Downside: Not so handsome And: Townfolk with torches always ruin quiet evenings alone

No. 6 Caveman Upside: Looks hot in a loin cloth, a good provider Downside: Evolutionarily challenged, sexist And: Drags you home by your hair

No. 7 Clown Upside: Keeps you laughing Downside: Won't take anything seriously And: Has fun and interesting friends

No. 8 Count Dracula Upside: Loves the nightlife Downside: Being with him sucks And: No mirrors

No. 9 Houdini Upside: Being with him is magic Downside: Knows how to make himself disappear And: Never around when you need him

No. 10 Elvis Upside: Serenades you regularly Downside: Insists on fried banana sandwiches for every meal But: Knows how to use those hips

Last Minute Hankering for Halloween Treats?

Never Fear!
Rachael Ray to the rescue with her 30 Minute Meals Halloween Treats!

Did you wait to the last minute to plan your Halloween party menu? Or maybe you decided on a last minute Halloween get together. Well you still have time to whip up some fabulous Halloween treats with Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals recipes. You can wow your Halloween dinner guests with a main course of Pumpkin-Peanut Curry Noodles with Five-Spice Seared Scallops and Shrimp (Pictured above.) Or tingle their taste buds with her "Quicker Treats": Hot N Sweet Kettle Corn, Salsa Cheddar Dip with Witches Hats, and Devilish Sloppy Chicken Mini Sammies.

Food Inspired Costumes at FoodTV.com

The creative minds over at www.foodtv.com have cooked up some great foodie costume ideas. You can see their list of foodie costumes and what you will need for your yummy Halloween getup. Some of their ideas may already be in your closet and your kitchen, so if you don't have a costume yet, check out their ideas for "The Food Critic", The Wine Snob" and "The Iron Chef Chairman". You can also check out a slide show of pics sent in from Food Network fans of their own food costume creations. My personal favorite is this cute little guy who has dressed up as Iron Chef Bobby Flay, he's a spitting image and it appears he has the attitude to boot!

Halloween Safety for Kids

Halloween is almost here and for many kids that means trick-or-treating in their local neighborhoods. As your little ghoul or witch starts talking about going out with their friends, now is a good time to remind them about Halloween safety. Here are some basic tips for staying scary, but safe:

• Use the Parent/Buddy System: Children should be always accompanied by an adult or a buddy (for teens).
• Stay in Well Lighted Areas - Don't go down alleyways or cut across yards.
• Be Wary of Strangers: Trick-or-Treat at houses where you know your neighbors. Don't accept rides or go into houses of strangers.
• Bring Halloween Safety Gear - Use flightlights, reflective tape or glow stick after dark in order to be more visible to cars.

Staying safe sounds pretty easy, right? Well test your Halloween safety skills on The Offical Halloween Safety Game. This game first runs through the basic Dos and Don'ts of Halloween Safety and then tests your child's knowledge, by asking them which choice is the safest thing to do. This is a great test run to see if your trick-or-treater knows their Halloween safety rules.

Support Dog the Bounty Hunter

Normally, I would not post about political topics on a costume blog, but I just have to voice my opinion and support Duane "Dog" Chapman - The Bounty Hunter. This whole Mexican extradition thing is just plain ridiculous. Leave "The Dog" alone and let him do his job. He is not a criminal, he catches them. You can show your support for Dog the Bounty Hunter by being him this Halloween - AnniesCostumes.com carries the official Dog the Bounty Hunter Costume and a matching costume for Beth, Dog's wife available in standard and plus size!

Last Minute Shipping Still Available

As Halloween nears, the shipping options will most likely be changing daily at AnniesCostumes.com. As of today, you can have your order delivered by Oct 27th at 8pm for $30 and up depending on the size of your order. Delivery by October 30th at 8pm is $20 and up and delivery by Halloween night is $15.00. Next business day is also available for $50.00 on all orders placed by 2pm EST. Don't delay as your shipping options are running out and merchandise might be selling out too. You can keep up to date with the latest shipping options on our order information page: www.anniescostumes.com/order.htm. Order your Halloween costumes now!!!

We Are Working Hard to Get Your Costumes to You!

Here at Extreme Halloween, Inc. in Dania Beach, FL, we are working very hard - into the wee hours of the night - to make sure that your costume orders are packed up and shipped out in time for your big Halloween day. Many people need their costume for parties this weekend and we are offering a shippingmethod called delivery by Oct 27th, which will get your package to you by 8pm on Friday night. This will cost $15.00 and up depending on the size of your order. We are also offering delivery by Halloween night, called "Delivery by Oct 31st". This shipping method is $10.00 and up depending on the size of your order. These prices won't last, so act fast! We are also offering express shipping option for those of you who need it sooner. These shiping prices are available for a limited time so act now! You can even have your costume the next business day if you place your order by 2pm EST! There are still plenty of costumes in stock and more costumes are still arriving daily. Check out our order information page for more details. Also, FYI, we have an online inventory system, so if you can add an item to our online shopping cart, it's in stock and ready to go. If we are out, if will let you know!

