ML Interest Tag: scare

Netflix’s New Scare-o-Meter Helps You Pick Which Scary Movies to Watch

by Erica Loop

We get it—sometimes Halloween can be scary for little kids—but even the most hardened grownup might get a little spooked this time of year, too! With the Netflix scare factor matrix, now you can figure out just which movies you should watch through your fingers—or maybe skip altogether this year.

October brings streaming viewers a whole month of “Netflix and Chills.” Starting with The Shining on Oct. 1, Netflix has all kinds of Halloween treats for viewers. Your tweens and teens can enjoy the Netflix Original horror anthology series Creeped Out while your younger kiddo can catch lighter fare such as Super Monsters Save Halloween. But what about for mom and dad?

With different degrees of scaredy cats in mind, Netflix’s scare factor matrix breaks down their shows and movies into realistic, enchanting, terrifying and supernatural categories. The oh-so-helpful visual display plots the picks according to where they fit into the grand scheme of Halloween fright.

Still can’t decide? Netflix even has a handy dandy Scary Movie Decision Maker, too!

Thankfully, there are plenty of kid-friendly Halloween movies and shows on Netflix if these grownup titles are still too much for you!

—Erica Loop

All photos: Courtesy of Netflix

 

RELATED STORIES:

The Best Not-So-Scary Halloween Picks for Kids on Netflix

“Creeped Out” Is Netflix’s Spooky New Show for Big Kids, Just in Time for Halloween

This Is Everyone’s Favorite Netflix Show Right Now & It’s Perfect for Halloween

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6 Fool-Proof Hacks to Get Your Kids to Actually Clean Up After Themselves

By Eileen Manes

Oh, messes: supposedly they come in every shape and size, but at my house gigantic, mega and mega-gigantic seem most frequent. And the battles over picking them up? Those can be even bigger!

As parents, we remind, threaten, help and sometimes (only sometimes!) go ahead and clean it up ourselves. Then we go on to live another…mess.  But maybe all we need to inspire the kids to clean up their own mess is a new strategy.

Take a picture first.

Sometimes that “mess” is really a super-amazing-alien-zoo-campground-for-Wonder-Woman-and-guinea-pig-playground and the kids can’t possibly imagine DESTROYING it (aka cleaning it up). This is the perfect time to whip out your phone and take a picture! Once that creation has been documented for all posterity, they can safely disassemble it and put it away for later adventures.

Pick one thing to focus on at a time.

Kids are easily overwhelmed. Sure, they can make a mess that would scare a hazmat team in less than five minutes, but when they look back at the mess they’ve so lovingly created, it looks like it will take hours to clean. Turn the mess into an I Spy situation, where each child oversees collecting and putting away one type of item—say dollhouse toys or stuffed animals—at a time.

Baskets, boxes and bins, oh my!

Putting away a monumental mess is much easier if there are clear, designated spots for toys to begin with. While it might seem baskets or boxes of separated toys, like cars or critters, would only last five minutes in your house, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised. Messes may become smaller, as only the desired toys will be taken out. Toys that were forgotten and hidden under a pile will get more play. And, when you have a designated basket for all your superheroes or blocks, cleaning up by focusing on one toy type at a time (see above) is a breeze!

Store toys in “zones.”

Similarly to using baskets and bins, keep toys stored in zones. Don’t keep doll furniture on the opposite side of the room from the actual dollhouse, or play food away from the play kitchen. When you are looking for toy storage, invest in storage solutions that can be easily moved for play in another room or area, rolled to the side if it is in the way or wall mounted to keep the toys stored right where they are needed. When playtime is over, simply move the basket or cart back to its home.

Let a dresser work harder.

If you have a dresser anyway, why use the closet for clothes? You can add shelves, hanging bins and floor buckets to a closet for storing oodles of toys, neatly tucked away, while t-shirts, pants, shorts – even dresses and skirts – can be folded and stored in the dresser. (Always make sure your dresser is safely secured to a wall!)

Make it a game.

Play basketball with Fingerlings and princesses (whoever gets the most toys in the basket wins) and musical toys with Hatchimals (whoever is left holding the toy when the music stops has to put it away)! You can even make Alexa the musical timer. Or throw a clean-up dance party to see who has the best mess-busting moves. Blur the line between playtime and clean-up time and everyone wins.

