Christmas is celebrated in countries all over the world, but we all celebrate it a bit differently. I have always been fascinated with the various traditions and symbols of the holiday season. I even taught an entire unit plan about winter holidays when I was student teaching. Baking cookies is one of my favorite traditions of the holidays, and it is one that is common in many of the countries that celebrate. I have such fond memories of baking with my mom when I was younger, and I love being able to pass this tradition on to my daughter, and to see her enjoy the same tradition with my mom as well. Today we take a look at some of the ways that Christmas is celebrated around the world, and the sweet treats they enjoy!
Category Archives: Books
Personalized Christmas Books to Make the Holidays Special!
Updated: November 2019
When it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, I am always looking for special gifts that really mean something. Growing up, my parents always bought ornaments for my sister and I to add to our collection, and I continue that tradition now with my daughter. I have also made it a tradition to purchase a new Christmas book for my daughter every year. This year, I was thrilled to be introduced to the beautiful personalized children’s books from Put Me in the Story, and I am so excited that they offer fun Christmas books! I decided to gather a list of some of my favorites (as well as one which would make a great holiday gift for the grandparents!).
Terrific Turkey Books
Turkey Day is almost here! As the weather turns colder and we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I wanted to gather a list of fun turkey themed books to inspire our learning this month. There are lots of fun turkey books for all ages, so I hope you find some new ones to explore on here!
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Recognizing Veterans
As Veteran’s Day approaches, it is important to explain to kids why we spend a day recognizing our Veteran’s and honoring them for their service to our country. There are lots of great books about honoring the brave soldiers who have sacrificed for our freedom. To recognize the holiday as a family, I’ve compiled a list of books to share, as well as fun activities to bring them to life.
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?
Updated on October 16, 2019
Pumpkins provide so many fun opportunities to learn and practice important skills. Plus, who doesn’t feel festive when surrounded by bright orange pumpkins? We have already visited at least one apple orchard and pumpkin patch this year, so I was inspired to find lots of ways to use them in our learning. I was also thrilled to find a book that ties math and other lessons in with pumpkins and the fall season. Check out all of the fun we had counting pumpkin seeds!
Give the Gift of Laughter and Creativity!
One of the best parts of being a parent is the opportunity to act like a kid again. As a teacher, some of my favorite memories are dancing, singing and just having fun with the kids. The same is true now that I am a parent. The other day while emptying the dishwasher, my two year old picked up a spatula, sat on the floor and used it to “row” herself across the kitchen floor — all the while singing “Row Row Row Your Boat”. When she asked me to join, I sat right down with her and scooted across the floor too. And the laughter from that moment will stick with me as an amazing memory.
Pumpkin Activities for Kids!
Updated October 16, 2019
I love the fall! If you regularly read the blog or follow me on social media, you may already know this since I tend to mention it a lot. I love the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. I’ve been really excited to get out to our local farmer’s markets and orchards because all of the different apples, pumpkins and vegetables inspire me to create fun projects and recipes with my daughter. Today’s book follows a little boy and his mom as they go out to the farmer’s market in search of the perfect pumpkin, and we paired it with lots of fun pumpkin activities for kids!
You Are Wonderful
As a mother, it is so important to me that I raise my daughter to be proud of who she is. I want her to have confidence to do the things she loves and surround herself with people who see the wonderful person that she is. I make it a mission to tell her how loved she is, and how much I appreciate the things that make her special. Luckily Nancy Tillman’s amazing books give me that opportunity whenever we read them together. I am a huge fan of her beautiful work, so I was thrilled when I was offered the opportunity to check out her newest one about helping kids discover themselves!
13 Monstrously Fun Monster Books
Updated October 16, 2019
Monsters can be a scary thing for kids to deal with, but there have always been lots of fun monster characters to enjoy in books, TV shows and movies. They can teach us lessons about not making judgments while making us laugh with their silliness and giving a physical representation to our fear of the unknown. With Halloween right around the corner, I gathered a list of colorful and funny monster books, starring all kinds of monsters. Whether you are looking for board books to help your young kids face their fears, or picture books with an important message on making judgments, there is something here for everyone!
How to Create a Special Place to Read with Your Kids
Do you have a favorite place to read? The Internet is full of amazing reading nooks and dream libraries. I find myself getting lost in the pictures dreaming of spending a day there. When it comes to getting kids excited about reading, you want to ensure that they have a great area that they can call their own. While we may wish for fantastic libraries that aren’t meant to be (I realize now I will never have the library from Beauty and the Beast), there are lots of ways that you can carve out a small area in your home and make it the perfect place to read. Today’s book takes a fun look at what a perfect reading area needs.