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Counting Christmas Story Time with Printable Math Cards
I have a kid lit confession to make… When #thebigone was little, we never had a Karen Katz book. A little shocking, I know, since she’s so popular! Now that #thelittleone has come along, we’ve added a few of her books to our home library. I grabbed Counting Christmas recently, and my two year old loves it! Read on for a peek inside the book, and check out the simple math activity the book inspired!
READING COUNTING CHRISTMAS
The text in Counting Christmas is simple and straightforward. It is essentially a countdown book, working from 10 to 1. Each number has iconic holiday items associated with it. The simplicity of the text allows parents and kids to truly focus on the math presented. There’s constant opportunities for counting together. Counting Christmas makes working on a crucial fundamental skill like counting 1-10 fun and festive for young learners.
The images within the book are bright and cheerful in classic Katz style. The graphic patterns throughout are eye catching. All of the sweet faces on the families throughout the book are heart warming. There are countless opportunities for working on holiday vocabulary during the reading. Parents can encourage kids to pick out the green gifts, find the teddy bear, etc.
COUNTING CHRISTMAS MATH
#thelittleone is quickly approaching 2 1/2 years old. He’s been working on counting a bit- although honestly, he mainly just sings a random string of numbers at us! I created this super simple math activity to pair with Counting Christmas. I’m hoping once we’ve worked on it a few times together, he’ll be a bit more on track with his counting skills.
- Print out your copies of the Christmas counting cards I created. (Scroll to the end of the post to grab yours!)
- Cut out each card.
- Laminating the cards is optional, but recommended if you plan to play with them more than once.
- Grab some clothespins.
- Sit with your child and encourage them to count the items on each card. Clip a clothespin onto the correct number after counting.
- Initially, your child may need a lot of help to accomplish these tasks. After practice and more math play in other settings, you’ll notice their counting skills blossoming!
>>> Grab your Christmas counting cards here! Page 1 / Page 2 <<<
>>> Love the idea of clip cards for math skills? I’ve got a fun pirate set as well! <<<
Do you like to incorporate the holidays into your children’s learning at home? Let me know how you do it in the comments below!
Essentials You May Need…
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Looking For A Fingerling Or LOL Doll?! Surprise Giveaway!
Hey y’all! It is seriously freezing here so to make your day a little more bearable I have an awesome giveaway I am hosting with Perfectly Imperfect Mom for you. I know this year’s hot toys were Fingerling Monkeys and L.O.L. Dolls
. They are all over Amazon, Ebay and everywhere else for double, triple and quadruple the price. I’ve written before about how much #thebigone LOVES his Fingerling, and shared shared cute photos as well! Now is your chance to win these fun little toys for your cuties without having to pay the crazy high prices. Entering is easy, so scroll down and grab your chances!
Prizes
(1) Fingerling Monkey, (1) LOL Pet, (1) LOL Glitter Doll and (1) LOL Little Sister
You can come back daily to earn more entries!
Looking for more gift ideas in the meantime?
3 SIMPLE & QUICK DIY CHRISTMAS GIFT BASKETS WITH FREE PRINTABLE
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR YOUNG GAMERS AND GADGET LOVERS
10 CHILDREN’S BOOKS YOU’LL WANT TO GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS
9 UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS FOR THE UNCOMMON MOM THIS CHRISTMAS
WHAT’S THE #1 GIFT ON YOUR KIDDO’S WISH LIST THIS CHRISTMAS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS!
Good luck! Don’t forget to come enter every day!
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Holiday Gingerbread Story Time with Magic Painting Activity
One of my favorite, sweet flavors during the holiday season is gingerbread! It’s such a classic Christmas favorite. My taste in cookies has influenced my taste in children’s literature as well. A wide variety of gingerbread themed books line my boys’ shelves! Inspired by that yummy treat, today I’m sharing ideas for a holiday gingerbread story time. Be sure to read to the end so you don’t miss the magic painting activity we’ve been having SO MUCH fun with!
READING HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD STORIES
The Gingerbread Kid Goes To School
This cute leveled reader tells the story of a mischievous cookie loose in school! Joan Holub provided the text for the story. The expressive illustrations are by Debbie Palen.