Eileen Manes is a writer for kids, a five-going-on-fifteen-year-old wrangler, a reader, a Lego aficionado and a fuzzy puppy lover. If she's not reading, writing or revising, you'll find her procrastinating by redesigning her blog (or living room), hiking or Zumba-ing. But definitely not doing laundry. 

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Does Nutella Really Cause Cancer? Here’s What You Need To Know

by Red Tricycle

Photo: moogs via Flickr Creative Commons

A few scandalous headlines has parents everywhere tossing their Nutella in the trash. The delicious hazelnut spread has been at the center of controversy this week, with headlines reading “Study Warns Nutella Causes Cancer” and “Stores Remove Nutella From Shelves After Reports It Contains Carcinogens.” So are these articles true? Is Ferrero, the Italian company that makes Nutella, selling a product that can kill people?

The answer: No. The highly cited study was released by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) last May, and states that palm oil, which is used in many processed foods, can form a “potentially carcinogenic contaminant” when heated to over 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit). This contaminant can present a “potential health concern.”

They also mention this experiment was performed on rats, and there is “no scientific evidence” of a link between exposure to the contaminant and cancer in humans.

Ferrero tells Reuters that it refines palm oil at just under 200 degrees Celsius, using a low-pressure process that minimizes the carcinogenic contaminant levels.

While the press may have created an unnecessary health scare, there’s still controversy surrounding the use of palm oil in food. Palm oil plantations have been linked to deforestation, air pollution, and illegal labor practices. Although Ferrero says it sources palm oil from sustainable plantations, it has still come under criticism from environmentalists.

Do you eat Nutella? Let us know in the comments below!

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Britney Spears’ Sons Scared the Hoo-Ha Out Of Her & Her Reaction is Priceless

by Red Tricycle

Photo: BritneySpears via Instagram

If performing in front of thousands of people in an arena doesn’t scare pop singer Britney Spears, one thing will– her kids! On Wednesday, her sons, Sean Preston, 11, and Jayden James, 10, filmed themselves doing what boys do best: scaring the bejesus out of their mom. The two boys hid silently behind wall before screaming at Britney as she comes around the corner, sending her to the floor — literally. Watch her reaction to the prank in the Instagram video below (Tip: Have your sound on).

“My damn kids 😂,” the singer captioned the video clip.

Have your kids given you a good ol’ scare lately? Share the story in the comments below!

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11 Things You Say to Your Kids You’d NEVER Want Someone to Overhear

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Parents say the darndest things–especially when no one else is around. In public, our parenting can be filtered for social appropriateness. Think: “Of course you can’t have a slice of 10 layer chocolate cake right now–you haven’t eaten dinner.” But once at home our tunes might change (because we all need to occasionally indulge in 10 layer chocolate cake, right??). Here are some examples of how–once we are out of the public eye–we keep it real with the little people we love the most in this world.

photo:Crazybananas via flickr

1. “Yes, you can eat dessert for dinner.” Part two to that statement: “Just don’t tell mom.”

2. “I guess I know who loves me.” You swear you only say this when they refuse your hugs.

3. “If you want to live in a pig pen, be my guest.” Obviously it’s not okay, but you’ve tossed out enough plastic pudding cups and chunks of dried up play-doh to last a lifetime.

4. “The next time you misbehave, the people under the stairs are going to get you and take you away.” Yikes! When all else fails resort to scare tactics.

5. “I brought you into this world, and I can take you right back out!” Sounds like something your mom would say. Also…#scaretactics.

6. “I’m telling your dad.” Kids aren’t the only ones good at tattle telling.

7. “Because I said so.” Sometimes we just need to take the easy out.

8. “You don’t really need to learn to tie your shoes–that’s why they invented velcro and slip-ons.” You know it’s true.

9. “I could eat your face.” When your baby is just that cute, you can’t help yourself. Nom nom.

10. “I’ll tell grandma you’re asleep.” Because pulling teeth would be easier than getting your kid to talk on the phone right now.

11. “Get it together!” Whether they’re old enough to understand what that means or not, subconsciously, it’s a verbal declaration that’s as much for you as it is for them.

What do you say to your kids when no one else is listening? Tell us in the comments below.

