Let the New Year Begin!

This is one year that people are looking forward to, hoping for positive changes. It’s a good time for you to think about your own future – and find out about the past and its traditions. Be happy with these activities for the new year.

 

CONNECT:

• Why do we celebrate New Year’s Day? Watch the answers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKHPtGSwPrQ
• See how other countries usher in the new year at https://bestlifeonline.com/global-new-years-eve-traditions/
• Find out the history of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl at https://kids.kiddle.co/Rose_Bowl_Game

 

CREATE:

• Celebrate New Year’s Eve with kids with these 12 fun ideas: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/reviewed/2021/12/22/kid-friendly-new-years-eve-ideas/8897889002/
• Count down to the new year with this fun music compilation with your friends from Daniel Tiger's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nzopp23sTI
• Play some awesome New Year’s Eve games: https://mylifeandkids.com/30-awesome-new-years-eve-games-kids/
• Here are 35 New Year traditions to bring you (Good) luck from around the world: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/g25360543/new-year-traditions/

 

CARE:

• Plan a New Year’s Eve party for kids at https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/49138/plan-kids-new-years-eve-party/
• New Year’s Eve often includes fireworks so stay safe with these fireworks safety tips: https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/fireworks.html
• It’s time for New Year’s resolutions; try some of these healthy suggestions: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/Healthy-New-Years-Resolutions-for-Kids.aspx

 

CAREERS:

Start the new year about thinking about your future career with these websites and video.

• https://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Career_Sites_for_Kids
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pVyrW_vwaw
• https://www.thebalancecareers.com/helping-your-children-make-career-choices-525407
• https://hirepaths.com/blog/2021/10/04/career-exploration-how-to-encourage-kids-of-all-ages

 

 

Ho Ho Ho for Christmas

 Christmas is celebrated around the world, both as a religious event and as a cultural or commercial time. The following activities offer lots of ways to celebrate the season in many ways.

 

CONNECT:

• Chris IS the reason for the season, and here is why Christmas is celebrated on December 25: https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/25th.shtml
• Read up on the history of Christmas at https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas
• See how Christmas is celebrated around the world at https://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/g4933/christmas-traditions-around-the-world/
• Watch about poinsettias (including their history and pronunciation) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymgdsWr326A

 

CREATE:

• Follow Santa around the world with NASA at https://www.noradsanta.org/en/ (available in 8 languages)
• Get crafty about Christmas at https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids/
• Get a taste of Australia by making these kid-friendly Christmas treats at https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/entertaining/galleries/christmas-recipes-fun-christmas-recipes-kids-cook/67u8212d
• OR go British with these yummy Christmas baking recipes for kids: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/christmas-projects-kids
• Ready to play Christmas games? There are 35 fun ones for the family to enjoy at https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g2725/christmas-games/

 

CARE:

• Keep your holiday peaceful with these holiday safety reminders: https://saferide4kids.com/blog/holiday-safety-reminders/
• Candlelight is lovely but candle burns and uncontrolled fires are not, so here are candle safety tips for kids: https://smartkids101.com/blog/candle-safety/
• Cookie dough ice cream is fun to eat, but you shouldn’t eat raw cookie dough: here’s why: https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/no-raw-dough.html

 

CAREERS:

Christmas is just one calendar day, but year-round careers are built around Christmas: not only the Christian religious life, but also tree farming, event planning, costuming and performance, designing and manufacturing Christmas items – and then selling and using them. Some jobs can make Christmas seem like every day. See samples here.

https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/top-christmas-jobs/https://www.careeraddict.com/christmas-jobs

https://www.coburgbanks.co.uk/blog/friday-funnies/10-weird-christmas-jobs/

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20141222-where-christmas-is-a-way-of-life

 

Aglow with Candles

 

This time of the year features candles in several cultures. Brighten up your day by doing the following activities about candles.

 

CONNECT:

• Find out who first invented candles at https://candles.lovetoknow.com/The_History_of_Candle_Making
• Explore the science of candles at https://candles.org/candle-science/
• Learn about candle traditions around the world: https://tinybeans.com/candle-traditions-from-around-the-world/

 

CREATE:

• Watch this video for details about making homemade candles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRj61Z88iHo
• Make your own dipped candles as a fun family activity by following the directions at https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/6994/candle-dipping/ 
• Experiment with candles at https://toddlerinaction.com/water-candle-experiment-to-try-out-with-kids/

 

CARE:

• Lit candles are beautiful – until they start bigger fires. Watch this video about candle safety presented by a fireman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqPDZb_Fjxc
• Learn more candle safety tips at https://smartkids101.com/blog/candle-safety/
• Use this handy checklist to guide family candle use: http://fire.co.clark.nv.us/(S(x1gny3u2gcln4u1pngbideth))/Files/pdfs/FPWCandle.pdf

 

CAREERS:

You can make a living making and selling candles, and you can incorporate candles in other jobs: interior decoration, party planning, emergency services, science, historical reenactments, and art.

https://www.betterteam.com/candle-maker-job-description

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DU8jMqiln8

Here’s a historic video about candle production: https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/how-are-candles-made-british-pathe