20 Holiday Activities For 2020

Image by Biljana Jovanovic from Pixabay

The 2020 holiday season is upon us. Unlike other years, most of us will celebrate these occasions though Zoom or exclusively with members of our own household.

We may cancel typical holiday outings this year, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end too. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we need to respect each other. One of the best ways to manage that is to learn the traditions of other holidays.

No matter which holiday your family celebrates, they all have one quality in common—love of friends and family. Whether exchanging gifts or preparing a feast, it all comes down to spending time with our loved ones.

I’ve dug through my teaching files and scoured the internet to help make this holiday period a multi-cultural one for you and your little ones.

                                           Image by Nietjuh from Pixabay

Here’s a list of easy-to-do activities I’ve put together:

1. Holiday Seek & Find

Add a twist to your tree trimming this year! Hide your child friendly ornaments and send your kiddos on a hunt to locate them. The one who discovers the most ornaments gets to place the first ornament on the tree.

2. Drive By Christmas Lights

Okay, I recognize the title says At-Home activities, but this one requires you to leave your house. Pile into your car and cruise around the neighborhood to admire all the lovely Christmas lights. Here’s a checklist to use during your tour.

3. Gingerbread House Contest

Buy a few Gingerbread House kits or get creative like these gingerbread connoisseurs, then have a friendly competition. The winner earns bragging rights until the next contest.

                                                    Image by RitaE from Pixabay

4. Holiday Baking & Snacks

Bake Cookies

There are countless recipes online. Here’s a link to a few.

Make Who Pudding and other Grinch-themed food

Drink hot chocolate with marshmallows or whipped cream

Make Sufganiyots (A round jelly donut eaten by Jewish families during Hanukkah.)

And Latkes (A potato pancake also eaten during Hanukkah.)

Here’s a link for Kwanzaa recipes.

5. Homemade Holiday Ornaments & Decorations

There are so many options for this one. You can order through Oriental Trading Company or Michael’s, use paper and glue, or make a salt dough.

Here’s a few suggestions:

Handprint Menorahs (The link has other Hanukkah crafts.)

Handprint Kinaras (The link has other Kwanzaa crafts.)

Handprint Reindeer (The link has other Christmas crafts.)

6. Write a Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa Story Together

As a teacher and writer, I’m partial to this one.

Here’s a few story starter ideas:

Describe the picture on a Christmas card

Pretend to interview Santa Claus (I did this one, and it was a lot of fun.)

All I want for Christmas is…

On the first day of Hanukkah…

My favorite Hanukkah tradition is…

On the first day of Kwanzaa…  

What Unity means to me.

                                                Image by Judith Crowell from Pixabay

7. Write A Letter To Santa

8. Write Christmas Cards

9. Make a December Alphabet Scrapbook

10. Rudolph Hide and Seek

You can play this with any stuffed animal or toy. Hide the toy while your child closes their eyes, then have them find it.

11. Watch Christmas movies

12. Read Holiday books

Here’s a list of a few of my favorites:

Snowflakes With Sugar By Amelia Griggs

Gingerbread Baby By Jan Brett

The Great Latke Cookoff By Lauren Ranalli

Hanukkah Bugs By David A. Carter

My First Kwanzaa By Karen Katz

13. Sing Christmas Songs

14. Turn Old Christmas Cards Or Gift Boxes Into Puzzles

Cut them into pieces and put them back together.

15. Have a Christmas Song Competition Or Christmas Karaoke

16. Sort Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa colors

                                     Image by Brandi Day from Pixabay

17. Have A Holiday Parade

Put on your merriest holiday attire, pump up the Christmas music, and march around your house. You can even pull stuffed animals along in wagons/carriages and pretend their floats.

18. Celebrate St. Nicholas Day

19. Play the Dreidel Game

20. Learn how families celebrate Christmas in other countries

In Syria they celebrate The Littlest Camel

In Sweden they celebrate St. Lucia Day

Spain and Latin America countries celebrate

Three King’s Day

For even more ideas please visit:

https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/christmas-in-the-classroom/

https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/kwanzaa-in-the-classroom/

https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/hanukkah-in-the-classroom/

Do you have a holiday tradition you’d like to share?

 

 

  

Fairy-Tailed Wish Book Review

Available on Amazon

Author: Megan Pighetti 

Illustrator: Tamara Piper

Publisher: Megan Mighetti

Released: March 26, 2020

Format: Kindle, paperback

ISBN: 978-1734805505

Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn

Rating: 4 Lemon Drops

A fanciful story full of birthday wishes, fairies, and toilet paper.

Summary:

What do birthdays, fairies, and toilet paper have in common? Children asking for a Fairy-Tailed Birthday Wish, of course.