–Ayren Jackson-Cannady

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Listeria Recall Expands to Nature Valley, Clif Bar, Kashi, and 100 Other Snacks

by Red Tricycle

A widening sunflower seed recall has expanded to over 100 snacks due to Listeria fears. Nature Valley is recalling it’s “Protein Chewy Bars” and “Simple” nut bars. The ones included in the recall are:

  • Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar – Roasted Peanut & Honey – 4 count, Package UPC: 000-16000-46475
  • Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar – Roasted Peanut & Honey – 16 count, Package UPC: 000-16000-41308
  • Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar – Almond, Cashew & Sea Salt – 4 count, Package UPC: 000-16000-46474
  • Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar-Almond, Cashew & Sea Salt – 25 count, Package UPC: 000-16000-41301
  • Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar – Honey, Peanut & Almond with Pumpkin Seeds – 5 count, Package UPC: 000-16000-47196
  • Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar-Peanut, Almond & Dark Chocolate – 5 count, Package UPC: 000-16000-45724

 

Clif Bar has also voluntarily recalled:

  • CLIF BAR® Nuts & Seeds energy bar all pack configurations with “best by” date ranges starting 08JUN16 through 21JAN17
  • CLIF BAR® Sierra Trail Mix energy bar all pack configurations with “best by” date ranges starting 05JUN16 through 24MAR17
  • CLIF® Mojo® Mountain Mix® trail mix bar all pack configurations with “best by” date ranges starting 16JUN16 through 02FEB17

Also, Kashi has voluntarily recalled some items due to possible Listeria contamination, including it’s Kashi® Trail Mix Chewy Granola Bars, Bear Naked® Soft Baked Granola Cinnamon + Sunflower Butter, and Kashi® GOLEAN® Honey Pecan Baklava Bars.

The other brands effected by the Listeria scare include HyVee, Atkins, Planters, and Spitz. To see the full list and to find more information, please visit the www.FDA.gov, or click here.

 

 

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10 Baby Skincare Products to Combat Winter Woes

by Kelly Aiglon

Cold, dry winter air takes a toll on skin, even smooth, soft baby skin. Protect, soothe and moisturize those dimpled cheeks, that pouty mouth, those chunky legs and chubby hands with a few great remedies for winter skin. Here are our favorites.

Erase Dry Patches and Chapped Cheeks

So you missed the boat on preventing chapped cheeks and your little one has a few dry patches on his arms and legs too. Use this rich, thick cream as a spot treatment before bed and your baby will wake up with smooth, healed skin in the morning thanks to super-ingredient Calendula extract which has been soothing dry skin for centuries. Don't let the price scare you, a little goes a long way.

Available at californiababy.com, $24.49.

 

What is your favorite lotion or potion for rough winter days? Shout about it in the Comments!

— Julie Seguss & Kelly Aiglon

 

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Take Me Out to the…Roller Derby!

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Looking to shake up your next fall outing? You are in luck! The District has one of the most infamous roller derby leagues around, The DC Roller Girls. Family-friendly and ready for action this will be one afternoon out that your kiddos won’t soon forget. 

Armor at the Armory
Right now the place to see the DC Roller Girls, and their travel team the DC All Stars, is the Armory (take the Stadium/Armory Metro off the blue and orange line). It’s the perfect place to catch all the blood, sweat, and tears mixed with the glitter, spandex and crashing fun in one place. There are a few things to know going into a roller derby in the District.

  1. There are four teams- The Majority Whips, the Cherry Blossom Bombshells, Scare Force One and the DC Demoncats. They are an outgoing, whiplash fast bunch!
  2. There are two teams playing each game. Let your little ones find the five players per team and pick out the two basic positions, the Jammer and Blockers. First kid to spot the star on the helmet has found the Jammer. Let them know that those are the only ones who can score a goal, but only if they can jam their way through everyone else.  

Take Note
Be on the lookout for the DC Roller Girls Question Girl. She’s the one sportin’ fairy wings and a helmet with a question mark on it. She’ll answer any tough questions the tykes dish out during the game. It’s not just fast action; the games are super-skate speed quick. Each game consists of two 15-minute bouts.

Gentle Jabs for Charity
Don’t worry about full face assaults in front of the kids. No punching is allowed. Just hip and shoulder blocks and plenty of high-fives. Proceeds from each game also go to various charities so pick an afternoon that might correspond with an organization that your family would like to support.

Let’s Go!
Check out the schedule and get in on the action with the D.C. Roller Girls! Snacks, drinks and face painting are all extra (and totally worth it to put a cap on the bout). On your mark, get set, skate!

