Blend Holiday Season Traditions with Schooling.

It's simple. You are educating for life. Don't over complicate it and stress yourself out. This can be fun and educational for the entire family.  

1. Cuddle and Read. Holiday-themed books are a favorite of children.  From classics like, The Night Before Christmas or The Gingerbread Baby, to new stories.  Be a story teller!  Share stories about the significance and traditions of different holidays, memories or create your own idea of a wonderful Winter Wonderland - even if it is surrounded by palm trees. When we do this, we let children "imagine." We also help them understand the cultural and historical aspects of the holidays.
   
2. Get messy with crafts! Your table is covered more times than you can count. it's another opportunity here. Holiday themed activities that children don't get to do annually pairs very well with a few options below. Paint holidays themes on canvas with watercolors or acrylic paint, use dough, or clay, to make ornaments, bead to create hanging decorations, or use construction paper or cardstock to create place settings for tables or greeting cards for Co-op teachers, neighbors and friends for a gift exchange. This hands-on approach helps them learn about giving back, sharing, while having fun.
   
3. Cooking and Baking. You may feel rushed around the holidays, or overwhelmed, but take a breather.  Let the children help with simple cooking or baking activities.  You teach them fractions for a reason!  Baking holiday treats like fudge, cookies, crescents or biscuits -even traditional dishes - can be a shared task while you handle side dishes. It's a great way to introduce them to different textures, cuisines and customs if you want to study a holiday tradition of a specific country.
   
4. Play Music and Dance! Do it like no one else is watching!  Listening to music while cooking or creating crafts promotes memorable karaoke moments!  Turn up the volume and play the holiday music at a higher notch. It's a jolly season! Teach the children festive songs or dances and relive happy moments with those that make you laugh or reminisce.  Have you heard, "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth?" You could watch cultural performances, visit a local theater or public school holiday performance, or musical, related to the season as well.
   
5. Use the Internet to Explore: Check your FB Marketplace "Events" section. Then use "Maps" in Google to get you there.  Using the maps will also show you other local events. Take trips to the holiday displays, shopping markets, or festivals. If you can't do that, explore virtually using Google Earth where you can put yourself at street view to see holiday traditions around the world. It's as simple as choosing a location at your fingertips.
   
6. Volunteer as a Family.  Some could use more help than others around the holiday season.  Many charities operate year round, however they get more interest during the holiday season. Encourage generosity by involving your children in charitable activities.  Maybe you can have them fill up a bag of items to donate toys, clothing, room decorations or hobbies that they have outgrown.  How about volunteering at Give Kids The World, or Clean the World - instead of a food pantry, or as seen in some FB posts, families post needing help.  You can participate in drives for foster care children, or families closer to you.  Each year, our community posts for collections for potluck for our local Fire House because the firemen work 24 hours.  They are always very appreciative. 
   
7. Family Traditions. This is timeless. We have to do our part in being a primary resource for our children. Share your favorite family traditions and stories about how your holidays were celebrated when you were younger. Often, it is not as we all see it fantasized and portrayed on reels.  We all know technology has evolved over the years. Don't allow social media to influence their wants and needs, loosing touch with your reality. Family traditions are precious and should be remembered.
   
8. Fun Games. Holiday Bingo or puzzles related to holiday scenes, traditions, symbols, or historical events are a great way to fill an evening. Trivia quizzes or simple memory games can be both educational and entertaining. Games like, the Saran Wrap ball, Who's Like Scrooge?, What's Your Elf Name, and more can be found on Pinterest. Enjoy them!
   
9. Walk/Drive the Neighborhood: Take walks every evening to observe all the holiday decorations in your neighborhood.  Do you notice changes like at the theme parks where it's decorated for Halloween, or Fall, then immediately the next day you see Christmas decorations out?  Talk about the significance of the decorations.  Maybe you have a neighbor who celebrates Kwanza or Hanukkah and the children notice those changes in decorations due to different cultures.
   
10. Talk. Discuss. Share. Encourage, as you probably always so, open discussions about the importance of sharing, gratitude and kindness during the holidays. It isn't just about what is under the Christmas tree. Even the Grinch learned empathy during the holiday season. Emphasize the values we have all come to associate with the most wonderful time of the year, allowing us to slow down and truly enjoy - being still.
    

Make learning about the holidays enjoyable and relatable for children.  This may be that one opportunity they do want to hear about when you were younger and how things were done back in your day.  Adapt all the activities to suit your childrens' ages and interests, of course, to ensure your teenager can have an engaging learning experience right alongside your six year old - even if they are the ones sharing their memories.  They are learning about life. Enjoy!