The night before her birthday, young Bri makes a wish to be fairy-tailed and three fairies answer the call. Suzie, Lily, and Dax are the fairy trio assigned to grant Bri’s birthday wish— a unique tradition where fairies string toilet paper all over the birthday child’s bedroom.

As the leader of the mission, Suzie guides Lily and Dax through their very first fairy-tail wish. The covert mission has one aim, to grant the birthday wish without being seen by the child.

After a smooth entry into Bri’s house, the three fairies get to work locating the toilet paper and stringing it around Bri’s bedroom.

There are a few mishaps from the beginners that threaten their exposure, but not to worry, they are easily overcome. The fairies leave a toilet tissue maze of fairy-tails for Bri to work her way through and cherish.

Review:

A delightful story! It introduces a whimsical and hopeful tradition comparable to the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus. Youngsters will enjoy Piper’s cute pictures. They add amusement and visually supplement the story.

I enjoyed the movement suggestions on how to get through the fairy-tails at the end of the book. What a marvelous way to get youngsters moving creatively.

One tiny criticism: The author should have introduced Bri’s name earlier in the story for clarity. When her name is introduced, it seems abrupt and adds a slight discordance to the narrative.

Bri’s name could have been mentioned at the very beginning when she’s making her Fairy-Tailed Birthday Wish, and when Suzie is reading her Fairy-Tailed Birthday Wish List. This would have also added a more personal connection between the fairies and the birthday child.

Classroom Connection:

Fairy-Tailed Wish is a wonderful addition to a fairytale unit or a discussion on imagination. It would also be a memorable way to celebrate a student’s birthday. After reading the book, children could complete an obstacle course, or better yet, make one of their own to do.

Another cute idea would be to string toilet paper (or streamers) around the classroom for a student’s birthday before they arrive at school and ask them to guess who did it. 

Children Are Like Cupcakes Book Review

Author: Ansaba Gavor

Illustrator: Rice Maria Garcia

Publisher: Pen & Pad Publishing LLC

Released: January 14, 2014

Format: Kindle, Paperback

ISBN: 978-0983313434

Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn

Rating: 5 Lemon Drops

A sweet story that addresses an important social issue all children must understand as global citizens.

Children Are Like Cupcakes is a multicultural story that embraces diversity and inclusivity among all people.

Told from the point of view of one little girl who is wise beyond her years, readers are shown how, just like cupcakes, children come in a wide variety of colors and flavors.

Review:

First of all, the title is just downright adorable. I love the analogy drawn between children and cupcakes: such a simple, creative and concrete way to introduce the complexities of diversity to youngsters.

Through the eyes of a child, we learn that everyone’s similarities and differences should be honored and celebrated. So guileless, yet so very powerful.

Garcia’s illustrations are straightforward, vibrant and eye-catching. If Gavor’s story is the cupcake then Garcia’s pictures are the colorful sprinkles on top.

They enhance the story and reinforce the valuable lessons brought forth in the text. I especially love how each child has their very own matching cupcake.

I give it 5 Super Sweet Lemon Drops!

Classroom Connection:

After a reading of the book, I could easily see children decorating their own cupcake and adding edible flourishes that personalize it.

Along with baking props, it would make a great addition to the dramatic play area as well as supplementing the dough materials in the art center.

Resources:

https://www.pinterest.com/ellwynautumn/diversity-inclusion-lessons/

Interview With School Counselor/Author Gabi Garcia

Photo courtesy of: Gabi Garica

Gabi Garcia is a woman whose accomplishments can inspire us all to set our goals high. As a young child, she and her family came to the United States from Mexico. 

When she first arrived, Gabi knew very little English, but she didn't let that hold her back. She applied herself and soon became bilingual in Spanish and English.

After high school, she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Government and Spanish. Upon graduating, she became a teacher before getting a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology.

Today she is a licensed professional counselor, a prolific author and a proud mother.

She lives with her family in Austin, Texas.

Now that I've introduced you to Gabi, let's get to know her a little better.

Hello, Gabi, welcome to Lemon Drop Literary. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.

Thank you for having me.

Why did you become an Elementary School Counselor?

I was a bilingual teacher for 4 years and realized that the students I worked with did not always have access to bilingual counseling services and there was such a great need.

What grades do you serve?

(K-3, K-5?) I worked on an elementary campus for 4 years and served students K-5. After that I became a Special Education Counselor in my district where I served students who received special education support in grades K-12! I did this for 12 years.

What are the responsibilities of an Elementary School Counselor?

So many! When I was on a campus, I provided classroom guidance lessons to all grade levels (weekly & biweekly), individual and group counseling, mentor/volunteer coordinator, 504 coordinator, parent and teacher support, ARDs and other duties as required that I am possibly forgetting.:)

What are your concerns regarding the mental health of young children?

