Most parents look forward to some time away from the hustle and bustle of routines and responsibilities. What a joy to spend time with loved ones in the comfort of your home. Soon enough you may start to hear “I’m bored” from children. If that were to happen, below are just some suggestions to banish that boredom without breaking the bank.

1. Bring The Great Outdoors Inside: Have a camp out in your living room, set up a picnic in the playroom, or “build” a sandbox in the family room.
2. Kitchen Fun: From start to finish include your children in choosing a recipe, shopping together, and then preparing it as a family.
3. “I’m Not Board Game Night:” Find a game all family members can play and enjoy. This is a great time to introduce the classic board games you played as a child to your children. There’s a reason these games have been so popular generation after generation.
4. Center Stage: Have a family talent show where everyone can show off their skills. Maybe it’s dance, music, magic, gymnastics, or telling jokes.
5. Take a Library Tour: Libraries today are so much more than a building with books. They offer programs, movie nights, events, programs for all ages, and interactive displays. See how many you can visit!
6. Start and Finish a Chapter Book: Cuddle up and read a chapter book together. Don’t be surprised if your kids ask you to read “just one more chapter!”
7. Movie Marathon: Pick one day to stay in your pajamas, pop some popcorn, and watch movies together. Think back to the movies you enjoyed as a child and share them with your own children.

No matter what you decide to do with the time away from school, enjoy it. Find what your family likes to do together and go from there.

Wishing you all peace and love during this special time of year.

Amanda & Deanna

“The Montessori approach to celebrating special days is a gift to children
as it expands their minds, their hearts, and their worlds.”
—Alex Chiu, Montessori Musings

In the Montessori environment, celebrating holidays and festivals is an important and exciting study for the students that focuses on the tradition and rituals of celebrations.  Learning about the holidays of different cultures embraces the Montessori principals of inclusion and peace and helps students understand the significance of the several holidays celebrated during this winter season. Holidays are a way that people and cultures come together to worship that which they hold dear, to rejoice, and usually to feast with their community and families.  By exploring the variety of holidays celebrated this time of year, the children learn it is wonderful to be different and honor what is unique about each culture and person.

What an exciting week we have had in our classroom!  We enjoyed listening to a special guest reader and had fun with two holiday celebrations.

On Monday, Mr. Robertson came to our classroom to read the story I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child.  This book shows how an older brother convinces his little sister to eat her vegetables.

On Tuesday, we had our Hanukkah celebration.  We discussed the meaning of the menorah and traditional ways Hanukkah is celebrated.  Thank you to Natalia Kokalj-O’Driscoll and Kristen Rio for bringing in and serving authentic Jewish latkes to the children.  Thank you also to the parents who kindly donated applesauce and sour cream to go with them.  Many of the children enjoyed trying this traditional Hanukkah food.

On Thursday, we had our Christmas celebration.  We read Twas the Night Before Christmas together and then decorated Christmas cookies.  Thank you to Hudson’s grandmother and Kristen Rio for helping the children decorate their cookies and to all the parents who donated supplies for the activity.  The children were so excited to bring the cookies home to share with their families!

Your children have also been busy rehearsing for the school wide Holiday Concert next week.  Please mark your calendars for next Friday, December 20 at 10am.  The children cannot wait to share the songs they have been practicing with you.  Also, just a reminder that next Friday is an early dismissal day and all children will be dismissed at 11:30am.  If you are planning to take your child home after the holiday concert please plan to pick them up in the classroom at the end of the performance.  This helps us to keep track of all the children as they are leaving, thank you for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Amanda and Deanna