Holidays and Books

It is that time of the year, when the one thing on mind of many children is the holidays. Sometimes it is hard to get them to refocus on learning. In my class we talk about all kinds of celebrations- not just the winter holidays. We start out by discussing the celebrations the children already know about and then I tell them about a few others. This year one of the children is expecting a new sibling soon, so that we be part of our discussion. I try to look for books that talk about giving, rather than getting. While most of them are older books, I think they still have a social emotional value and can be tied into the holidays.

The Mitten Tree by Candance Christiansen and illustrated by Elaine Greenstein is the story of a elderly lady who wishes the children would take time to visit. She notices that one of them has no mittens and so she makes him a pair and hangs them on a nearby tree. Over time she makes more and more mittens for the children. The story is lends itself to the topic of lonely older people or to helping those less fortunate. After reading this story you might have the children make gifts for people at a local retirement home or you could create a tree to collect mittens for those who don't have any.

Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Maurice Sendak is the story of a little girl looking for a present for her mother. I usually read this story then ask the children to think about someone they love and would like to give a present. At times, I have simply had the children draw or cut out a picture of the item, but recently I have been setting up a store in which the children may shop for others. I think it is so important for us to encourage children to look outside themselves. My store has items which others donate to me. Nothing with a lot of value, but the children have a great time, selecting, purchasing ( with play money I provide), wrapping, often hiding, and finally giving the gift. The activity teaches math skills, literacy skills, builds self esteem, fine motor skills, and encourages children to follow through on the multi-step task. We have the store open for at least a full week, so the children really begin to understand what we are doing.

Children continue to love the story of The Little Engine That Could. There are many versions, but they all encourage children to keep trying. Have children think of something they couldn't do, but now can. Ask them to draw a picture of it and hang them on a bulletin board with the title, We Thought We Could and We Did It. You might even put each picture in the car of a train.

A favorite Christmas story of mine is Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry. While I read the old version, I'm pretty sure there is a more modern one out now. Mr. Willowby gets his tree, but it is too big, so he cuts off the top and throws it out. The top is found by another, but it is too big and the top is cut off and thrown out. The story continues in this pattern. Children enjoy seeing that all creatures who have a tree from the top of the one large tree. I like to do a math related activity about sequencing of size after this story, but it also provides a time for us to talk about the different ways people celebrate.

Other books about celebrations, which you might not be as familiar, include Parade by Donald Crews, The Dress I'll Wear to the Party by Shirley Neitzel, Light the Candle, Bang the Drum by Ann Morris. I often include books about music, since that is a part of many celebrations.

Have fun with the children this holiday season!