I am concerned that there is not enough support to address these needs. 

Campus counselors are overburdened, and community resources seem to always have their funds scaled back, meanwhile it is our kids who pay the price.

Have cuts to education effected School Counselors? If yes, how so?

Most definitely! School counselors wear so many hats and one of the things I saw in my district was a great deal of burnout.

English Version 

                

How has your School Counseling experience influenced your writing?

My work has been a huge influence. I think it is critical that we give our students the tools to be caring, engaged, thoughtful individuals that see their worth beyond test taking. 

One of the reasons I wrote Listening with My Heart is because I saw how hard kids could be on themselves when they made mistakes or things didn’t go the way they wanted. 

I also realized that adults talk to kids a lot about how to be friends to others, but not about how to be friends to themselves and this is so important!

What inspired you to become a writer?

I have always had notebooks of stories or poems I was working on, but it took me a while to give myself permission to share my work with the world. 

In a way, I see my writing as an extension of my counseling work. It is my intention that my books will be of service somehow. This inspires me to keep writing.

English Version

Which genre do you write?

Currently I am only writing children’s picture books.

What do you find most challenging writing for your genre?

Children’s books need to be short otherwise, kids (and adults) can get bored. You need to convey the story/ message in 500-600 words, which can be tough.

What are you working on now?

I am working on a children’s picture book called Mateo Finds His Wow: A story of Wonder & Gratitude which will be out late April/early May.

                  

How many books have you written?

I have written 4 books: Listening to My Body, Listening with My Heart, I Can Do Hard Things, and my soon to be released book Mateo Finds His Wow.

What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?

It has been incredibly rewarding to hear from kids, parents and educators who take the time to let me know that they my books have been useful to them or supported their work in some way. It is very humbling.

What advice would you give to authors just starting out?

Make the time to write and don’t worry about it being good. Write.

Spanish Version

What message are you sharing in your books?

All of my books have an underlying message I hope teaches children to be mindful and kind to themselves, although they all do it in different ways. 

Listening to My Body teaches kids that the better they get at paying attention to their bodies and their feelings, the better they’ll get at treating themselves with kindness and care, Listening with My Heart teaches kids to pay attention to how they talk to themselves and the importance of being a friend to themselves, and I Can Do Hard Things teaches them to pay attention to their inner voice and values so they can be true to themselves.

When you're not writing where can we find you?

I have an almost 6-year-old daughter, so I spend most of my time playing, riding bikes or otherwise engaged with her and my family. I also love going on walks, practicing yoga and reading.

What are your favorite books?

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisnero, A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L’Engle, Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes by Peter Levine and Maggie Kline, The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, and anything by Brene Brown.

What are your favorite TV shows/movies?

I really enjoy food shows like Chef’s Table, Ugly Delicious and most recently Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.

Spanish Version

Is there anything else you'd like your readers to know about you?

I am so deeply grateful for the work that teachers and counselors do. It is such important work and while I am not in a school at this time; I do hope that my books can be of use and support the work that educators do.

Do you have a website/Facebook page?

Yes! Gabigarciabooks.com has free downloadable reader’s guides that accompany all my books. 

My hope is that these materials will be useful to you (about 80%) even if you don’t have the books.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabigarciabooks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabigarciabooks/

Where can we find your books?

Amazon

Thank you, Gabi, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck!

Book Review: Silly Willy Apple Cake

Author: Amelia Griggs

Illustrator: Winda Mulyasari

Publisher: Amelia Griggs

Released: April 11, 2019

Format: Kindle, Paperback

ISBN: 978-1092879712

Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn

Rating: 4 Lemon Drops

Silly Willy Apple Cake is a story with a great recipe for love and fond childhood memories!

Review

Silly Willy Apple Cake is a sweet slice-of-life tale that takes us inside the happy kitchen of Bella and her mother Mia. 

Told through charming rhymes, the book begins with the duo picking apples at a farm. Once their baskets are full, they quickly decide to make an apple cake when they get home.

After inspecting the apples, they mix them up in a bowl with flour, sugar and spices then pop it in the oven. While they wait for the cake to bake, they spend the evening playing a silly willy word game. 

Before long, the cake finishes and mother and daughter end their special day eating scrumptious pieces of apple cake. Yummy!

I enjoyed the wholesome message of 'family time' shared in this book. In today's fast-paced society, parents and children need to unplug from electronic devices and engage in pleasurable interactive activities. 

Making a meal or a special dessert is a perfect opportunity to create positive memories that will last a lifetime.

While writing the story, Griggs', drew inspiration from the enjoyable moments she spent baking with her own mother when she was a young girl. 

