It is the beginning of November, and I already feel pressure to start holiday shopping. Instead of enjoying my time alone as I waited on line to return something, I was strategizing for whom I will buy which gift.
Holidays are becoming more commercialized as the years pass. What used to be advertised as meaningful family time is now branded as a time to get the best deals and the most savings. As our children’s awareness of the holiday hoopla grows, the association with these yearly celebrations turns from genuineness to the materialistic. Let’s help them get back on track.
There are many smaller holidays and days of celebration throughout the year. Although they receive less attention, they can be just as if not more important than some of the grander days. Use them as a means to remind your children that special occasions are not solely about presents and elaborate decorations but also about thoughtfulness, laughter and appreciation for family.
November 20th is Universal Children’s Day. This is the perfect opportunity to recognize every child around the world for the contributions and uniqueness they bring to our world. In honor of this day, expose your sons and daughters to other types of children; possibly ones that they might not encounter on a regular basis. The most effective way to invite them into another child’s world is through literature. Books such as Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold, Something Special for Me by Vera B. Williams, The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson and It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr bring awareness to the multitude of children that exist and how no matter the distance between, the similarities often outweigh the differences.
November 24th is Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day. What better day to highlight the funny, quirky and talented ways our children surprise us every day! Whether it is juggling, singing or making the best shadows on the wall, use this day as a way to show your pride in who they are and what they can do. A great way to kick it off is by brainstorming talents they possess. Make a list, have a conversation or take a stroll down memory lane through pictures or video to trigger ideas. Recruit other families to participate and hold a talent show for the children to showcase their special abilities. Who knows, you might be in the presence of the next great acrobat, poet or architect!
December 7th is Letter Writing Day and one of my personal favorites. In an age of emailing and texting, the idea of writing a hand written letter is quickly becoming antiquated and overlooked. Bring this simple form of communication back to life through the story Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. It is based on a boy whom becomes flattened by a bulletin board and sent to California in an envelope! After reading the story investigate the well-known Flat Stanley Project. Your child will jump at the chance to send a personal Stanley somewhere in the world. Whether it is to a family member or to a friend, this is the perfect way to have some old fashioned fun while practicing handwriting, spelling and grammar. In addition to writing the letter, educate your child on how to address a letter and then take a trip to the post office to mail it. Exposing your child to a staple in our community such as a post office provides great awareness. Children wait with anticipated excitement to receive Flat Stanley back to find out about his adventures around the world. To incorporate map skills, send Stanley to different locations and then map Stanley’s various trips!
December 19th is Regifting Day. As the holidays approach, we are reminded of those that are less fortunate or plagued with negative circumstances in life. With the gift giving that naturally comes with this time of year, it is always a good time to clean out your child’s toys to make room for new ones. Toys, games and books that are not used can be donated to children’s hospitals and shelters. Instead of treating this as a chore, approach it as a learning experience for children. Expose them to the idea that helping those in need is all part of the holiday spirit and that giving is just as meaningful as receiving. Although child illness, poverty and homelessness can be sensitive topics, they can be addressed in a manner that is thought provoking but is not too jarring for little ones. Children will react and connect differently to these issues. Some may simply want to donate and others can show interest in visiting a children’s hospital or shelter. Either way, this day can be a wonderful way to bond as a family and reach out to others in the community.
Whether we are on stage, cleaning out a toy chest or connecting with family members around the world, these days remind us that small does not mean insignificant and holiday does not have to solely be synonymous with “things”. Filling our hearts with love and bellies with laughter is as good a gift as any. Tis the season!
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Amanda Lehrman, founder of TheMommaFiles, is a trained teacher and curriculum consultant. She attended Fordham University and received an M.S.T in Elementary Education and has worked with the Accelerated Literacy Learning program as well as Teachers College Reading and Writing projects, Kaplan K-12 and Catapult Learning. Amanda currently teaches 3rd through 5th grade students in a Gifted & Talented program in Edison, NJ.
The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.
