Holiday Traditions, A Book on Every Bed
I was recently introduced by my friends at The Coalition for Children, to a new holiday tradition, “A Book On Every Bed”.
Imagine… One million children across America waking up on Christmas morning (or another winter holiday) to find a gift-wrapped book on their bed!
Amy Dickinson of “Ask Amy” and USA Weekend are encouraging families across
the United States to start this special holiday book tradition. You can help by sharing it with all of the families you know, http://www.familyreading.org/.
I love it; your children from pre-school age on up, will as well!
After your child has fallen asleep on a winter holiday evening, place a gift wrapped book at the end of his/her bed. The child will awaken to find a special present that can be opened and read right away, beginning this wonderful new tradition. This is a great way to keep your children in bed a little longer while spending quality time with you. This may help to get them to bed a bit earlier as well, as they look forward to reading or hearing read their new book again!
Additionally, you will be building a lovely keepsake library to pass on for generations. Wouldn’t it be fun to add a special pair of pajamas with one of the books making this a perfect way to cozy up and enjoy the season of giving?
Remember to spend quality time during this season of rushing around. We too often forget how this type of gesture adds up to great lasting memories.
Some titles for pre-school age children you might consider:
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Frosty the Snowman
Rudolph
Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow
Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve by Jan Brett
T’was the Night Before Chistmas by Clement C. Moore
Llama, Llama, Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
Winter Project for birds
During this season of doing too much, “The Night Tree” by Eve Bunting is a lovely story about slowing down for a minute and enjoying a simple holiday tradition. The story begins when a family bundles into a truck and drives to the quiet of the woods to decorate “their” tree for the forest animals. They put up strings of popcorn; they hang fruits and millet balls. After enjoying hot chocolate and singing, they leave the tree behind for the forest animals until next year.
In our Falmouth, MA nursery school we use this quiet story to help calm the craziness of the holiday season. After reading the story several times, our students love this idea and we then pick out the best tree for decorating on the play ground.
We make low cost treats to hang on the tree. Nursery school aged children can string cheerios on pipe cleaners or spread peanut butter with plastic knives on bagels, toast or apples rings and dip them in birdseed. Use cream cheese if you have peanut allergies in your home/class. We are lucky enough to have the local bagel shop or supermarket donate day old bread products to use.
Our nursery school students are awed when they see the birds (crows in our case) and squirrels foraging around their tree eating the offerings.
Enjoy this project!
