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Tons
of Fun In December!
Check out
the wacky, and not-so-wacky holidays December has to offer!
By Deborah Shelton,
the author of The
Five Minute Parent:
Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones
Get out your
calendar and a nice bold pen and make note of these
fun activities
to do with your kids in honor of July! Each one is a
memory
in the making!
Read a New
Book Month
* Choose a new book and take turns reading it aloud to your
family. Set aside a time each night to read a chapter, and
then discuss the book when you've finished reading.
* Gather supplies such as poster board, scissors, glue,
glitter, stickers, felt pieces, etc., and make your own
creative bookmarks. Use a single hole punch to make a hole
at one end. Thread a piece of ribbon through the hole and
tie off.
Aardvark
Week (Dec. 1-7)
* Watch Arthur on PBS Kids--he's the world's most famous
aardvark!
* Learn aardvark facts to wow your friends: the word
aardvark means "earth pig"; what is the main
difference between an aardvark and an anteater? Anteaters
are toothless and aardvarks have cylindrical teeth that
continue to grow throughout its lifetime.
* Visit the zoo to see an aardvark up close and personal!
Dewey
Decimal Day
* Get a library card!
* Make a card or special bookmark for the school librarian
or the local public librarian.
* Organize your own collection of books. Your system
doesn’t have to be as detailed as the Dewey Decimal
system-- you can organize your books any way you’d like!
Beethoven's
Birthday (Dec. 16,
1770)
* Create your own music to celebrate this day by conducting
a water orchestra. Fill a few drinking glasses with varying
amounts of water. Lightly tap each glass with a spoon to
make music.
* Check your local newspaper to see if your city offers free
or low-cost classical concerts. Attend one as a family.
Mother
Goose Day (Dec. 18)
* Read Mother Goose tales to each other!
* Make up your own super silly rhyming tales!
* Draw and color pictures of your favorite storybook
characters. Once you’re finished with the illustrations,
display them on the Refrigerator Hall of Fame.
Christmas
(Dec. 25)
* Leave out milk and cookies for Santa.
* Sing carols together at home, or visit friends and
neighbors for a night of caroling.
* Make hot cocoa for carolers who visit your home.
* Help out-of-town guests and family feel comfortable in
your home. Fill an inexpensive basket with goodies such as
bath beads, a paperback novel, a fluffy pair of slippers,
and anything that would make them feel at home.
Kwanzaa
* Learn the principals of Kwanzaa: Umoja (unity);
Kujichagulia (self-determination); Ujima (collective work
and responsibility); Ujamaa (cooperative economics); Nia
(purpose); Kuumba (creativity); Imani (faith).
* Make Kwanzaa jewelry for zawadis (gifts). String together
red beads, black beads, and green beads for necklaces and
bracelets.
New
Year's Eve (Dec. 31)
* Make New Year's noisemakers! Place a few uncooked beans or
popcorn kernels into an aluminum pie tin. Place another pie
tin on top, and staple the two tins together. Shake, rattle
and roll!
* Create a festive party atmosphere with confetti
balloons! Make your own confetti using colorful
construction paper and a hole punch. Use a small funnel to
pour confetti into a balloon, then slowly blow air into the
balloon and tie off. Pop the balloon for colorful fun!
* Sit down as a family and decide what your family
resolutions will be for the upcoming year. For example, at
least one family getaway per year; no more watching
television while eating dinner; send greeting cards to out-
of-town relatives once a month. Write your resolutions on a
sheet of pretty paper and frame it. Refer to it throughout
the new year.
About the Author:
Deborah Shelton is the author of The Five Minute Parent:
Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones.
Visit
The Five Minute Parent for fun rainy-day activities,
family
links, and a free email newsletter filled with craft
ideas,
guest articles, contests and so much more!
http://www.fiveminuteparent.com
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