Cost: $12/adults; $6/kids 12 and under
Parking: Garage across the street from Armory, $15
DC Armory
2001 E Capitol St., SE
Online: dcrollergirls.com

Have you ever checked out a D.C. Roller Girls match? Tell us about it in the comments section. 

—Victoria Mason

Photos courtesy of D.C. Roller Girls via Facebook

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That’s The Spirit! Atlanta Area Ghost Tours

by Phebe Wahl

If you are looking to scare up some spooky, family fun—a guided ghost tour may be just the thing to get in the spirit of the season. Your child will get a kick of out creepy tales of Civil War ghosts, haunted mansions, flickering lights and other paranormal tales. Be sure to make note of your child’s individual scare factor and age recommendations, though, or else the experience may come back to haunt you. Just notify your guide you have little goblins in tow and they will be happy to dial down the fear factor to ensure some freaky fun for the whole family.

Roswell Ghost Tours
Now in its 15th year, Roswell Ghost Tours offers a spine-chilling nighttime tour of historic downtown Roswell. Founded by paranormal investigators, Diana and Joe Avena, the intent of these tours is not to scare, but rather inform and educate. If you get spooked—simply due to the fact that you are walking through a cemetery and by the “creepy house” where the town executioner once lived—that’s understandable. The mile-long walking tour lasts about 2 ½ hours and includes current tales of paranormal activities that these investigators and others have personally documented. Stories of Civil War soldiers and millworkers looking to reconnect with loved ones from beyond the grave are presented alongside the history of this antebellum town.

Details: Tours meet in the big white gazebo in the Roswell Town Square directly across the street from the Roswell Visitor’s Center (617 Atlanta St.), roswellghosttour.com

Cost: $15 adults, $10 children

When to Go:  Available year round, check website for times. Reservations required.

Recommended Age:  Roswell Ghost Tours are open to all ages. When younger children are on the tour, their highly trained tour guides leave out gory details and give families the option to wait out parts of the tour that may be particularly scary for little ones.

Especially Cool:  The founders have been featured on SciFi Network’s “Ghost Hunters.” They also regularly offer tours featuring other well-known paranormal experts.

Decatur Ghost Tours
One of the newer ghost tour operations in town, these tours are led by a psychic medium, Boo Newell. The walking tour covers about a mile and lasts two hours. Along the way, you’ll hear tales of Civil War ghosts, a grieving mother, and a lovelorn woman searching for her lost love. The tour meets on the Decatur square and includes a walk through the old Decatur Cemetery. According to Boo, when children are on the tour, ghost children tend to follow along.

Details: Tours meet at the bandstand behind The Old Courthouse (101 East Court Sq.), 404-296-7771, www.decaturghosttour.com

Cost: $15 adults, $12 children (10 and under)

When to Go:  Weekends year-round at 7:30 p.m., additional dates in October. Reservations required.

Recommended Age:  Families regularly take the tours. There’s nothing gory or extremely violent discussed, just lots of ghost talk of course.

Especially Cool:  If you live intown, it’s close by and offers a look into the history and “darkside” of Decatur.

Lawrenceville Ghost Tours
Definitely the most “theatrical” ghost tour in town; these popular tours are led by costumed storytellers from Aurora Theatre. On the 90-minute adventure through Downtown Lawrenceville your guide will take you into the old jail, show you where the corpses flew down Honest Alley and tell you other chilling tales that will send a shiver down your spine. Sometimes you can even catch the Lawrenceville Ghost Trolley – offered on special dates. It takes you to the Lawrenceville Female Seminary where ghost girls still roam the halls.

Details: Aurora Theater, 128 East Pike St., 678-226-6222, www.scarystroll.com

Cost: $12 adults, $9 children; $25 for Trolley

When to Go:  Weekends year-round, everyday in October. Reservations recommended. Ghost Trolley is available on October 25 only.

Recommended Age:  Since the tour is focused on dramatic storytelling and not bloody effects or gory details, it’s popular with both children and adults.

Especially Cool:  Experienced local actors like “Madame Macabre” and “Miss Hannah Belle Lecter” lead tours in character – mixing a little funny in with the scary.