The Gingerbread Man Loose In the School
This book is another fun take on a gingerbread man heading to school, told in a more comic book style. Laura Murray wrote the story and Mike Lowery created the graphic images.
The Gingerbread Man Loose On The Fire Truck
Laura Murray and Mike Lowery teamed up again for this fun title. The Gingerbread Man is determined to save the day in a story kids will love.
The Gingerbread Pirates
Kids will enjoy this fun story about Captain Cookie, a pirate worried that Santa Claus plans to eat his crew! Kristin Kladstrup wrote about Captain Cookie’s adventure, while Matt Tavares created the expressive, engaging artwork.
Catch That Cookie!
This book is a particular family favorite! Hallie Durand tells the story of a young class on a scavenger hunt through out school, trying to find their missing gingerbread men. David Small’s illustrations are the perfect bright complement to the text.
>>> Check out more gingerbread fun with this Ninjabread Man craft idea! <<<
HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD MAGIC PAINTING ACTIVITY
Materials:
- Gingerbread house or gingerbread man printable. (Scroll to the end of the post to grab yours).
- I recommend printing these on heavy paper or card stock if possible. These papers tend to hold up to watercolor paint better.
- White crayons.
- Interesting discovery: Our fatter white crayons, intended for younger hands, did not work well for this project. I suggest using thinner [‘normal’ size] white crayons if possible.
- Watercolor paints.
- Water.
- Paintbrush.
- Stickers.
Making Magical Holiday Gingerbread:
- Grab your free printable.
- Use your white crayon to add designs to your printable. Where ever you add white crayon will ultimately stay white after painting. Make sure to use a bit of pressure when drawing with your crayon.
- When your white design is complete, paint on top with watercolor paints. Enjoy the ‘magic’ as the white crayon shines through!
- Allow the paint to dry completely.
- Use stickers to add extra detail and flair to your holiday gingerbread project.
>>> GRAB YOUR HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD MAN OR HOUSE PRINTABLE! <<<
Gingerbread? Peppermint? Anise? What’s YOUR favorite holiday dessert flavor? Let me know in the comments below!
Essentials You May Need…
- Gingerbread house or gingerbread man printable. (Scroll to the end of the post to grab yours).
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3 Simple & Quick DIY Christmas Gift Baskets With Free Printables
Everyone has those people on their holiday shopping list… You don’t want to totally ignore them at Christmas, but you don’t know them well enough to buy something big. Teachers, babysitters, bus drivers- they all fall into this category for me. This year, I decided to put together some very simple Christmas gift baskets, and thought I would share my ideas with you.
Bright & Bubbly Christmas Gift Basket
This package is perfect for any friend who loves a bit of bubbly, especially during the holidays.
Some items to consider including:
- Champagne candy. I grabbed a package of ‘Bubbly Champagne Flavored’ Jelly Belly jelly beans, but you can get as fancy as you want… Chocolate champagne truffles sound pretty great to me!
- Sparkly nail polish. ‘Out With A Bang’ is a bright, shimmery shade from Sinful Colors that screamed champagne at me. Shades of gold, beige, or rose gold would all be beautiful choices.
- Lip balm or lip gloss. Vaseline Lip Therapy’s limited edition ‘Pink Bubbly’ lip balm comes in such an adorable tin, I knew it was perfect.
- Gum. No joke, this ‘Champagne Dreams’ gourmet gum from Project 7 was the inspiration for this entire Christmas gift basket. Even if you can’t find champagne flavored gum, plain old bubble gum still fits the ‘bright & bubbly’ theme perfectly.
- Bath bomb or fizzer. I picked up a cute pink bath fizzer to tuck into the package. Who doesn’t love a few fizzy bubbles while they’re soaking in a warm bath?!
Mistle-toes Christmas Gift Basket
Here in upstate NY, winter can be long and harsh. A gift that encourages a little pampering is the perfect holiday pick-me-up!
