Family Holiday Activity

The holidays are special times when children love activities the whole family can enjoy. Creating your own family tree is a perfect winter afternoon activity that can include telling family stories.

 

Materials You Will Need:

 a large sheet of  paper, smaller pieces of colored paper,  scissors, glue, markers , crayons, and several pictures of family members and pets.

What to do 

  Gather the family together so every member will have a part in the project. Draw a tree with a trunk and branches, using the markers and crayons.  Get ideas from everyone.  Young children will have fun coloring the tree bark. Together trace and cut out everyone’s hands.  Some of the younger children may need help, but it doesn’t matter if the cutting is imperfect. What matters is that everyone is working together and having fun.

   After the hands are cut out, write the owner’s name on each hand before it is glued in no specials order to the tree. Have older children write the names of toddlers and babies.  They’ll like to help with that.  The hands will be the leafy part of the tree. You can put individual pictures on each hand or place them under the tree. Be creative and accept ideas from everyone.  You can even make paw prints for pets and put pictures them on the tree, too.  Think of special things about each family member and write or draw them on the hands.  This will be a work of art with each child and adult adding something unique.  You could even frame the project and hang it on the wall in your home. This also is a great gift for Grandparents.

How will this help my child?

Working together helps young children learn to share and help each other. It’s important for them to see that a project is better because everyone has a part in it. Drawing, cutting and gluing are important fine motor skills. Telling family stories prepares children for reading because reading is “talking written down.” Telling family stories is the beginning of learning history.

 What Else Can I Do?

Anything done as a family creates a bond between family members whether it’s a quiet afternoon at home or a day at the ski hill.  Children love doing projects with other family members.  At this time of year great family activities would be baking with Mom and Grandma or helping Dad and Grandpa with the decorations.

Illustration by Mark Nowicki

Indian Scare Crow Photo - keeney, carolyn. indianscrow.jpg. 10/20/2001. Pics4Learning. 21 Nov 2012

For more fall activities to help your children succeed in school and have a life time of learning see the authors’ book Learning Through the Seasons in museums, bookstores, and in E-book form atSmashwords.com.
Listen to this activity online at the WNMU Podcasts