The Gift of Time Together

Kids, on average, today have so many toys and possessions that anything new may not be remembered. A great alternative is the gift of time. Making a date to go to the zoo, the children's museum, the "make your own pottery" shop, a concert or play, ice skating, etc. can be something a child will remember for years to come. You can present this gift of time by way of a gift certificate or a special note; you can even include a small token gift. Following are some suggestions:

The Gift of Reading: Make a special trip to the local library. Help the child in your life sign up for their very own library card. This gift should include the promise of regular trips to the library, along with visits to story hour.

The Gift of Art: Plan a special trip to a museum, an exhibit or gallery. Be sure to include a special snack and perhaps even a visit to the museum gift shop.

The Gift of the Nature: Any child loves a trip to the park or local nature preserve. Combine this with a picnic snack just for the two of you.

The Gift of Tradition: Many families have the tradition of an annual visit to the circus, an ice show or the local team's ball game. This is a great annual gift for the special child in your life.

The Gift of You: This is a really simple alternative, but perhaps one of the most special. Give coupons for a cookie making session, making paper dolls, riding bikes, reading aloud, or playing their favorite board game. Make each coupon for an hour or two, and make it redeemable for when the child wants.

I'm sure you get the idea. ANY special time you can offer the child in your life will be a gift they will treasure always. Have fun!

Hanukkah's Dreidel

Let's put a spin on this holiday! The dreidel is one of the best-known symbols of Hanukkah, which begins on the evening of December 4th this year. The four-sided spinning top doesn't have any real religious significance - it exists more as a custom and a children's game.

To play, children take turns spinning the dreidel. Depending on which side lands face up, they must either contribute tokens such as candy, nuts or money to the common pot, or withdraw winnings. Expert players know how to spin them upside down - always the cool way to do it!

The Responsibility of Being a Child Care Professional

An article in today's Indy Star really made me give thought to how serious our responsibilities are as child care providers. The article shared this week's demise of a little girl - only 3 years old, and she died at the hands of those charged most with her care: her mother and the mother's boyfriend. A great depth of sadness comes when you read the article and realize this child could have, and should have, been saved. She had been in and out of foster care since she was only 3 months old. The foster mother tried; she had told "the powers that be" that this little child should not be returned, once again, to the mother. The history of repeated abuse and neglect was documented. Yet, the child was "reunified" with her "family" only to have this last instance of abuse result in her violent death. I am sharing this because there needed to be a stronger voice for the protection of this child. Was she in the care of others? If so, then their voices should have been heard. The "system" failed this child in the most tragic of fashions.

As child care professionals we are obligated by both the law and by "what is right" to be tuned in to the children in our care. Be aware. And care enough to be "the voice" if need be. You just might be the life and death difference for a child.

Favorite Holiday Movies

Thanksgiving has come and gone (yes, early this year). So, right along with those holiday decorations, it's time to get in the spirit with favorite holiday movies. I must have an illness because I've listed just my favs below:

Miracle on 34th Street: I like both the original and the re-make, but I love the re-make.

Home Alone: Okay. I still LOL at this movie.

The Santa Clause: I love all 3 in the series.

Scrooged: Okay, maybe not child-appropriate (in general), but for my family, it is a holiday laugh-fest tradition.

Elf: Gotta love Will Ferrel!

A Charlie Brown Christmas: This should be a requirement for all families.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Hey, it melted even the Grinch's frozen heart!

The Polar Express: A more recent classic, from a movie perspective.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Another family tradition at my home.

It's a Wonderful Life: A tradition for many, many families.

A Christmas Story: And another tradition for many, many families.

Frosty the Snowman: One of the firsts.

I'll Be Home for Christmas: I admit it; I like sappy movies.

Christmas with the Kranks: LOL funny.

The Holiday: Great movie "for the girls": aka. a "chick flick".

and lastly, Surviving Christmas: What we all try to do each year...

EASY Holiday Tree Food Project for Kids

Kids love both crafts and treats. The following combines the two for an easy, inexpensive food project. Each child gets their own ingredients and eats only what they have "handled"; this means a food project that fits within most state licensing regs. Have fun!

Holiday Tabletop Tree

Graham Crackers
Green Decorating Icing
Small Red Candies
White Paper Plates

Provide for each child 2 full graham crackers, each cut in half diagonally (a serated knife works best for this); this will provide 4 long triangles per child.

Pipe small amount of icing onto the long uncut side of each triangle.

Demonstrate to the children how to press the icing sides of the triangles together to form a standing tree. Pipe outer edges of tree with additional icing. Have the children press candies into icing to "create" ornaments for their trees. Set aside to dry on a paper plate with the child's name written on the rim.

This could be a morning project to be enjoyed at afternoon snack, or an early afternoon project to take home to share with the child's family.

Remember there are no "messed up" trees. Enjoy!