Some items to consider including:
- Living Royal Socks. I recently discovered these awesome socks online, and loved the festive holiday themes. I knew they were exactly what I needed for the ‘mistletoe’ Christmas gift baskets I planned to put together for #thelittleone’s daycare teachers. The images are bright and vibrant, and the socks are incredibly soft. If you’re not really into the Christmas themed socks, don’t worry. Check out the HUGE Living Royal variety that offers- you’re bound to find exactly the right socks for your own gift packages!
- Plus, you can save on your order when you use code: HOMEBOUND20! Go check it out!
- Toe separators. A pretty straightforward ‘must-have’ when you’re planning a pedicure! Grab these in a fun color if you can find them!
- Sparkly nail polish. Christmas always calls for glitter, in my opinion! I picked up a few small bottles of shiny shades from China Glaze that coordinate perfectly with the festive socks. (The red is ‘Sparkle On’ & the gold is ‘Big Hair & Bubbly’.)
- Nail polish remover. Either a very small bottle or these individually wrapped pads of polish remover are perfect for tucking into a pedicure themed Christmas gift basket.
- Bath bomb or fizzer. Dry winter weather can be tough on feet. Anyone getting a pedicure gift package this holiday season will definitely want to soak their feet in a warm bath prior to pampering them further.
Plan Ahead Christmas Gift Basket
This package is perfect for the friend who considers planning a hobby! There’s so many fun accessories and add-ons for planning out there now. What planning fanatic wouldn’t want to unwrap a selection of goodies chosen for them?
Some items to consider including:
- Magnetic bookmarks. I picked up this cute 3 pack from Create 365 because the bright, bold colors caught my eye. Of course, you can customize your choices to suite your friend’s personal style.
- Shaped paperclips. Okay, these little guys are just so stinking cute! Pink & teal wine glasses and bows will brighten up any desk top or planner in the new year!
- Washi tape. Really, you can’t ever have enough washi tape. I picked some that stuck with the bright, colorful vibe of the other goodies. (And honestly, there’s SO many to choose from now, it was tough to narrow it down!)
- Sticky notes & flags. Important appointments and crucial reminders won’t be overlooked in a planner when using these fun shaped flags and sticky notes.
- Lists. Especially if you’re gifting this Christmas gift basket to a mama, shopping and to-do list pages are so handy! (Mom-brain is real folks, even at the holidays!)
Putting Them All Together
I love putting gifts together in wrapping that coordinates with the gift and looks pretty. It’s a little touch that makes giving a small gift even more special. For these Christmas gift baskets, I decided to package them in clear paint-bucket-style cans. They’re inexpensive, adorable, and give the recipient a little peek at what’s inside immediately. Be sure to scroll down and grab the free printable labels I created. Cut out the appropriate label and attach it to the top of the can with a little double-stick tape. Use some shredded paper or other filler material to cushion the goodies inside the can. Add a little note with Christmas wishes and your name before you close up the can. In just a few minutes, you’ve assembled some adorable Christmas gift baskets without breaking the bank!
>>> DON’T FORGET TO GRAB YOUR FREE PRINTABLE LABELS! <<<
What sort of gift basket would you like to receive this holiday season? Let me know in the comments below!
Essentials You May Need…
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10 Children’s Books You’ll Want To Give This Christmas
Every Christmas, I always make sure to pick up at least a few new children’s books for the kids on my shopping list. It can be overwhelming choosing at times though- there’s SO many great books to choose from at the store! Check out this quick list I’ve put together of some of our favorite recent additions to our home library. You may find the perfect choice for the little readers on your list this Christmas!
GIRL POWER
The Girl Who Thought In Pictures (◘)
The story of Dr. Temple Grandin is presented in rhyme from Julia Finley Mosca. Dr. Grandin’s experience of living with autism, and working to become an animal science expert has been one of my favorites for a long time. (I read her own writing years ago, so was thrilled to discover a version perfect for my boys!) Daniel Rieley’s artwork helps to relay young Temple’s frustrations with not fitting in, and struggling to make sense of her place in the world. This book is great for both inspiring future scientists as well as reassuring those who may sometimes feel on the outskirts of social groupings.
