Holidays are a fun and exciting time of year for children and their families. Whether it is learning about their own holiday traditions or those of others, it is both fun and educational to engage children in hands on learning experiences about the holidays. Children learn best from tactile learning experiences based upon their interests and the holiday season is a perfect time for children to engage with the festive things going on around them! Below we have included some of our tried and true holiday activities!
Holiday Wreath Craft
Use a brush or sponge and green paint to create a holiday wreath like the ones children see on family and neighbor’s doors. Children can add decorations to the wreath once it dries. Parents can help children cut out the wreath to display in the home as a holiday decoration!
Gingerbread Man Craft and Books
The Gingerbread man is a timeless story, beloved by preschoolers! You can choose the classic story of the gingerbread man or go with one of the many fun versions available including- Gingerbread Baby or the Gingerbread Girl! In addition to reading the book (or several versions and talking about how they are alike or different), children can create their own Gingerbread person by coloring a template to make their gingerbread person exactly how they see fit!
Baking & Cooking with children
Baking/Cooking with children is a fun, engaging way to enhance learning in many domains of learning- including math, science, language and social emotional skills! Children learn best through hands on experiences, so providing simple jobs during the cooking/baking experience is an excellent way to engage them while teaching them about holidays and traditions.
Holiday Wreath Craft
Use a brush or sponge and green paint to create a holiday wreath like the ones children see on family and neighbor’s doors. Children can add decorations to the wreath once it dries. Parents can help children cut out the wreath to display in the home as a holiday decoration!
Gingerbread Man Craft and Books
The Gingerbread man is a timeless story, beloved by preschoolers! You can choose the classic story of the gingerbread man or go with one of the many fun versions available including- Gingerbread Baby or the Gingerbread Girl! In addition to reading the book (or several versions and talking about how they are alike or different), children can create their own Gingerbread person by coloring a template to make their gingerbread person exactly how they see fit!
Baking & Cooking with children
Baking/Cooking with children is a fun, engaging way to enhance learning in many domains of learning- including math, science, language and social emotional skills! Children learn best through hands on experiences, so providing simple jobs during the cooking/baking experience is an excellent way to engage them while teaching them about holidays and traditions.
Learning About Holidays & Traditions Around the World
At LEEC, preschoolers enjoy learning about holidays/traditions around the world during the holiday season. Teachers engage children in learning experiences, books and other activities that allow them to explore the holiday and the traditions surrounding the holiday. It allows children to consider perspectives that may be different than their own and helps to build the classroom community by allowing children to share how they celebrate holidays and traditions with their families. There is a wealth of children’s books that cover holidays around the world and many simple crafts such as the Kwanzaa Light craft pictured below that families can do at home!
What Traditions Do You Enjoy?
We would love to hear your ideas about some fun, engaging ways you learn about holidays at home!
