Seasons

Holidays

General

Seasons

Have your children make a garland for each season cutting seasonal shapes out of colorful or season appropriate paper (cookie cutters or stencils, are a good place to start on the shapes if you aren’t artistically inclined). Older children can trace or design and cut out their own shapes. Decorate and punch holes in each shape. Have your children decorate the shapes in any way they wish (glitter, stickers, markers, crayons, sequins, beads, feathers, etc.). String together or simply tape or staple the shapes together. On the first shape in the garland write or have your child write, “Spring is…” or “Fall is…” whatever the season. On each shape in the garland have your children brainstorm what that season is for them and write it so that the garland is a string of words for the season. If you have more than one child one way to keep the peace is to determine an amount they can each decorate, say 6 or 8, whatever works. Hang the garland in a spot the children can see daily such as in the hallway or the kitchen. My 12 year old enjoyed this activity as much as my 7 and 8 year olds did. This can be an activity the whole family can enjoy as well.

Holidays

At Christmas one of our traditions is our wishing leaves. We cut leaves out of green paper, punch a hole just above the stem area and loop a string through like a tree ornament. Each family member gets 3 leaves (3 wishes). We all take our leaves away and write a wish for the New Year on each one and hang it on the tree. My children have really surprised me over the years with wishes that were more altruistic than selfish. I expected to see “i-pod” or “Barbie of Swan Lake”, etc. on each of my children’s leaves, but instead I find wishes for “staying a happy family”, “having a good year”, etc.

General

Family memory book

Create a family memory book that will hold important memories, moments, feelings, goals, or even dreams. Encourage all family members to write in the book at least once a month or once a week if you have more time. Little ones can dictate to older children or parents. Have a theme of the month or week if you want or keep as a free for all family journal. Add pictures, illustrations or mementoes to the pages if desired. This can become whatever you want it to be, a blog on the web, a Word document stored on the family computer, a family scrap book with writings contributed by family along with photos or mementos. Some families who live long distances may want to make the memory book more encompassing by mailing copies of pages to one another to add to each other’s books. Ultimately this project can be done in any way that suits your family style. If done consistently it can be at treasured keepsake for your children and grandchildren.

People Who Love Me

My daughters have each made one of these at one point in their lives. My youngest daughter recently made one after having one of those days where she felt really down and needed something to pick her back up.

Buy or make out of construction paper, a small photo album, one about the size to hold 4x6 photos works really well. Let your child go through the family snapshots and put pictures of all the people your child loves. Youngest daughter especially enjoyed adding baby pictures of herself to the album. Your child can decorate the album in any way she wishes. The book will serve as a constant reminder that there are so many people in the world who love her and so many people she loves in return.

“Kindness in thought leads to wisdom. Kindness in speech leads to eloquence. Kindness in action leads to love.”

- Lao-Tsu

Site owned, created and maintained by Lisa K. Smith, 2005