By

Learning Together Joyfully: December – Giving and Receiving

It’s that time of year — the holiday season — and children’s excitement is running high. Singing, concerts, ceremonies and family rituals both at home and school mark this special time of year. The old saying that it is better to give than to receive is one to reflect upon and to engage children in discussions to further develop their understanding. The feeling we get after doing something for someone else, is so much more meaningful than anything you can “add to cart” and buy for yourself. It is important to start sharing this lesson with young children.  Of course, the holiday season is meant to be joyful, but it can also be stressful for children and challenge them to engage their self-regulation skills to the maximum. Ideas and strategies presented here may support educators and parents to make the coming weeks easier for their children. As you and your children look to the new year and resolve to continue good practices and change some behaviours to improve your life, consider the importance of providing play-based learning experiences for your children in your classroom and at home – as you play, learn, and grow together!

GIVING AND RECEIVING BOOKS – While enjoying the holiday spirit, capitalize on the spirit of giving with thought-provoking books to stimulate discussions. Generosity, a simple-but-big concept, manifests itself in many ways, so during the holiday season you may wish to explain and model for children that it goes beyond “gifting” big material presents. The following titles showcase different ways to give the best of ourselves — every day and every way we can. You can find these titles at your school library or public library or if looking to purchase a gift, links have been provided. The mini-blogs include You Tube readings for some of the books.

1.  Read and Sing together 📚 

  • It’s Mine! By Leo Lionni . This lesson on sharing is the first one kids need on their way to understanding about the importance of giving. Three selfish frogs spend their days arguing with the same refrain: “It’s mine!” until a bad storm (and a big brown toad) teaches them that sharing is indeed more rewarding than trying to keep everything for ourselves. With characteristic clarity, simplicity and exuberance, kids can see themselves through the antics of others who share our world.
  • The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need  by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain. This charming family of bears is an excellent go-to for teaching kids about giving. The Berenstain Bears realize they have too much stuff and decide to donate their unneeded items to those in need. The Bear family feels doubly good donating not just their hand-me-downs, but also their time and energy to help others in the community. 
  • The Smartest Giant in Town  by Julia Donaldson. Sure, new clothes can be great, especially if you’re a giant who can’t often find a look you like. George, the formerly scruffy giant, gets all suited up and becomes the most smartly attired giant. It’s on a walk through town, encountering creatures in need, that he realizes each of his new purchases could really help others. If you’re trying to teach children the reason to donate toys or clothing they no longer need, this is a good place to start.
  • What Is Given from the Heart  by Patricia C. McKissak. This final book, a celebration of the joy of giving, by the late McKissack is a poignant story about a poor boy who doesn’t realize how much he has to offer. James and his mama have fallen on hard times, but that doesn’t stop Mama from turning her cherished tablecloth into an apron for a family that has lost everything in a fire. This powerful tale of compassion reminds us all that what is given from the heart, reaches the heart.
  • Harold Loves His Wooly Hat by Vern Kousky. When a crow snatches Harold’s prized woolly hat off his head, he offers worms, berries, and shiny objects in a desperate attempt to win it back. Harold then climbs the crow’s tree intent on taking back his hat and instead discovers others who need it more.
  • The Gift Inside the Box by Adam and Allison Grant brings the message of giving and generosity with the clever story of a gift box looking for the perfect recipient. The gift box comes across greedy would-be recipients, but what the box really needs is a generous person who sees an opportunity to give rather than take. The book, meant to be read interactively, with adults posing questions so kids can guess what’s happening (and why) provides an opportunity to start conversations about giving and generosity. 
  • The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Patrice Barton is spot-on in this book with the message that attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity. It’s all too easy for kids to overlook a shy classmate, like the book’s main character Justin. There’s a positive message when Brian extends a hand of friendship and helps Justin shine during a class project.
  • Pass It On by Sophy Henn. This upbeat picture book shows children that passing along a smile or sharing a moment of joy and sharing happiness with others is often the best gift of all. Perfect for read-aloud sessions, the story will have kids excitedly reciting the refrain of “pass it on!” at every turn of the page — and in real life, too
  • The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  This is the story of a boy who loves a tree, and a tree who loves the boy. The tree gives everything she can to the boy, until she is nothing but a stump, and then she still gives some more. A wonderful meditation on nature, and the often selfless dynamic of parent-child relationships. This book is the perfect bedtime or story time read to follow up a season of consumerism and over indulgence as it highlights the kind of selflessness and generosity that people of all ages could consider.
  • Give and Take by Chris Raschka. Most kids master the art of taking pretty quickly, but the art of giving takes a bit more thought. Still, in life there is a balance to strike between give and take—no one can be all give, or all take. In this book we meet two characters named Give and Take and see what happens when a farmer follows all of one’s advice (spoiler: nothing good!) and when he finally sees the value of both (creates an apple pie, which is a great thing indeed.)
  • If You Give a Mouse A Cookie, by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond. This humorous book is a great first introduction to Mouse, the star of the If You Give… series and a perennial favorite among children. “If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk,” it begins, and then the story spirals out from there, leading somehow to mopping the floors, creating signed artwork, impromptu haircuts, and circling back once again to giving a mouse a cookie. Reading of this book provides a perfect opportunity to open the discussion about the importance of never taking advantage of those who are giving.