The Doctor With An Eye For eyes (◘)
Julia Finley Mosca has written the story of Dr. Patricia Bath in sweet, lyrical rhymes. The verses tell the story of a young girl able to move beyond all the obstacles standing between her and her career goals. Dr. Barth conquered racism, sexism, and poverty on her journey towards a career as a physician. Daniel Rieley’s illustrations are sweet and comforting. It’s a perfect choice to inspire young girls, and show young boys how much women are capable of accomplishing.
A MATTER OF SURVIVAL
How To Survive As a Firefly (◘)
This fun picture book was written by Kristen Foote, and illustrated by Erica Salcedo. It’s a lively, engaging look at the life of a firefly. The book is sprinkled with fun facts. All the information is presented in a playful way that kids love learning from. The firefly illustrations are hysterical- prepare for giggles as you check out their kooky faces! Young readers will get a strong vocabulary boost after hearing words like larvae, metamorphosis, and bioluminescence.
How To Survive As A Shark (◘)
Another fun choice in the ‘How To Survive…’ series is Kristen Foote’s How To Survive As A Shark. This edition is a bit more text heavy than it’s firefly counterpart, but still just as fun and informative. Novel terms like apex predator, pectoral fin, and electroreception will keep your kids curious. Erica Salcedo’s sea creatures are silly without being scary, perfect for even the most timid ocean-goer!
QUIRKY AND CUTE
Vegetables In Underwear
I grabbed this one for #thelittleone recently. We’re hoping to potty train soon so I thought maybe some silly veggies in undies would be a good warm up for him. Jared Chapman has created such a silly little book. The vibrant veggies in their unmentionables make me smile, and always make my boys laugh. Use the bright, graphic illustrations to discuss types of produce and colors while you read through the book.
Semicolons, Cupcakes, And Cucumbers (◘)
Steve Newberry’s take on teaching punctuation has more substance than Vegetables In Underwear, but similarly bright and quirky imagery. The conversations between the punctuation is silly and will keep kids engaged in the reading. There’s so much humor in seeing exclamation points and question marks jumping on trampolines or walking through a forest. The ‘learning time’ section at the end of the book is the perfect review to make sure young readers took in the main ideas of the book.
HANDS ON FUN
Pancakes!
I’m not going to lie, I think I love this ‘interactive recipe book’ more than my kiddos! Pancakes! is a sturdy board book, filled with fun, bold illustrations from Lotta Nieminen. Mixing, flipping, and pouring can all be acted out as you read through the recipe for making pancakes. There are a few other books in the series, and we can’t wait to check them out as well!
All Aboard!
Nichole Mara has written such a fun little look-and-find book in All Aboard! The book is perfect for engaging toddlers is hunting for objects, talking about colors, and counting. The bright, clear illustrations from Andrew Kolb make it easy to adapt the seek-and-find to whatever skills you may be working on currently, or tailor them to your child’s interests. The fold out format gives the book a bit of novelty appeal that kids will find exciting.
INSPIRED BY HISTORY
The Journey That Saved Curious George
Growing up, my ‘lovey’ was a plush Curious George doll. I had all the books, and loved everything about that silly primate. It was a bit of selfish nostalgia that prompted me to pick up Louise Borden’s tale of ‘the true wartime escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey’ for #thebigone. He’s been very interested in biographies and non-fiction for several months now, so it’s been a perfect choice for him. It chronicles the Rey’s departure from Paris on bicycle in 1940, saving themselves and their famous books from Hitler’s troops. Allan Drummond has provided beautiful gestural illustrations, filled with washes of color. The book is also filled with authentic photos and other period documents, which help kids truly feel that they have uncovered a bit of history.
Tru & Nelle A Christmas Tale (◘)
G. Neri’s Christmas novel was inspired by the friendship of Truman Capote and Nelle Harper Lee. As part of #thebigone’s recent love for history and biographies, I’ve enjoyed helping him see that famous folks started as people just like us. Although this isn’t a true biography, it is a wonderful way to peek at the ‘normalcy’ of two hugely famous writers. It’s a sequel to Neri’s earlier True & Nelle- both make beautiful chapter book read alouds to share with your kiddos.
