What a wonderful time of year to think about what traditions you want to pass down in your family by doing “special things” with your children. All families need some form of celebrations: it sets aside a time of year or day as special from all the rest and gives us something fun to look forward to. Our traditions can identify our families like a fingerprint. Rituals make our families unique. When we involve children in traditions, rituals and celebrations we are creating memories for them that can last for generations So now is a good time to ask...what memories do I want to help create this season?
     Thinking back to your own childhood can help you decide what traditions you might want to repeat with your own children and what rituals you might want to eliminate. Maybe you’ll want to prepare special holiday cookies with your children, using the same recipe that your mother and grandmother used over the years. Maybe you’ll reconsider making the “fruit cake” that nobody ever enjoyed anyhow. Let your imagination soar and create some totally new ideas on how to make your time together “special”. Let your choices reflect your family’s values and culture. Below you will find some ideas taken from the book, Family Traditions by Elizabeth Berg.
     Try Something New: invite a friend who has a different faith or culture than your own to teach your family a favorite game or ritual that their family does during the holiday. Learn how to play dreidel, a Hanukkah tradition. Find out about the Kinara used in Kwanza celebrations. Share a special tradition of your own.
     Recycle: Make your own gift wrap by using the Sunday comics. Have your children put their hands and feet in finger paint and then place them on butcher paper, let this dry and then wrap all gifts for grandparents in this special handprint/footprint paper. Use fabric (even bed sheets) to wrap big gifts like bikes or a toy kitchen set.
     A Memory Tree: Use your Christmas tree to display reminders of special times together. You can use dried flowers that your child collected last summer on a family hike, the bride and groom from your wedding cake, seashells from a visit to the ocean or special souvenirs from places you’ve visited.

     December Daycare Co-op: Share childcare duties with a few friends. Take turns watching each others kids so each parent can have an afternoon or evening of shopping without all those “little helpers” tagging along.
     Santa’s Magic Elf: Set out a tiny elf doll on the first of December. Every night have a member of the family secretly move it to a new location. Every other member of the family should hunt for him when they wake up in the morning. On Christmas Eve the elf moves to somewhere on the Christmas tree where everyone will look for it on Christmas morning.
     Gifts from the Family: Give gifts from your family to those outside the family: charities or people you all love. Consider letting your children pick out mittens and hats for other children less fortunate. Make a special treat for an elderly neighbor and deliver it to their home.
     Wintertime Walk: bundle up yourselves and the little ones and take a nighttime stroll through your neighborhood to see the holiday lights and decorations up close. Carry flashlights for safety. Return home to mugs of hot chocolate before tucking everyone in bed.
    

Rituals, traditions and celebrations can be very simple (a special song at bedtime or elaborate (an annual trip to the mountains). It’s not about the cost or time involved. It is about smiles, laughter, joy and togetherness.

Belinda Masters, Coordinator
Parents As Teachers

Parent & Child Activities

Snuggle up with a Book!

9:30 to 11:00 AM
Smithton Middle School
3600 W Worley St
Cafetorium & Room 99

This event is scheduled on two dates for different groups:

• Saturday, January 17, 2009
  for infants and 1 year olds (babies and toddlers up to 24 months).
  SNOW DATE: Sat., Jan. 24

• Saturday, February 28. 2009
  for infants and 2 year olds (babies and children 25 to 36 months).
  SNOWDATE: Sat. March 7

Hearing & Vision
Screenings

for ages 6 months to 5 years
PAT office, 555 Vandiver.

Thursday, December 4
4:30 to 6:30 pm

Wednesday, February 4          
9:30 to 11:30 am

Thursday, March 5
4:30 to 6:30 pm
(No screenings scheduled in January)

No appointment is necessary.
Please sign in upon arrival.
Hearing screenings are courtesy of the MU School of Health Professions and vision screenings courtesy of Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation.

Parents & Infants
to 12 months

10:30 - 11:30 am
Columbia Public Library
Friends Room

Monday, December 1
Deck the Halls without Climbing the Walls

Monday, January 5
Establishing Sleep Routines

Monday, February 2
Safety Proofing and Choosing Safe Child Care

Bring your baby & join one of our parent educators and other parents
to learn more and exchange ideas.

Let the Games Begin!
for 3 to 5 year olds
(pre-kindergarten)

Saturday, Feb. 7
9:30 to 11:00 AM

Paxton Keeley Elementary School
201 Park DeVille Drive

SNOW DATE: Sat., Feb. 21
SNOW DATE LOCATION: Smithton Middle School, 3600 W Worley Street