Many people have plants that could be very dangerous if kids or pets were to eat them. (Particularly this time of year) Now is a great time to teach children what the names of those plants are. Encourage children to ask questions.

• Dieffenbachia ---- all parts of this plant can make you extremely sick
  
  
• Jerusalem Cherry ---- all parts of this plant can make you extremely sick
  
  
• Mistletoe---- the berries of this plant can make you extremely sick
  
  
• Poinsettia ---- the sap of this plant can make you extremely sick
  
  
• Oleander ---- the leaves, twigs and flowers of this plant can make you extremely sick

CHRISTMAS ORANGE


1. Use a nail to puncture holes around an orange. Push one clove into each hole.
   
   
2. After you have several cloves in the orange, roll it in this spice mixture. (ground cloves, cinnamon, cornstarch).
   
   
3. Wrap orange in a sheet of bounce fabric softner and allow it to dry in a cool area for a week.
   
   
4. After it is dry, throw away the sheet of bounce and tie it with a ribbon, leaving enough ribbon so that you can hang it from your tree.

CHRISTMAS TREATS:


1. Enjoy a Christmas ice cream sundae for a fun holiday treat. Crush a candy cane and sprinkle the crumbs on top.
   
   
2. Crush a candy cane and mix some of it in with hot apple cider. Use a whole candy cane as a stir stick.

MAKE A MINIATURE CHRISTMAS TREE:


1. Spray paint a large pine cone gold or green.
   
   
2. Place it in a small clay flower pot.
   
   
3. Decorate both the pine cone (tree) and pot with paint, glitter and ribbons for some creative creations.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR CHILDREN TO MAKE:


1. Create a mini garden. Collect some twigs to make trees, moss for a lawn, and stones. Arrange them in a foil pie plate. Use plasticine to hold them in place. Add some dried flowers or petals from potpourri that you may have around the house. Place some toy plastic figurines in your garden to bring it to life.
   
   
2. Place glue on tips of a pine cone and sprinkle with glitter. These make lovely snow covered tree decorations.
   
   
3. Put a mason jar into a small flowerpot and fill it with potpourri. Place a candle in the center of the jar and tie a holiday ribbon around the neck. Attach some cinnamon sticks to the ribbon.