Recipes, Menus & Party Ideas from Food Network

Cast a Spell with Frighteningly Good Recipes, Menus and Party Ideas from Food Network

As usual, The Food Network has lined up recipes, videos and ideas to help you prepare for your Halloween party. Visit their website and you will find all types of treats like recipes for both sweet and savory dishes, fun Halloween activities for kids, and even food inspired costume ideas! Some of the mouth watering offerings include 'deviled short ribs', 'witches fingers' and 'screaming spice cookies'. YUM!

7 Days Left Till Halloween!

With Halloween a week away, make sure to make all of your decorations are in order. Its time to start thinking about your carving your Jack- O - Lantern out of a pumpkin. At wwwCarvingPumpkins.com, the Pumpkin Wizard has pumpkin carving tips and patterns available. Also, be sure to check out www.jack-o-lantern.com for some fabulous ideas as well as information on the history of pumpkin carving, tips, tricks and more! Put your pumpkin thinking cap on and don't forget to save the seeds for baking! They make an awesome snack!

Buy Your Online Halloween Costume Before It's Too Late

Leading online Halloween costume store offers some tips on buying last minute Halloween costumes.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) Oct. 23, 2006 -- October 31st is just around the corner, and for those of you looking for online Halloween costumes, your time is almost up. Annie's Costumes, one of the leading online Halloween costume stores, offers some tips on getting your last minute Halloween costumes before it's too late.

"First, make sure when you order your costume that it's from one of the online Halloween costume stores that keeps a real time inventory," suggests Shari McConahay, Vice President of Marketing for leading Halloween costume website http://www.AnniesCostumes.com, "It's important to know if they keep their inventory up-to date, otherwise, you might end up ordering an online Halloween costume that isn't in stock. Here at Annie's Costumes, our online inventory manager informs shoppers immediately if the online Halloween costume they're interested in is out of stock and thousands of costumes are still available."

Another factor that shoppers need to keep in mind about buying last minute Halloween costumes online is shipping. Your online Halloween costume does you no good if it doesn't get to your house in time for Halloween. Read the shipping details and shipping options carefully. If you want your costume for a party on Friday, October 27th, the last day to place your order would be next day delivery on Thursday, October 26th. For delivery by Halloween night, you will need to order next day delivery on October 30th. Check the website for cut off times and details. Other shipping options are also available and will be updated daily at www.anniescostumes.com/order.htm

"So don't delay, order your last minute Halloween costumes from Annie's Costumes," urges McConahay, "Because if you wait too long, you might miss out on the online Halloween costume of your choice."

Top 10 Halloween Pop Songs

A soundtrack of spooky songs and eerie sound effects is a vital part of any great Halloween party. While there are many Halloween pop songs made, there are a few that have risen above and ghouled their way to the top of the crypt charts. Here is the list of the best pop Halloween songs ever made:

1. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Nightmare On My Street (1988)
2. Hooters - All You Zombies (1985)
3. Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
4. Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells Pt. 1 (Theme From 'The Exorcist') (1973)
5. 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' Soundtrack - The Time Warp (1975)
6. Specials - Ghost Town (1981)
7. Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hell (1997)
8. Talking Heads - Psycho Killer (1977)
9. The Who - Boris the Spider (1966)
10. White Zombie - I'm Your Boogieman (1996)

If you're looking to add a few Halloween CDs to your collection, check out: Halloween Party Hits CD which sells for $12.95 and contains such great Halloween songs like Ghostbusters, Werewolves of London, Monster Mash, Superstition, Brick House, Super Freak, She's a Bad Mama Jamma, Thriller , I Put a Spell On You and many many more. And if you're looking for something more classic, check out the Halloween Music from the Crypt CD which also sells for $12.95 and contains great spooky songs like Overture from Phantom of the Opera Twilight Zone Theme, Toccata & Fugue in D minor, and Funeral March of a Marionette.

Emeril's Kicked Up Halloween Guide!

Whether you are having a Halloween Party or just want to get into the Halloween spirit this month, visit Emeril's website and check out his Kicked Up Halloween Guide. There you will find mouth watering recipes for tasty treats like: EMERIL'S KICKED UP HALLOWEEN CARAMEL APPLES, PEANUT BUTTER JACK O'LANTERNS, and SPIDER COOKIES to name a few. Need some sustenance? Afterall, we can't live on sweets and treats, can we? Well Emeril has that figured out too: VAMPIRE CHICKEN WITH "BLOOD" BRAISE , SEA CREATURE SOUP WITH SLIME AIOLI, and wash it all down with some HOT APPLE CIDER WITH RUM. Emeril and Extreme Halloween want you to remember to have a SAFE and HAPPY Halloween!