Halloween is Saturday so click on our little zoo friends for all the activities and safe trick or treat options.  Also scroll down for a list of other weekend activities.  And next week when it is all over and you want the kids off their candy rush, consider taking the leftovers to Dr. Jackson's candy buy back.

Daylight Savings...
We get an extra hour of sleep this weekend! Yes, it is time to turn the clocks back 1 hour this Saturday night before you go to bed.

Nutrition...
How are your family's eating habits? With the holidays getting closer, this is a good time to get back on track with healthy eating and cooking dinners and sitting down as a family each night. If you are time starved, visit Fresh Prep Kitchens and order a complete meal.  The prices are so reasonable you probably cannot beat them.  Keep a lookout on our calendar for New Leaf classes on nutrition and wellness.

Schools are trying to do their part to encourage healthy eating and parents can do their part in by reading the food policies and respecting the rules on what is allowed to be sent in your child's lunches. Many schools have adopted a "no sugar policy." Parents should also make an effort to have lunch with their child at least one time during the school year so you can see what kids are being served at school. Click here for a printable SNACK & LUNCH IDEAS List >> to give you and your children fun and fresh ideas.

We wish each of you a safe and Happy Halloween, whether you are getting together with friends, trick or treating at one of the daytime events or heading out in your neighborhood.

Parmalee, Desiree, Vanessa and Gosia

Suki Wessling, suki@santacruzparent.com

Someone I know lamented her dear departed friend recently: "We used to talk all the time on the phone and see each other. But since she signed up for Facebook, all she does is post what she and her kids are doing all day long. When I call and leave . a message, she responds by Facebook!"

My son comes into the room when I'm typing and he always has to look at my screen. He comes by it honestly, and I won't say which parent he gets it from! At ten years old, he is an aspiring programmer with a great disdain of social networking sites.

Good thing he hates them, because we'd hit the roof if we found him using one! (That's not counting.... click to continue

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything.

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

Transport into parallel universes of the past and future! Connect with iconic Star Trek moments and characters and celebrate the creative spirit of science fiction that gave rise to many of today's modern marvels.

This exhibition will be spread across more than 15,000-square-feet and features all five television series and eleven films that span over 40 years.

STAR TREK: THE EXHIBITION - the world's most comprehensive collection of authentic Star Trek objects - features over 200 artifacts including:

* An authentic replica of the bridge from the U.S.S Enterprise NCC-1701 as featured in the original Star Trek television series
* Iconic gadgets from the Star Trek universe: a tricorder; a phaser, and a communicator - all from the original series. Devices that have inspired innovators of today.
* The actual shooting model for the Borg Cube, as seen on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Voyager and in the movie Star Trek: First Contact
* A chance to ride through a Star Trek adventure in a full-motion flight simulator (extra fee)
* And lots, lots more!

Monday - Wednesday: 9am-5pm; Thursday - Sunday: 9am-8pm;
December 24: 9am-5pm; Closed December 25

Special Extended Holiday Hours
Halloween, 10/31, 9am-10pm; Friday, 11/27 - 29: 9am-10pm; 12/ 19 - 1/3 9am-10pm
Last ticket sold 1 hour and 15 minutes before closing.

Star Trek IMAX
Hackworth Imax

Star Trek, which chronicles the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members, has been digitally re-mastered with crystal clear images, laser-aligned digital sound and a maximized field of view into the world's most immersive movie experience on a screen 80 feet wide. Only in the Bay Area... Only at The Tech... Limited Engagement.

The Tech Museum

Kristi Miller, Solutions in Parenting

We don't want to SCARE you this Halloween, but we can't pass up an opportunity to chat about a topic that causes seasonal upset for families, and potentially fatal results for the children of our nation: Candy.

Why are we so serious about such a short and sweet word like "Candy"? Because, we are entering into the "Official Candy Season". It starts with school candy bar (cookies, candy, bake sales, etc.) fundraisers, Halloween, Thanksgiving, special holiday celebrations, Valentine's Day and Easter baskets. Throw in the usual birthday parties, sports field snack-shacks, movie theaters, grocery stores, shopping malls, media, and grandma's house, and our children and teens are bombarded with candy and sugar-filled foods most days of the year!

The statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention are supporting the gravity of this bombardment. Our children are getting "fatter" and "fatter" each year. In 2007, according to the CDC, 16 percent (that's over 9 million!) of American 6-19 year olds are overweight or obese. This is a number that has tripled since 1980. Another 15 percent in the same age range are considered "at risk" for becoming obese. In other words, almost one-third of children today are at risk for becoming overweight or obese. Sixteen percent of them already are. (Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 1999-2002, Oct.6, 2004)

Combine those statistics with the fact that 79% of our high school students ate fruits and veggies less than five times per day, 34% drank at least one soda a day, and 65% did not meet the recommended levels of daily physical activity!   ... continue article which includes 5 Tips for Handling Candy Madness>>

Submitted by Leah Diamond, owner of Healthycookingwithkids.com

Perhaps one of the most challenging tasks for today's parents is the simple act of preparing and packing your child's school lunch. As parents, we want to prepare a lunch that is tasty, nutritious, and filling. A child's diet can have an incredible impact on their ability to focus and perform well in school. Yet as parents we are faced with the pressures of today's fast paced lifestyle. Face it-most parents are extremely busy, and despite our best intentions, we cannot escape the prepackaged chips, cookies, and other refined and processed foods that are on grocery shelves everywhere. Add to this mix the outside influences of peer pressure and junk food marketing, and it becomes clear why parents everywhere have thrown up their hands in frustration. The battle is far from over however, and the small steps and tips that follow in this article are excellent stepping stones to help you, your family, and your children make a transition towards a healthier "brown bagged" tomorrow.

Based on my experiences as a mom and as a teacher of kids cooking classes for the past 15 years, I have learned that it is very important to include your child in both the lunch-planning and lunch-making processes. Once a child is in the third or fourth grade, they can help to make at least part of their lunch. For instance, the night before they can help measure the ingredients for a recipe, mix something together, or even simply place their snacks into Ziploc bags or tupperware containers. I have seen many "picky eaters" eat more of their lunches when they were involved in the planning and the making of the meal. Including your child will allow them to feel important and valued, which can improve their self-esteem and confidence. Additionally, school lunch planning and making doubles as a fun bonding time for the whole family.

Organization and planning are crucial to making "brown bagging" a success for you and your family. Set aside a weekly time (Sundays work well) to sit down with your child before you do the week's grocery shopping. Together you can plan the upcoming week's lunch menus. As a parent, you can offer guidance about your child's suggestions, ensuring that the result is agreed-upon, nutritious menu options. If your child is younger and does not have concrete menu ideas, you can offer them three (or so) options and ask them what they would prefer.         ...continued>>>

Reusable Lunch Bag Available at NubiusOrganics.com