Christmas

Holiday Activities

We Can Include Kids in Christmas Giving

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These words of a 5-year old to his mom remind us about the reason for the season, “Because Christmas isn’t just about getting toys, right Mom? It’s about doing good deeds and helping people.” This is a special time of year for all of us, and these early years of children’s development are special  for learning that will last a lifetime. While my blog focuses on supporting kids for kindergarten readiness, here’s another reminder: Educating the mind, without educating the heart is no education at all. (Aristotle) Right now, is an opportunity for supporting learning for the heart.

ideas for giving with kidsYoung children can be included in helping, good deeds, and sharing. This wonderful article on The Imagination Tree about Kindness Elves has some great ones, plus here are some others:

  • buying a toy for a community toydrive or Santa’s Anonymous
  • baking cookies to share with another family
  • donating toys to a thrift store or hospital
  • making a gift for letter carrier, or other service person
  • getting some food for the foodbank
  • sharing money with a charitable group
  • dropping off coats at a community shelter

Gifts from the HeartThese are just a few ideas for young children to participate in the giving aspect of Christmas. Kids can make or do things that bring a smile to others such as a handmade gift or tree decoration for seniors or family members or coloring paper placemats to go to a seniors’ home or meals on wheels program. Some preschool or kindergarten programs may be able to sing for seniors who always love hearing those wonderful little voices. This is not always appropriate for younger toddlers who may feel insecure around unfamiliar faces, but it certainly lights up the faces of the listeners.

Last year, on a Learn and Play with Mrs. A radio show, Virgina Bruker, spoke about her book Gifts from the Heart. In her words, “Children love to give and…enjoy sharing.” Do you have some other ideas for giving with kids?

Art Music Drama, Holiday Activities

Reindeer-Pokey and Other Christmas Songs for Kids

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Christmas music is everywhere these days, so while we enjoy it, we can also use it for fun, learning, and kindergarten readiness with young children. Part of the fun this time of year is singing. We’ve all heard Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bells, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer many times but kids haven’t. The repetition and patterns make these songs easier to remember so young children can sing along.Reindeer-Pokey Christmas song

Instead of using people body-parts for the Hokey-Pokey, substitute reindeer ones, like antlers, hooves, tails, and noses and do the Reindeer-Pokey. When shaking all about, shake off snow and rather than turning around, reindeer dash around. Here’s an example, and continue with other parts:

You put your front hooves in, you put your front hooves out.
You put your front hooves in and shake off all the snow.
You do the Reindeer-Pokey and you dash around.
That’s what it’s all about.

Many times, there have been 123Kindergarten posts about the benefits that music has on kids, even before birth, especially one this summer that included a poster from OnLine Colleges. Recently, there was a news item about a special viola-organista musical instrument that has been built from some Leonardo Da Vinci drawings. Just think, those drawings are about 500 years old! But, how old is music? That was a fun question to goggle. How old do you think music is? Just for fun:

a) music is about 5,000 to 10,000 years old.

b) music is about 10,000 to 25,000 years old.

c) music is more than 25,000 years old.

Would you believe that researchers have found bone flutes carbon-dated to be about 42,000 years old? Music has been part of humans lives for eons. Exposing children to music: creates pathways and connections in the brain, builds listening and thinking skills, can enlarge parts of the brain, and has a positive impact on school marks and social relationships.

It might seem like we’ve been hearing some Christmas songs for that long and that if we keep doing so our brains will start flashing red, but only if your name is Rudolph. In the meantime, what are some other favorite Christmas songs for kids?

Holiday Activities, Reading and Writing

Kindergarten Readiness – Christmas Eve Poem

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It’s Christmas Eve and with so many things to do and think about kindergarten readiness goes to the bottom of the list, and that’s not a bad idea. Early learning is still happening though, in the activities of the family. Children are learning what is important and special about this time as they watch what we do, hear what we say, and participate with us in what is happening. Here is a version of the Night Before Christmas to share with the parents and caregivers of children everywhere: Christmas-fireplace1‘Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the room, the pieces were scattered with feelings of doom. The stockings were hung but still very empty, waiting for candy, books, toys and goodies a plenty. The children were sleeping, every sense on alert, for the first hint of dawn when they’d race with a spurt. But now, Mama held the hammer; I wielded the wrench; the instructions were such to make anyone blench. Put A beside B and cover with C, then D comes next, all the way up to Zee. The clerk in the store had deceived with intent, “It’s easy to do, won’t take but a moment.” Meanwhile the clock kept UP its determined advance, while we gazed all around in a very tired trance. At last, it was done and we tidied the mess; I wanted to leave it, I’ll have to confess. We filled the stockings, wrapped presents, and then… I spied the cookies and gave into my yen. We gobbled them down, which just made us think, they would taste better with a nice long drink. Some music and snuggles appeared in the night, the tree bright with colors, oh what a sight. I could imagine the laughter, the voices of glee, the wonderful morning of Christmas frenzy. Deep down inside some mischievous imp, came up to the surface with nary a limp. “Why wait?” it said, “it’s almost the time, grab the bells, and ring out a chime.” “What are you doing,” begged my dear wife? “This is not part of an adult life!” “I’m waking the kids, and that includes us!” I rang the bell with no more fuss. “We’ve only one day, I’m starting it early.” To the kids’ rooms I ran, all atwirly. “Sing out the fun, the love and the joy, because of the birth of one baby boy.” Happy Christmas to all and A Blessed Good Day. Follow the children, they’ll show us the way. (Barbara Allisen, copyright 2012)

Holiday Activities

Kindergarten Readiness/It’s A Wrap: Christmas Fun & Learning

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Chances are you’ve never thought of wrapping presents as a great opportunity for some kindergarten readiness fun and learning, but it certainly is! Even though having young children assist isn’t all that much help, it makes the wrapping much more interesting. Some of the things that kids can learn might include: colors, sizes, and shapes: … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness/It’s A Wrap: Christmas Fun & Learning →

Holiday Activities, Infant and Toddler

Kindergarten Readiness – Christmas Playdates & Social Skills

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Christmas is a time for family and friends, and the early years the best time for learning, so what kindergarten readiness play-of-the-day combines both? How about a playdate! The holiday season is already busy, but playdates for little ones do not need to be long, and the emphasis is on play. Dr. Gwen Dewar states … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Christmas Playdates & Social Skills →

Children's Books, Holiday Activities

Christmas Is A Time For Giving

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In a way, a preschool or a kindergarten is a child’s first community and sharing and giving are an important part of kindergarten readiness social skills, too. Learning about sharing and giving is an important part of Christmas and practicing now helps children develop a sense of community and connections to others. In her wonderful … Continue reading Christmas Is A Time For Giving →

Holiday Activities

Kindergarten Readiness – Christmas Playdoughs for Fun And Learning

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If the little hands at your house are finding it hard to wait for Christmas, mix up some special playdough for fun, learning and even kindergarten readiness. Playdough is very affordable and, when kept in the fridge, can last for days. 1. Gingerbread playdough: To your favorite playdough recipe, add some gingerbread spices:  1 Tbsp … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Christmas Playdoughs for Fun And Learning →

Holiday Activities

Christmas Colours Learning and Fun

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Christmas is a kaleidoscope of colors and supporting children to learn colors helps kids develop an important skill for kindergarten readiness and more. Attaching the correct word to each color is much, much more than matching. It is a very complex process that needs a great deal of experiences. Children need to see many examples … Continue reading Christmas Colours Learning and Fun →