INDIGENOUS TITLES:

  • Nokum Is My Teacher by David Bouchard, illustrated by Allen Sapp is the poetic story about a young Indigenous boy who asks his Nokum (grandmother) a series of questions about the world outside of their community. She gives her grandson an appreciation for his tradition as well as an understanding of how to fit into life off of the reserve — while still respecting the ways of his people. 
  • The Moccasins by Earl Einarson is about an Indigenous boy who is given a gift from his adoptive mother. This simple story is built on themes of acceptance, self-esteem and love to depict a positive foster care experience. 
  • Little You by Richard Van Camp celebrates the strength and vulnerability of being small but the power of being surrounded by family and community from a young age — and the importance of growing up knowing you are unconditionally loved. 
  • Grandpa’s Girls by Nicola Campbell. Children and adults alike will love this lively story about four adventurous granddaughters as they learn about their Nle’kepmxcin culture and spend time with the Grandpa they adore. 

SELF-REGULATION BOOKS:

The holiday season can be stressful for many children and impact their behaviour. As children read about humorous situations they may have faced or observed, they have an opportunity to reflect on their own ability to self-regulate. Sharing these books provides an opportunity to discuss strategies that encourage them to work through their emotions, to pause before acting, to be mindful of their bodies and more. Through mindfulness, children can learn self-awareness and self-calming strategies that will become life-long skills for handling stress and emotions.

  • Mini Mindful Mantras Series by Laurie Wright includes 7 titles: I Believe in Myself; I can Handle it; I Will Try; I will be Okay; I can Do It; I Belong; and I Matter. This series addresses everyday situations that can cause hard to handle feelings for kids and reinforces the idea that children are not helpless, can problem-solve and figure out things to do to help themselves cope with these typical feelings. 
  • “Executive Function” series by Bryan Smith includes 4 titles appropriate for K-6 and includes: What Were You Thinking? (Executive Function #1) – a story about strategies to control impulses; My Day is Ruined! (Executive FUNction #2) – a story teaching flexible thinking; Of Course It’s a Big Deal (Executive FUNction #3) – a story about learning to act appropriately. What’s the Problem? (Executive FUNction #6) – a story about a  problem-solving strategy called SODAS (Situation, Options, Disadvantages, Advantages, and Solution)  . 
  • The Danny series written by Adir & Ganit Levy focuses on real-life situations that empowers kids with the understanding that they have the power to choose their actions. This innovative, interactive series is written in a “choose your own story” style and has multiple stories and choices.The series includes: What Should Danny Do? with 9 Stories in 1; What Should Danny Do? School Day with 8 stories in 1; and What Should Danny Do? On Vacation with 9 stories in 1.

