Today Date Triggered Content

Do you have some pumpkin left over from carving and aren’t quite sure what to do with it? Try this tasty houmous recipe, perfect for dunking peppers and warm, soft pitta bread. This is also great for a Halloween party snack or treat! If you don’t have pumpkin, you could replace it with butternut squash. 

Halloween is a scary time of year, not just because of the witches and ghosts roaming around trick-or-treating!  

Did you know that Halloween puts a massive strain on the environment? A recent survey of retailers found that almost 2,000 tonnes of waste is created when it comes to Halloween costumes and other products.   

I have a confession to make: I find Halloween all a bit much. There are parts of it I really enjoy, but the whole thing has grown to such an extent that I now shudder when it creeps up on my already scarily long to-do list.  

Take pumpkin-carving. In recent years it has become the October equivalent of Elf on the Shelf – 25% about the kids and 75% about parents showing off creative skills that have been simmering beneath the surface since that secondary school teacher gave them a D- for their art project. For me, that means 25% fun and 75% pressure to do something that doesn’t let the neighbourhood down.  

The true horror of Halloween has nothing to do with zombies, werewolves, witches or tombstones – it’s the waste. 

A survey of 19 retailers carried out by the Fairyland Trust with environmental charity Hubbub in 2019 found that, in the UK alone, Halloween celebrations create more than 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste just from clothing and costumes.^[1]

Today is Diwali! Diwali is a five-day festival of light celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains all over the world, and usually takes place in late October or early November.  

Diwali got its name from the Sanskrit word ‘deepavali’, which translates to ‘row of lighted lamps’. Over Diwali, many people light small oil lamps, called diyas.  

As the weather changes, you might have noticed that more of the parks that you visit and the paths that you walk are muddy. Muddy play may not be your cup of tea – but there are many benefits and fun things that you can do with your child! 

Mud is something that your child can really get creative with, whether it is digging and making muddy birthday cakes, or even stamping and making funny footprints. Armed with a waterproof jacket and a pair of sturdy wellies, your child can really learn a lot and have endless fun in the mud.  

This week is recycling week, with this year’s ‘Let’s Get Real’ theme focusing on improving recycling knowledge, as well as challenging misconceptions and myths around recycling.  

When it comes to play, household objects are some of the best toys that your child can use to explore and make new discoveries. Here are some of our favourites. 

October is Black History Month. Black History Month was first launched in the 1980s, to help local communities challenge and understand racism in the country, and the consequences that it can have.  

This is a time when people learn about, and celebrate Black British pioneers, such as Diane Abbott, who was the first black woman elected to parliament, Sir Trevor McDonald, who was the first black news anchor in the country, and Malorie Blackman, who became the first black Children’s Laureate in 2013.  

You may have heard the Danish refer to the warm, comfortable and cosy feeling as ‘hygge’ (pronounced hoo-gah). As the nights are drawing in and we're feeling a bit of a chill in the air, we thought we'd share some ideas to help you embrace the dark nights this autumn.  

Apples are at their best right now and because of this are usually cheapest in the shops, or being given away by anyone who has an apple tree. It is also the perfect pudding to make you feel autumnal.