Because she cherishes these childhood memories and wants her readers to create their own special moments, she included a recipe for Apple Cake at the end of the book. 

I can think of no greater gift for an author to share with others.    

Winda Mulyasari's illustrations are cute, colorful and sprinkled with a generous serving of sweetness that's endearing. They capture the playfulness of the characters and compliment the story in a lovely way.

I give it 4 Super Sweet Lemon Drops! 

Classroom Connection:

Another wonderful feature about cooking or baking with children is the educational value involved with the process. 

Kids can learn a great deal across the curriculum from this seemingly simple act:

vocabulary, measurement, following a sequence of directions, collaboration, using the five senses, health, nutrition, family traditions. 

In addition to the rhyming words, another wonderful educational element is the list of action words used in the story: washing, cutting, mincing, slicing, chopping, peeling, mashing and dicing. 

A Kindergarten teacher could also utilize this to introduce and reinforce 'ing' words. The King of Ing rules! 

I've created a Pinterest Board with lessons and resources for the King Of Ing. Click here to access.

Let's Just Play

https://stocksnap.io/photo/ABK28A4XIG

photographer David Schap

  

 Childhood obesity, bullying, mental-illness, behavior problems, social anxiety, school violence, technology addiction: one underlying factor that has been all but tossed to the wayside can help alleviate these ailing, juvenile predicaments--play.
       
Not the handheld-device kind of play, not the sedentary sport of sitting in front of the television with a headset on and a controller in your palm, the good old-fashioned, physical kind that requires a child's imagination and body stamina to perform.

https://unsplash.com/photos/tvc5imO5pXk?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText Robert Collins

While not a cure-all for every affliction plaguing our nation's youth, play is a sensible and therapeutic place to start when searching for a practical solution to the problems stated above.

Play is beneficial for many aspects of human interaction. It stimulates cognitive growth, problem solving, language development, interpersonal connections and it's just plain fun. 
        
As children, our hidden creative talents emerge and thrive through play and the self-expression it enables. 

Through play children are able to practice basic societal skills like negotiation and compromise. 

These two precursors to healthy human interaction are essential for adolescents and adults to function well in both private and public life.

            
A child who can play the role of mother or father during pretend play not only practices empathy for others, they also begin to develop successful parenting tools. 

The child who gets to reenact a stressful situation that left them feeling vulnerable, is able to vent their frustration and regain some semblance of control over their lives by re-writing the ending or working through the difficult details in a non-threatening way.      

https://unsplash.com/photos/EgB1uSU5tRA?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=credit Copy Text   Frank McKenna

The importance of play has been the cornerstone of child-development specialists and early childhood educators since the 19th century. 

The first kindergarten was started in Germany in 1837 by Friedrich Froebel.

A strong advocate for play he said, “A child who plays thoroughly and perseveringly, until physical fatigue forbids, will be a determined adult, capable of self-sacrifice both for his own welfare and that of others.”

Although there is overlap, there are many different types of play, each one enhancing a certain skill set crucial for well-rounded development. The various types of play include:

• Gross/Fine Motor
• Dramatic
• Constructive
• Games With Rules

Gross and Fine Motor Play utilize the large and small muscles in the body. 

A visit to the playground, riding a bike, and jumping rope are examples of gross motor play, whereas cutting with scissors, painting, and manipulating small items like interlocking toys, make use of fine motor skills. 

Dramatic Play is a social experience where children use their imaginations to create or re-create various scenarios. 

Through the use of language and creative thinking, they practice different roles, whether it be a doctor or a server, and the societal norms that pertain to that situation.

Constructive Play calls on children to use materials like building blocks and sand to construct things. 

In order to develop a well thought out plan and proper organization of the materials, it necessitates a longer attention span to complete. 

Games with Rules requires children to follow a specific set of rules in order for the game to be played effectively. 

More refined social and cognitive behaviors like self-control and concentration aid children in their ability to participate in these games with success.

Dr. Gary Landreth's quote sums up my point perfectly, "A child's play is his 'work', and the 'toys' are his words."

            
If we removed the electronic distractions, if we adjusted our educational curriculum to allow play in all classrooms and gave children the time to do their 'work', we would be fostering a generation of critical thinkers, who could tackle problems with purposeful intentions, that would lead to viable results for generations to come.  

Add https://pixabay.com/en/children-garden-autumn-hide-play-1879907/caption 

                                                               

Further sources for reading:

https://valueofdramaticplay.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/four-types-of-play/

https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/play-work-of-children/pl1/#.WftAfXYpDIU         

(https://www.naeyc.org/yc/files/yc/file/201305/0513_OPH_Elizbeth_Peabody.pdf)

http://www.tppmansfield.com/play.html

http://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/2014/play-is-a-childs-work