Children Need Holiday Traditions

What holiday memories bring smiles to your heart? For me it was baking miniature minced meat pies, creating Christmas decorations for the tree, going to midnight mass, and visiting relatives. These traditions ensured childhood memories and quality time with family.

Holiday rituals are so important for families because they represent stability and continuity. Traditions are something you can count on and often look forward to. Children need to believe that no matter what happens in the world around them, some things remain the same.

Traditions celebrate family uniqueness and bond generations together. You can expand your traditions to include community service. Doing chores for an elderly person in your neighborhood or sending letters to troops overseas can enrich your families’ customs.

If you don’t have any traditions it’s never too late to begin. Try reading a holiday book with your children, or doing a family craft together. Here are some suggestions:

Richard Scarry’s Biggest Word Book Ever! By Richard Scarry
This oversized book (24 inches tall) makes a really fun gift for the holidays

A Blue’s Clues Holiday by Angela C. Santomero is a fun and crafty way to introduce little ones to all three holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

Baby Jesus is Missing by Dixie Phillips, Artist: K.C. Snider The annual Christmas decorating contest left no room for Jesus until little Josiah Carr teaches his mommy and daddy the true spirit of Christmas is finding Jesus.

The Jewish Family Fun Book, 1st Ed. by Danielle Dardashti and Roni Sarig
Holiday Projects, Everyday Activities, and Travel Ideas with Jewish Themes.

The Christmas Angel by Mary Jean Kelso, Artist: K. C. Snider Melissa is a young girl who moves with her family to Oregon via The Oregon Trail. She has been allowed to bring one prized possession and she struggles to see that the porcelain angel that has topped the family Christmas tree makes the journey safely. This adventure on the Oregon Trail has added educational tools including a map, lists of supplies, info on the trail, links to sites and games about the Oregon Trail.

MAKE A FAMILY FABRIC WREATH

You need 3 yds of fabric cut into 4×4 inch squares using pinking shears, 1 straw wreath (10-12 inches) with the plastic wrap left on, and bows and ribbons as desired. Using a Phillips screwdriver, insert the screwdriver into the middle of the fabric, gently push the screwdriver into the wreath. In a circular pattern, continue until full. Fluff, add ribbon, small ornaments, whatever you like.

CREATE A HERSHEY KISS CHRISTMAS TREE

All you need is a cone shaped foam form, colored Hershey kisses, and some toothpicks. Stick toothpicks into the bottom (flat side) of each Hershey Kiss. Starting at the bottom of the foam cone, insert the extended end of the toothpick into the foam base until the Hershey Kiss is flush up against the foam. Place one Kiss at the top, pointy side up.

VIEW SNOWFLAKES

As a child your mother may have told you that snowflakes were pieces of clouds shaken loose when the angels danced with God. This explanation is at least partly correct. Snow crystals are born in the clouds when water vapor freezes on a particle of dust, a floating bit of bacteria, or another solid material.

To examine these beautiful flakes you’ll need dark cloth, or black construction paper and a magnifying glass. You’ll need to freeze your viewing surface (keep it in the fridge or outside in a cold dry area). If the snow is falling, just hold your platform aloft to catch a few flakes and view with your magnifying glass. You may need to wear a scarf over the mouth and nose to avoid melting the flakes with a warm breath.

Older children may want to take pictures. To photograph these flakes in the shade you’ll need a camera with a “macro” lens and a tripod. A younger child may simply draw pictures of the kind of snowflakes observed under the magnifying glass.

For more about Kathy Stemke, visit http://educationtipster.blogspot.com/