ARE YOU GIVING YOUR CHILDREN BOOKS THIS CHRISTMAS? WHICH ONES? TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CHOICES IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
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5 Fun New Ideas For Your Elf On The Shelf
December is nearly upon us, and for many families around the world that means one thing. It’s time for the Elf on the Shelf to return for another season of fun. If your family has been taking part in this tradition for several years (like we have!) you may be starting to run out of fun elf ideas by now… Today, I’m sharing 5 new antics our Elf on the Shelf, Pizza, came up with.
Pins And Needles!
Waiting for Christmas is hard, even for elves! I picked up one of these fun little pin impression toys for the boys. Looks like Pizza got to play with it first though! It can be hard waiting through the countdown to Christmas, but a new little toy will break up the boredom a bit.
Watch Me Sip!
Both of my boys are big fans of ‘Whip Nae Nae’, especially #thelittleone! Pizza the elf seems to like it too. He even mixed things up with a little bit of a ‘punny’ play on words. This Elf On The Shelf antic is super simple to put together… All you need is a crazy straw or two, and a little trinket of a toy for elf play time!
Something Stinks…
I’ll be entirely honest here- I am in charge of our Elf On The Shelf about 99% of the time. But every once in a while, my hubs will jump in a bit with a suggestion. This is one of his own ideas, right down to the tiny clothespin, and I think it’s adorable! The kids think it’s hysterical – what little boy doesn’t get a giggle from poo?! Plus they get a sweet treat as well.
Elf Yourself!
My kiddos love any sort of creative project, and if it doubles as dress up, even better! I grabbed an inexpensive DIY mask that reminded me of Elf On the Shelf. We’re pairing it with some crayons or markers for a simple morning craft project that they boys can work on together.
It’s A ‘Berry’ Exciting Season!
There’s not much cuter than a craft project that captures my boys’ tiny fingerprints forever! This simple chance to decorate foam wreath ornaments is perfect. Our Elf On The Shelf left some of his own tiny fingerprint berries on his wreath, and encourages the boys to do the same. This is definitely an antic for Pizza to bring on a weekend- I don’t have the time or patience for paint-y fingertips on a school morning!
DOES YOUR FAMILY PARTICIPATE IN THE ELF ON THE SHELF TRADITION? WHAT SORT OF FUN STUFF DOES YOUR ELF DO? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
Essentials You May Need…
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10 Festive Christmas Eve Traditions Your Family Will Love
There are few nights more magical for children than the night before Christmas. The anticipation of Santa Claus’ arrival, the promise of goodies under the tree- it’s no wonder so many little ones are reluctant to fall asleep on Christmas Eve. If you’re like me, it’s fun to add small touches to special days, to make them that much more memorable. Check out my ideas for 10 festive Christmas Eve traditions you’ll want to start with your family this year!
This post is sponsored by Carter’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.1. Have A Movie Night
Nothing beats cuddling under blankets with your kiddos and watching a Christmas themed movie. It can be extra fun to share a childhood favorite of yours with them! Another fun option is to pick up a holiday movie no one has seen before and surprise your family with it on Christmas eve.
2. Make Cookies For Santa
If you’re looking for a tasty way to pass some time on Christmas Eve, baking cookies for Santa is a fun choice for the whole family! Spending time together mixing and decorating can really amplify those sweet, warm holiday feelings. Even if you’re not interested in baking together, don’t forget to leave a few store-bought cookies out for Santa Claus before bed!
3. Make Hot Cocoa
Put together some sweet cocoa to keep the house feeling cozy on Christmas Eve! If you’re feeling really ambitious, fill a thermos and head out to go…
4. Christmas Caroling
This is a tradition I’ve not participated in often, but it seems so fun and festive. After all, Buddy in ‘Elf’ said it best… “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”
5. Take In The Lights
My boys love to get bundled into the car to drive around and look at Christmas lights. Even if we don’t go far from our neighborhood, it’s still magical for them. Check local websites or Facebook groups to find listings of the most impressive light displays near you. Be sure to play some Christmas music to make your drive extra festive! (And bonus, this is a Christmas Eve tradition that might actually help your little ones settle down before bedtime!)