CHRISTMAS BOOKS:

  • Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson. Bear’s friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up — by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents!
  • Christmas Songs: Deluxe Sound Book Wood Module  is a delightful interactive book that includes 10 different songs with words and music.
  • Finding Christmas by Robert Munsch. Every year Julie finds the Christmas presents her parents hid: in the basement, under the bed, in the garage. But this year it’s Christmas Eve and she has found nothing. NOTHING! She’s worried – will there be no presents at all? Her investigation takes her to a mysterious box on the rooftop, which – lo and behold – houses all of the gifts! But, there is the biggest surprise of all for her family on Christmas morning.
  • The Little Match Girl illustrated by three-time Caldecott Honor recipient Jerry Pinkney transform this classic story of a nineteenth-century Danish girl of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale into a child plucked straight from America’s melting pot, shedding new light on the invisibility of the poor among the prosperous – a circumstance as familiar in Andersen’s day as it is in our own.
  • Baseball Bats for Christmas by Michael Arvaaluk Kusugak. This authentic tale about children living in the Arctic in 1955 about Arvaarluk and his friends watching Rocky Parsons land his plane on the ice in Repulse Bay, a tiny community “smack dab on the Arctic Circle.”  Having never seen trees before, the children try to guess what the six green spindly things are that Rocky delivers. One of the boys has a brilliant idea: why not use them as baseball bats?

HANUKKAH BOOKS: Simply put, Hanukkah, a family-oriented Jewish religious holiday, may be celebrated by lighting the menorah, playing the game of dreidel and eating special holiday foods like latkes and sufganiyot. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 B.C.E. and is considered one of the happiest Jewish holidays of the year.  

  • The Night Before Hanukkah by Natasha Wing. It’s the night before the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah begins, and everyone is excited! Each evening, the family gathers to light the candles and share holiday traditions such as playing dreidel, eating latkes, and exchanging gifts. 
  • The Story of Hanukkah by David A Adler.  No celebration of Hanukkah would be complete without recounting the events of more than two thousand years ago that the holiday commemorates. In a simple text with vibrant paintings, the story of the courageous Maccabees and the miracle that took place in the Temple in Jerusalem is retold. A recipe for latkes and directions for playing dreidel are included.
  • The Three Latkes by Eric A Kimmel.  When three Hanukkah latkes fight over which of them tastes the best, the winner is decided by the family cat. Which will he choose? The excited latkes can’t wait to find out, but perhaps they should be careful for what they wish!
  • The Golden Dreidel by Ellen Kushner. Sara wishes her family celebrated Christmas or at least had one of the pretty trees she sees at her friends’ houses. But at her family’s big Chanukah party, mysterious guest Tante Miriam gives Sara a one-of-a-kind gift: an enormous, golden dreidel and warns her to be careful, for when she spins it, she’s spinning miracles. Sara enters a whole new world–one of magical princesses, riddles, and demons. The perfect Chanukah read!
  • The Eight Knights of Hanukkah by Leslie Kimmelman. The whole kingdom has gathered to celebrate Hanukkah–but a dastardly dragon keeps interrupting the festivities. Can the Eight Knights of Hanukkah set things right? Lady Sadie must call upon the Eight Knights of Hanukkah to perform deeds of awesome kindness and stupendous bravery and put an end to the dragon’s shenanigans. There are also notes on the traditions of Hanukkah and directions for playing the dreidel game.
  • Red and Green and Blue and White by Lee Wind. Inspired by a true story, this is a tale of a community that banded together to spread light. It’s a holiday season that both Isaac, whose family is Jewish, and Teresa, whose family is Christian, have looked forward to for months! They’ve been counting the days, playing in the snow, making cookies, drawing and writing poems. They enjoy all the things they share, as well as the things that make them different. But when Isaac’s window is smashed in the middle of the night, it seems like maybe not everyone appreciates “difference.”  This is a quiet, uplifting tale where readers will feel heartened at children’s power to influence others to stand up for justice and defeat prejudice.

