We LOVE to break out our collection of fall and Halloween reads at the start of October, with all the decorations! The season's play with us a bit in California, sunny and REALLY hot one day, then chilly, windy and cool the next. So we've learned to take advantage of the cooler days when they come, unexpectedly, to FEEL Autumn. Our family really loves this magical time of year with warm colors, hot drinks to savor, shorter days and holidays on the horizon-- the perfect time of year to cuddle up with books, discuss friendship, family and connection and build lasting memories of life.

Some things we do as a family to be present & share special seasonal moments:

• Just bringing the Halloween books out every year is fun for our family, because we put all the books and videos away when the season is over. This makes it special every year to bring them out again. Even for our older son, the books become more and more a warm memory reflection when we read them, than a "too young for me" lost opportunity to connect.

• Build your family library with 1 new, age appropriate festive story each year, making the current year special and relative to whatever your children are growing into for the holidays. This allows you to reflect on how your children are growing each year through stories... it's fun to see what they think about their favorite story from the year before!

• Set aside special family time together either daily or weekly to enjoy special festive activities in your community, reading and connecting time at home with a festive flare, and indulging in the current SENSORY excitement of the season. Introduce scents, activities and conversations that will embed long term memories of the love and connection of your family with your children. The little things sometimes make the biggest impact!