6. Make It A Holy Night
Although many celebrate a fairly secular holiday, attending Christmas Eve services at your place of worship can be an incredibly meaningful Christmas Eve tradition for your family.
7. Unwrap Some fun
For kids who have been waiting all month long for presents, the promise of opening a gift on Christmas Eve is magical. Consider a Christmas Eve tradition where everyone is allowed to open just one gift. Or consider unwrapping a ‘family’ gift on Christmas Eve- maybe a new board game to turn the night into family game night?
8. Get Cozy In New Jammies & 9. Read Together
Ever since #thebigone was very tiny, I have always loved getting him new pajamas especially for Christmas Eve. Some years, his Elf On The Shelf Pizza has delivered them to our home, and other years he knows they are from me. When #thelittleone arrived, I started getting him into the spirit on Christmas Eve with festive pajamas as well. It’s such an adorable Christmas Eve tradition, truly one of my favorites.
This year, the boys and I went to Carter’s together to pick up their new Christmas pajamas. Carter’s is typically our go-to for holiday pajamas since they have such cute options that are super cozy and comfortable for my kiddos. (And confession, obviously, we pick our sets out from the selection of boy pajamas each year. But honestly, there’s a little part of me jealous of the mamas choosing from the sweet girl pajamas in the store! Boy mom problems, I guess!)
When we stopped in to choose pajamas, we discovered that Carter’s is working with the Pajama Program again this year. We love this partnership because it allows us to easily make a donation that directly impacts our local community. The program aims to provide pajamas and books to children in need within local communities. It’s incredibly simple to make a donation in your local Carter’s store– they will accept either new pajamas or monetary donations at check out. In addition, if you’re grabbing your Christmas jammies online, it’s simple to donate money there as well. With Giving Tuesday upon us, it’s such a simple way to directly impact the lives of children around you. They’re collecting donations through the end of 2017, so be sure to bring your kids in to teach them a bit about giving back!
My favorite thing about the Pajama Program is their commitment to early literacy. (Big surprise, since I blog about children’s books often, right?!) The pajamas that are distributed are paired with a book, to encourage reading at home. It makes sense- children’s who’s parents struggle to provide them with basic necessities like warm pajamas in winter likely do not have the additional funds to also stock a home library. These children may ultimately end up reading below grade level, and Pajama Program steps in to try to remedy that.
It only makes sense to mention another favorite Christmas Eve tradition here- reading together before bedtime. The old standard is, of course, The Night Before Christmas, but there’s no reason you can’t mix things up. There are SO many fun and new holiday books released each year- you’re bound to find the perfect choice for your family.
10. Bring The Magic To Life
This Christmas Eve tradition is one to put into action after the little ones are in bed. Kids grow up SO fast these days, it’s fun to keep the magic of Christmas alive just a bit longer. Make sure to take a bite of the cookie your child left for Santa, or gnaw on that carrot for the reindeer a bit. A quick online search will teach you how to make your own ‘Santa footprints’ throughout the house. There are apps to help you snap a photo of ‘Santa’ leaving gifts under your tree. The possibilities are endless thanks to Pinterest, making this an especially fun Christmas Eve tradition.
DOES YOUR FAMILY HAVE ANY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITIONS? I’D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
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Christmas Cookie Story Time With Simple Kid-Made Ornaments
There are few treats that scream ‘holiday’ more than an assortment of freshly baked Christmas cookies! In honor of these sweet goodies, I’ve put together some ideas for a fun Christmas cookie story time perfect for your little elves! This story time features ideas for simple DIY Christmas ornaments that kids can make themselves. Be sure to grab a book, some cookies, and then encourage your kiddos to get creative this December!
CHRISTMAS COOKIE STORY TIME READ ALOUD
Hands down, there’s no better choice for Christmas cookie story time than A World Of Cookies For Santa. We recently had the chance to check out an advanced copy. I’m so glad we did, because it’s a new holiday favorite. M. E. Furman has written a ‘tasty trip around the world’, sharing both holiday traditions and tasty cookie recipes from around the globe. Kids will love learning how Christmas is celebrated in Sri Lanka, Brazil, or Alaska. Santa Claus’ many names, as well as traditional holiday festivities and recipes for each location feature prominently. Susan Gal has created the most colorful and energetic illustrations. There is so much texture, as well as depth in the overlapping colors- it’s reminiscent of Eric Carle’s well known style in many ways. Kids will be enthralled with the images.