READ ALOUDS: Read the full description in the above lists.

SINGING TO CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS, TOYS, GIVING AND RECEIVING

Did you know that singing actually has health benefits and improves brain function? Singing releases endorphins which make you feel energized and uplifted. Your stress level is lowered, anxiety is relieved and in general children and adults are happier and healthier. There are multiple ways of using music to help your child learn something new – calm instrumental music in the background can help them focus, mnemonics and rhymes will help them retain and recall. Listening to music can help kids develop language and strengthen their memory, get them moving, and give them an opportunity for expression. 

2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Cooking, Drawing and Constructing 🧩

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ljL4O-S4y3YnZMdzcuAGnqMq6oduWWdayp0XQ32CgOj3R9_RWDsCIg5xvoVpQ7kzI5cHt56JCSEGTVgD5JGguFz2QktFT1FKGzJOqDPaV71LDTrW1ACoNjn4YUXAMtWXA9pnbrt7

 COOKING with children offers a wide variety of opportunities to learn and grow. Although it requires time, patience, and some extra clean-up, especially when the children are younger, the benefits of cooking with kids are worth it. Read about the ten benefits of cooking with kids. Involving children in the kitchen over the holiday season doesn’t have to be all play; help them package up their creations as homemade Christmas gifts for family and friends as they learn about the importance of giving and sharing something of themselves.  

CRAFT ACTIVITIES that children create with their own hands, foster communication, listening, attention, and can stimulate their imagination. In addition, these activities can: enhance self-expression, mental health and wellbeing; improve their eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills, and encourage their creativity and productivity. Read more about the benefits of arts and crafts for kids. Again, you may wish to help them create Christmas gifts for family and friends.

The following are some recommended holiday gift giving ideas and include links to purchase.

ADVENT CALENDARS – Manage children’s excitement (and stress) by tracking the days and activities over the holiday season. An Advent calendar can be the perfect activity to enjoy the countdown.

BLOCKS – Research confirms that playing with blocks is not only fun, but they teach physics concepts like cause and effect, force, velocity, and gravity. They also help develop emotional growth and resilience, and provide opportunities to explore imagination and visual-spatial relationships. 

BOOKS – These craft books will keep your child entertained and reinforce the concept of creating something personal to give to others. Check out the above book lists for recommended titles to purchase as gifts.

  • LEGO Holiday Ideas. Children who enjoy building and crafting LEGO® will be entertained as they create LEGO holiday decorations, gifts and games, including fun tree decorations, a family of penguins, and a snowflake garland. There are 50 winter holiday-themed activities to keep kids busy counting down to the holidays and throughout the winter holidays.
  • The Story of Hanukkah; Create and Celebrate! by Debbie Rivers-Moore. This festive  book is filled with activities that will keep children busy (and excited!) as they anticipate the arrival of Hanukkah. Inside, a warmly told, illustrated story is accompanied by themed projects, games, drawing activities, puzzles, stickers, stencils, and more.
  • The Everything Kids’ Hanukkah puzzle & Activity Book: Games, crafts, trivia, songs, and traditions to celebrate the Festival of Lights! by Beth L Blair & Jennifer A Ericsson. Kids will enjoy more than 100 puzzles and activities about: the history of Hanukkah from its roots more than 2,000 years ago; the meaning behind the various rituals, traditions, and prayers; why certain foods are eaten; Hanukkah crafts, decorations, and gifts they can make; and more! 
  • Christmas; 5-Step Handicrafts for Kids #8 by Anna Llimos. In just five simple steps, children can make a variety of festive holiday crafts. Fourteen projects make clever use of commonly available materials and simple tools, turning empty toilet paper rolls, clothespins, and card stock into lasting crafts and toys. A ranking system for craft difficulty levels is included, from one star to four stars, for stress-free project selection.
  • The Twelve Knits of Christmas by Fiona Goble. From a partridge in a pear tree to twelve drummers drumming, this book brings the popular verse to life as knitters of all skill levels create each of the twelve characters featured in the charming holiday song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.
  • Christmas Craft Book; 30 Fun & Festive Projects to Make with Kids by Laura Minter. The Christmas Craft Book is a festive collection of 30 fun projects using everyday recycled materials and craft supplies.  
  • Christmas Rocks! By Lori C. Freob. ‘Tis the season to be jolly—and creative— with this Christmas-inspired rock-painting kit. Inside, kids will find 6 rocks, 6 paint pots, 2 paint brushes, and a 32-page, full-color, easy-to-follow instruction guide on how to paint snowmen, Santa’s, snow globes, and more on the rocks.

