It’s hard to believe Christmas is here! Children are out of school and parents are faced with that age-old question, “Mom, what can we do?” or the statement, “Mom, I’m bored”, which is my personal favorite as moms are doing all of the gift-buying, food shopping and party preparations. What??? Bored??? Start folding laundry! 
So I love the ideas that Kindercare offers to keep children entertained over the holiday break, on snow days and whenever there is down time in the house.
Kindercare offers a Winter Science Camp, reading resources and other ideas that are great boredom-busters! KinderCare offers the following ideas for “weathering the winter season” with your children.
KinderCare Winter Science Camp:
Science is a blast! KinderCare Winter Science Camp transforms your child’s natural curiosity into an understanding of the way the world works. Using the sense of touch, smell and hearing to solve a series of science mysteries, or discovering and mastering the basics of motion, floating, balance and temperature, your child’s natural science sensory tools will be used in a fun and engaging workout. Activities include learning about gravity, creating balloon rockets and simulating volcanic eruptions. KinderCare Winter Science Camp is for preschool age and school age children. The camp takes place Dec. 20-23 and Dec 27-30 from 9am-4pm. For more information and to sign up, go to http://www.KinderCare.com/wintersciencecamp.
Winter Reading:
There is nothing better than snuggling up with your child and a good book. Reading to a child on a regular basis is by far the best way to encourage a budding reader. From the earliest ages, parents are encouraged to begin a reading routine with their children. Building on its robust literacy curriculum and teaching expertise, KinderCare is now providing parents with a comprehensive reading guide (available at http://www2.kindercare.com/uploadedFiles/Documents/a_guide_to_reading_to_your_child.pdf) that incorporates tips on reading to infants, toddlers and preschoolers as well as recommended age-appropriate book titles. Some tips include:
You can help cultivate baby’s interest in books by choosing ones that capture his or her attention such as board books, pop-up books, etc. Your child will want to see these again and again.
While reading together, ask questions about the pictures. Children are delighted in finding objects on the page. If they’re saying ‘da’ and pointing at the dog, say, ‘Yes, that’s the dog,’ If the child says ‘ball,’ follow up with, ‘That’s a blue ball.’ You’ll be giving them additional language for their verbal bank.
Ask your child open-ended questions about the story you are reading, such as “Why do you think that happened?”
Family Game Night
Make a date for a weekly family game night. Select games that are age appropriate. For toddlers, provide a variety of soft, easy to grasp toys, such as soft blocks or soft playboards. For preschoolers, play ‘eye spy’ games with letters and sounds at home, “I spy something that begins with the letter T.” For school age children, play board games with them – rolling dice, counting spaces, and problem solving are all involved in this type of activity.
About KinderCare
With approximately 1,600 centers located in 39 states and the District of Columbia, KinderCare Learning Centers, an accredited early childhood provider, offer a range of educational programs and after-school care for infants as young as six weeks old to school-aged children through age 12. For more information, visit www.KinderCare.com.
Disclosure: Kindercare, through an agency, is a client.