CELEBRATING A CHRISTMAS COOKIE STORY TIME
Get Baking!
Kids will love helping out in the kitchen when you try your hands at a few of the recipes throughout the book. Sure, making family favorites is fun, but there’s cultural learning to be had when you sample goodies from other regions. Baking is a great way to strengthen math and science skills as well, so children will definitely benefit from this idea!
Write Your Own!
Help your child create their own page to accompany the book. What sort of holiday traditions are special for your family? What sweet treats do you always put together for Santa? Encourage kids to think about what makes your holiday celebrations unique. They can write and draw on the page, so they’ll be getting some fine more work as well as some great critical thinking in during December.
Christmas Cookie Story Time Ornaments
We always made cut-outs when I was growing up, so I have a particular fondness for cookie cutters. They’re classic, cute, and best of all, inexpensive, making cookie cutters the perfect base for some simple Christmas tree ornaments kids can put together themselves.
Materials
- Cookie cutters.
- We prefer the metal ones, but I’m sure plastic would work as well.
- Decorations.
- Washi tape.
- Thin tinsel garland.
- Decorative twine.
- Ribbon.
- Raffia.
- Stickers/stick on rhinestones.
- Double sided adhesive dots or tape.
- Scissors.
Directions
- Cut a length of the decorative material you’d like to use.
- Attach one end to your cookie cutter of choice using the double sided adhesive.
- Decorate your cookie cutter with the decorative material. There’s flexibility to get creative with your approach, but here are some tips:
- For some materials like twine, ribbon, and garland, wrapping the material around the cookie cutter repeatedly seems to work best.
- For materials like washi tape, it’s best to stick the tape down (without double sided adhesive) in whatever pattern you prefer. We did some covering the entire cookie cutter in small strips of one tape. Another combined strips of various tapes in a few different ways. It’s a great way to really get creative!
- Once you reach the end of a length of ribbon, attach the loose end to the cookie cutter using another piece of double sided adhesive.
- Continue until your cookie cutter is completely covered, or your ornament is decorated to your liking.
A huge bonus to using cookie cutters as Christmas tree ornaments is that you don’t have to add hangers! Simply slide the cookie cutter’s open center onto a branch of your Christmas tree, and it’s instantly festive!
Cookies for Santa? Carrots for reindeer? What does your family leave out on Christmas Eve? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
essentials You May Need…
>>>DOES YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE STILL LOOK A LITTLE BARE? ‘CRAFTY MAMA IN ME’ HAS YOU COVERED WITH THIS COLLECTION OF KID-MADE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS! cHECK THEM ALL OUT!<<<
- Cookie cutters.
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Quick & Easy Thanksgiving Story Time With Ten Fat Turkeys
I’ve had the idea for this blog post in my head for over a month now… Unfortunately, since my house was hit by a plague recently, I’ve fallen behind on getting new posts together. So, this post is going up much later than intended, but still technically before the Thanksgiving holiday! I’m going to count that as a success. Read on to check out my idea for a super simple Thanksgiving story time, as well as our favorite choice for a turkey-filled read aloud!
READING TEN FAT TURKEYS FOR THANKSGIVING STORY TIME
Tony Johnston wrote Ten Fat Turkeys. He’s created a rhyming tale about turkeys performing all sorts of antics. The activities the birds are performing are silly, which kids enjoy. Turkeys blowing bubble gum or roller-skating will have young readers giggling. Counting down from 10 to 0 is fun when you’re following the rhythm of the poem. My boys love the repetition of ‘GOBBLE GOBBLE WIBBLE WOBBLE’ through out the book- it’s a phrase that just begs you start dancing like a turkey! Rich Deas provided the illustrations. He’s captured such crazy personalities and quirky facial expressions throughout the book. #thelittleone loves thumbing through the bright pages, to see what all those turkeys are up to!