PUZZLES – help children develop finger strength, perseverance and problem-solving skills and a sense of accomplishment. They are also great for the whole family to bond and do together.

  • Hanukkah Cookies; 1000 Piece by Cobble Hill.
  • The Night Before Christmas; A beautifully designed 550-piece jigsaw puzzle that also includes a mini booklet of this classic children’s tale
  • The Night Before Christmas Mini Puzzles by Clement C. Moore and Christian Birmingham. This kit includes: (2) 180-piece 6″ x 7-1/2″ mini puzzles featuring 2 scenes from The Night Before Christmas and a 2-1/2″ x 3″ illustrated mini book edition of The Night Before Christmas
  • Snowman’s Band Mini Puzzle; 4 mini-puzzles.
  • Santa Book and 3 Jigsaws by Sam Taplin. This book and jigsaw follows Santa as he gets ready for the most magical night of the year. Little children can complete the nine-piece jigsaws to recreate three of the snowy scenes, and enjoy spotting all kinds of details in the book. 
  • Christmas in the Forest 100 PC Puzzle 
  • The Nativity. This pack contains a 30-piece jigsaw of the Nativity scene for children to assemble, as well as a beautifully illustrated 24-page picture book that retells the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, and the birth of baby Jesus. High quality, 30-piece jigsaw is a perfect introduction to beginner level puzzles. 

Toys are an important part of every child’s life — it is a wonderful feeling to give the right toy. This article provides an age guide to consider when buying toys. Remember that many safe and appropriate play materials are free items typically found at home such as cardboard boxes, plastic bowls and lids, and collections of plastic bottle caps – they can be whatever your child imagines. Read about a list of no cost toys for children. Psychologists suggest that toys that encourage creativity, assist children to hold information in their mind, think flexibly as things change, use self-control and support them to experiment and problem-solve are worthy considerations. The best ones are open-ended, with limited rules or guidelines and have no correct answer or end goal. Read more about the best creative toys.

3. Explore together 🌍

Research tells us that learning to play a musical instrument can affect the actual structure of the brain. Through our emotional connection to the music we play, the majority of our senses are engaged: vision, hearing, touch. Even our fine motor skills are improved. Children who play a musical instrument can improve their concentration, retention, and confidence. Because timing is crucial in playing a musical instrument, it also supports visual and auditory integration.

4. Engage and Interact: 👭

  • Thinking about encouraging your young child to play a musical instrument? Consider purchasing this instrument sound puzzle as a starting point. While children create a puzzle they gain an interest in playing an instrument! 
  • Thinking of giving a gift of music to your grandchild? Learn more about the outstanding program offerings at the Vancouver School of Music including  programs for young children (0 – 6 years) and the online virtual classes (7 – 12 years)  
  • The following interactive songs combine music with movement and invite children to participate and communicate socially.  
  • BOARD GAMES – allow for family time versus screen time and strengthen teamwork and relationships; they can boost language skills, teach strategy and expand children’s attention spans; and kids can focus on having fun and laugh as they learn to be a good loser.
  • Consider discussing New Year’s Resolutions at home or in the class. Resolutions for kids might include: 
    • Give a compliment a day;
    • Do one random act of kindness a day; 
    • Unplug for a certain amount of time each day 
    • Read a book every day and parents… include a cuddle a day with your child. 

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day: Toys, Giving, Receiving and Learning 💭