You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘holiday’ category.
The fall, whether it be for Thanksgiving, High Holy Days, Diwali or other traditions, is a time when many of us gather with friends and family to enjoy good company and good food. As you gather this year, we encourage you to start a new family tradition focused on charitable giving. Take the time to start a conversation about what donating means to your family and to inspire the young people in your life to become the next generation of donors!
Here are some tips to help you get started:
Talk to your children or younger relatives about the causes that matter to you and why you choose to support them. Discuss all of the great things that charities do in all sectors (healthcare, animals, the environment, education, international development, social services etc…).
Visit or volunteer at a charity you’ve supported in the past to see first-hand the important work they do with your donations. Be sure to set up a time to visit in advance – service demands go up for many charities around holidays.
Make this time of year the time that you set your annual giving budget. Decide the amount that works for you , and how you would like to split that amount among the causes you support.
Ask everyone to research a charity they would like to support. Before a meal, go around the table and ask everyone to say a few words about the charity they chose and the impact that organization has on the community.
Today it is raining. At some point, you may need to beat some boredom. Here are a few ideas to keep your children busy and happy.
- Let children go through their toys and decide what they have outgrown or don’t use; then help them set up a yard sale and sell lemonade too (on a sunny day). On the next rainy day, plan a shopping day to spend the money they earned.
- Play music and dance!
- Visit an appliance store for very large boxes, and build a castle or a rocket ship.
- Visit or volunteer at a local seniors residence or nursing home.
- Visit the library and stock up on reading and viewing material.
- Break out the cards, and play crazy eights or go fish or make up a game.
- Get out old magazines and flyers. Cut them up and glue to create a collage.
- Plan a tea party with old tea cups and saucers. Eat tiny sandwiches and cookies.
- Armed with a list of things from around the house, make a scavenger hunt.
Some of the challenges that families face in the summer are not having a huge budget to spend on things to do, meeting the needs of a variety of ages, and beating boredom.
We recommend you PLAN! :)
- Think ahead
- Post activities on a calendar
- Plan for structured and unstructured activities daily
- Include your children in the planning
- Schedule a break in the day for everyone to relax (e.g. read or nap)
Our parent educators have compiled a summer handout. Click on the link, save, print, share and enjoy!
Friday, December 31 10-4 p.m.
Ring in the new year twelve hours early at the Children’s Museum! Enjoy lots of festive family fun including live music, cookie decorating, face painting, balloon animals, glitter fireworks, and crafts and activities from around the world! Don’t miss the countdown to the balloon drop at 12 noon!
A couple of weeks ago, we posted a series of activity ideas relating to a beach party in preparation of the summer. Today, we have the entire booklet for you to download and print for free.
What are you waiting for? Gather up your children and have fun! :)
Make sure you wear a little green today!
For some crafty ideas to enjoy with your children, check out the Crafty Crow. We also love this painting activity and snack idea geared for preschoolers.
Make paperweights out of rocks!
- Begin by having each child find a rock.
- Scrub the rock clean with soap and water.
- Decorate the rock by painting a picture on it.
This is a great project to make for either Mother’s or Father’s Day.
The beginning of a new year often brings promises of resolutions. We often think of the new year as a new start about things we’d like to change or accomplish. As parents, have you ever thought about encouraging children to set goals for themselves? Children who set realistic goals and meet them can improve their self-esteem while it teaches them to manage their time, make good decisions and build their confidence. Goals can be set any time of the year. Have children pick a date that is meaningful for them, their birthday, valentine’s day etc. Then guide them through these steps:
- Set goals that are specific and realistic, like “I will save my allowance money to buy a new video game.” (Set small goals with small children)
- Have them write it down and post it where it’ll be seen everyday to remind them of what they’re working toward.
- Help them make an ‘action plan’ with a timeline and steps that can be crossed off as the goal is reached to give them a sense of accomplishment. (use a calendar, a running total of money collected and /or a bank account so they can see it growing)
- Help them ‘believe in themselves’ and staying positive about their progress by praising their efforts & recognizing their gains.
- Let them know that setbacks can happen, not to get discouraged, but to try again.
- Tell children you’re there to support them and to ask if they need help.
- Teach children to reward themselves or set a time to celebrate even small achievements together.
Written by: Mary Ann Avey, RECE
Here are some ideas for making your own toys just in time for the holidays!
Feel and Tell Box
Cut two identical 2” squares of different textured materials such as velvet, corduroy, rug samples, sandpaper. Glue one square to the top of a shoe box. Glue the other square to a piece of cardboard and place inside the box. At the end of the she shoe box, cut a circle large enough for a child’s hand to reach in. The child then reaches in to feel a square and tries to match it to the lid without looking. The square can be removed from the box to see if the correct match is made or to make the game easier for small children.
Box Camera
Decorate a small box to look like a camera. A button can be used for the lens, yarn for the camera strap, and a red circle for the ‘on’ button. Cut a slit in the top of the box so that your ‘photos’ can be placed inside. ‘Photos’ can be magazine cut-outs, child’s drawings, or even real photos of your child. The child then takes the picture, counts to ten, and pulls out the ‘photo’.
Scoop Catch
Wash fabric softener bottle thoroughly and cut off the bottom on an angle. Decorate the scoop. Child grasps the scoop using bottle handle and tries to catch a ball. Younger children can roll the ball back and forth to each other with the scoops.
As a member of the Hyde Park Lions Club, our Board President Matt Brown is helping organize their first ever Santa Claus Parade along Gainsborough Road on Saturday, November 28 from 11 a.m.
The parade with begin at Sherwood Forest Mall and travel west on Gainsborough Road. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available along Gainsborough Road, so bring a lawn chair, pick out a good location, and enjoy the parade!
The parade is operated by the Hyde Park Lions Club as a service to the Community. Any profits will be used for Lions programs and community betterment.
Plans are underway to have many community groups take part with parade participants collecting non-perishable foods to support the local food banks and the Salvation Army. Canada Post staff will be collecting those important “Letters to Santa” and much more.
Here’s the facebook event page .
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Matt.