LEARNING DURING THANKSGIVING STORY TIME
I put together a super simple, very quick activity for #thelittleone inspired by Ten Fat Turkeys. The nice thing about this activity is that it’s not tied to only this book. You can very easily pull out the supplies for any Thanksgiving or turkey book you may have at home. Versatility is always a benefit! I through this project together on impulse. #thebigone was baking a pie with my mom, and #thelittleone was feeling left out, so I improvised with some materials I had on hand. You can easily recreate this project after a quick trip to the store, if you don’t happen to already have everything.
Materials:
- Feathers.
- If you’d like to work on color recognition, multicolored works best.
- If you’d like to work on counting, any color is fine.
- Clay or play-dough.
- If you’d like to work on color recognition, you will need colors to match the feathers you chose.
- If you’re like to work on counting, any color is fine.
- A tray or cookie sheet to protect your work surface.
- Aluminum foil or wax paper would likely work well also.
Directions:
- Form the clay into small balls, to represent turkey bodies.
- Adding faces to the front of the balls is option, but my kids had fun with it. A little extra creative sculpting is a good thing!
- Kids can strengthen hand muscles while forming the balls, which is great for future writing skills.
- If you are working colors, encourage your child to poke colored feathers into the matching turkey body.
- We talked about the colors while we did this.
- Counting how many feathers you added is a great to way to throw some math into the mix as well.
- If you are working on counting, assign a number to each turkey body. Have your child stick the appropriate number of feathers into each turkey body.
- Ex: Ball 1 gets 1 feather, ball 2 gets 2 feathers, etc.
This activity is so fun and simple. Kids love the hands on nature of it. It’s a perfect choice to keep kids actively engaged in learning while Thanksgiving dinner is still being prepared, or while you’re waiting for the pie to be served after dinner. Older children may prefer a drawing or writing activity designed to help them count their blessings. You can easily pair these ideas with my printable Thanksgiving adult coloring page, and the whole family will be calm and happy! Happy Thanksgiving friends!
Do you have any special ways you encourage learning around the Thanksgiving Holiday? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!
Essentials You May Need…
- Feathers.
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9 Unique Gift Ideas For The Uncommon Mom This Christmas
I’m going to come out and say it guys… My husband is a terrible gift giver. I love him dearly, but oh my word. There are days when he and the boys head out in search of a gift for me, and I honestly feel nervous. Please don’t think I’m whining or exaggerating… He will be the first to tell you that the year he bought a Starbucks gift card at the grocery store while I was in line with him was NOT an impressive choice. This Christmas, I’m taking matters into my own hands. So, hubs, if you’re reading this, TAKE NOTE! Here are 9 unique gift ideas for the uncommon mom this Christmas!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Uncommon Goods. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
Keep It Personal
Personalized gifts always tell the recipient that you chose something especially for them. It’s so heartwarming to know that this gift was meant for you and only you.
>>> Take a peek at even more ideas for personalized keepsakes and tokens. <<<
Brighten Up My Day
Gifts don’t have to be super fussy or expensive to make the recipient’s day complete. I’m a creative soul, who loves bright colors and quirky designs. Anything along those lines is sure to make moms like myself smile widely on Christmas morning.
>>> Not sure what your wife will love? Check out the options! <<<
Size Doesn’t Matter (Believe It Or Not!)
It’s not all about how big the box is, or how much money someone spent. At Christmas, and all year round, it truly is so lovely to receive a gift with thought behind it. Keep inside jokes, family memories, and other special moments in mind while choosing small gifts that mean a lot.
>>> Stocking stuffers can bring big smiles too! <<<
ABOUT UNCOMMON GOODS
All of the gift ideas featured here are available at Uncommon Goods. You can shop with pride knowing you’re supporting a company that values sustainability, handmade work, and supporting non-profit organizations. Learn more about the Uncommon Goods mission, and be sure to check out all they have to offer.
HOW DOES YOUR PARTNER DO WHEN IT’S TIME FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING? WHAT’S THE MOST UNUSUAL GIFT HE OR SHE HAS GIVEN YOU BEFORE? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
. They are all over Amazon, Ebay and everywhere else for double, triple and quadruple the price. I’ve 