Marietta Ghost Tours
Marietta Ghost Tours offer two spooky options for families: the original Haunted Walking Tour and the “Scary-etta” Haunted Trolley Tour. Both are 90 minutes and focus on ghost stories in and around the historic Marietta square – which played a big role in the Civil War. As you can imagine, plenty of Civil War ghost stories abound. Lit by flickering lantern light, the one mile walking tour is led by a costumed storyteller who will regale you with tales of the “Lady in Black,” weeping statues and other scary apparitions. If that isn’t spooky enough, the trolley tour travels into two of the city’s cemeteries.

Details: 131 Church St., 770-425-5755, ghostsofmarietta.com

Cost: $17 adults, $12 children (Walking Tour); $27 Adults, $14 Children (Trolley Tour)

When to Go:  Year-round with walking tours at 7:30 p.m. and “Scaryetta” trolley tours at 7 and 9 p.m. Dates and times vary with season. Reservations required. Buy tickets online.

Recommended Age:  Both are suitable for families—no age recommendations. Just know your child’s “scare factor.”

Especially Cool:  The Haunted Trolley may be just the thing for younger children who are interested in ghost tales but might get too tired or too spooked on foot.

Fox Theatre Ghost Tours
Some folks say that the Fox Theatre, Atlanta’s iconic old movie palace and performance venue, is hauntingly beautiful. Some simply say it is haunted. For the first time ever, go behind the scenes on an hour-long guided ghost tour of the Fox. You’ll visit the sub-basement, boiler room, a backstage dressing room and of course, the stage – all places where restless spirits are said to roam. The spook factor is enhanced with a little pumped in fog. However, the tour focuses on the stories of real life people and strange apparitions that some have witnessed when the lights dim at the Fabulous Fox.

Cost: $30

When to Go:  October 11th-16th with time slots available from 7 to 10 p.m. See website for available times and to purchase tickets.

Recommended Age:  The tour is recommended for children 10 and over, but parents can use their discretion. For safety reasons, children under age 6 are not permitted.

Especially Cool:  It’s behind-the-scenes. At night. At the Fox. Need we say more?

What spooky things will you do this season? Tell us below!

—Rachel Quartarone and Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of Roswell Ghost Tour via Facebook, Decatur Ghost Tours via Facebook, Ghosts of Marietta via Facebook, The Fox Theater via Facebook 

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If The Shoe Fits: Local Shoe Shops for the Small Set

by Phebe Wahl

Keeping your kids well-heeled can keep you on your toes. When their shoes are suddenly snug seemingly overnight, where do you go when they need a pair pronto? Try one of these local, kiddie shoe shops on for size. We fell head over heels for their attentive service and dedication to finding the perfect fit—something sure to get your shopping started on the right foot.

Abbadabba’s
With locations in East Cobb, Little Five Points, Kennesaw and Buckhead—this funky foot shop stocks sizes to fit both kids and adults. Look for hip and hot brands like Tom’s, Converse, Merrell, Minnetonka and UGG, as well as more “off the wall” selections like limited edition Vans.

Address: Click here to find the location nearest you. coolshoes.com

Buckles
Expect expert service from this small, locally owned shop. You child will first be measured using that old-school-metal-shoe-measuring-thingie, and then the helpful staff can help find a pair to fit for their foot—and your budget. This Buckhead boutique specializes in European shoes (some of which will set you back a pretty penny), but also stocks kiddie classics like Naturino, Pediped, Keds, and Sun Sea’s.

Address: 3145 Peachtree Rd. NE, Ste. 193
Phone: 404-365-0746


Sprong
Another popular pit stop for Buckhead Bettys, and their wee ones, is Sprong. They stock high-end brands like Frye, Ugg, Morgan & Milo and Bloch’s beautiful ballet flats. Don’t miss fun extras like Emi-Jay hair bands or Piggy Paint nail polish.

Address: 375 Pharr Rd. NE, Ste. 502
Phone: 404-846-8506

Coggins Shoes for Kids
Don’t let the size of Coggins’ 4,500 square foot store scare you. This locally owned children’s shoe shop has been fitting feet since 1925, and they take the time to help you find the right pair. With a selection of over 2,100 pairs of sale shoes everyday, you can shop smart for brands like New Balance, Striderite, Keds, Teva, and Crocs—without having to foot a big bill.

Address: 2207 Roswell Rd., Marietta
Phone: 770-973-5335

Where do you shop for shoes for your kids? Share the secrets of your soles with us below!

—Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of Yelp, Sprong, Abbadabba’s, and Coggins Shoes for Kids via Facebook

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