The Preschooler’s Busy Book (21 page)

Construction paper

Orange and black crayons

Black (or other contrasting color) tempera paint and brush

Varnish (optional)

Using crayons, help your child draw an outline of a pumpkin on a piece of construction or other paper.
He should press hard, and fill in the outline with plenty of thick coloring.
Then have him paint the picture with black (or other contrasting color) tempera paint.
Since wax repels water, the colored areas will resist the paint and the painting will “glow.” For a really dramatic effect, use fluorescent crayons, and finish with a coat of varnish.

Black tempera paint, markers, or crayons

Cardboard egg carton

Scissors

Black pipe cleaners

Red construction paper

Glue

Thread or yarn

Using paint, markers, or crayons, color the cup sections of an egg carton.
If using paint, wait until the paint dries, then cut the egg cups apart.
Push pipe cleaner legs into each egg cup and bend them so they look like spiders’ legs.
Cut red eyes from construction paper and glue them onto the cups.
Use thread or yarn to hang your spiders from the doorway or in the window.

While it is traditional to celebrate the harvest with a huge meal of roast turkey and all the trimmings, this year try to emphasize the “giving” in Thanksgiving.
Talk with your child about all that you have for which you are thankful.
This is an ideal time to share your wealth with others and to encourage a giving spirit in your child.
Consider the following activities: Collect food in your neighborhood and take it to a local food bank; do some special baking and take the goodies to a nursing home or to a house-bound neighbor; take some good, usable clothing and toys to a local relief agency; invite someone who is alone to share your Thanksgiving celebration.

Construction paper in fall colors

Poster board or cardboard

Scissors

Markers

Glue or paste

Old catalogs or magazines (optional)

Cut leaf shapes out of colored construction paper.
You can draw the shapes on paper and have your child cut them out, or make a leaf pattern your child can trace himself.
Draw a tree trunk and branches on a piece of cardboard or poster board.
Ask your child to name things for which he is thankful and write them on each leaf (or use pictures cut from old magazines or catalogs).
Have your child glue the leaves or pictures onto the branches.
Display the tree in a prominent place as a reminder of your many blessings.

Index cards or small pieces of paper

Old magazines (optional)

Glue or paste

Empty coffee can

Several weeks before Thanksgiving, ask your child to tell you for what he is thankful.
On index cards or strips of paper, write down what he tells you.
(Or have your child search through old magazines for appropriate pictures he can cut out and glue onto index cards.) Place the cards inside an empty coffee can.
At bedtime, breakfast, or quiet time, have your child reach into the can and remove one card, then talk about what is on the card and why he is thankful for it.

Old magazines

Construction paper or light cardboard

Glue or paste

Clear contact paper

Give your child old magazines and have him cut out things for which he is thankful.
Let him glue them onto a piece of cardboard or construction paper.
Cover the artwork with clear contact paper to create a Thanksgiving place mat.

Yellow construction paper

Brown tempera paint, liquid

Pen or marker

Fold a piece of yellow construction paper in half.
Dip your child’s palm into liquid brown tempera paint and carefully print it on the paper.
When the paint dries, make the print look like a turkey: Use a pen or marker to add legs, an eye, a beak, and a wattle (the folds of loose red flesh under a turkey’s throat).
Print a name next to the turkey and use it on the Thanksgiving dinner table as a place card.

Paper plate

Brown paint or crayon

Construction paper in various colors

Glue or paste

Markers or crayons

Have your child color a paper plate with brown paint or crayons.
Cut feathers out of colored construction paper, and glue them to the edge of the plate.
Cut out a head, a neck, and feet, and glue them to the plate.
Draw a turkey face with markers or crayons.

Christmas—a time when Christians the world over traditionally celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, a time for peace on earth and goodwill to all men.
But for our children (and ourselves), is Christmas really a time of peace and joy?
As a child, the official start of Christmas for me was the arrival of the Sears Wish Book.
As an adult, I know Christmas is on its way when stress levels rise, activity increases to frenzied proportions, and I become convinced that my home and family should look like the cover of the Sears catalog!

We are easily caught up in the excitement of the season: the entertaining and partying, the cooking and baking, the shopping and wrapping.
We are physically and emotionally—and usually financially—stretched to our limits.
Sometimes we hold unrealistic expectations for ourselves and our family that only add to the stress.
A four-year-old may easily wonder why such a special holiday leaves no time to read a book or go for a leisurely walk together.

At this busy time of year, concentrate on what is important.
Relax and make time for your children and their simple pleasures.
Go build a snowman, or read a story by the fire.
Bake cookies together, or turn out the lights and watch the Christmas tree.
Bundle up for a tour of your neighborhood’s Christmas lights, then come home to a mug of steaming cocoa.
You probably won’t look like the cover of the Sears catalog, but together you will create traditions and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Calendar or weekly planner

In the Christian tradition, Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas, but for this idea, the beginning of December is also appropriate.
Take out your weekly planner or your wall calendar and mark down a special activity to do with your child each day.
For example: stamp and mail your holiday greetings, make some gift wrap together, bake and decorate Christmas cookies, or read a Christmas story by the fire.
You can work a lot of your “to do” list into these activities, and planning something special for each day gives you one more way to count down the days to Christmas.

This activity continues to be a highlight in our family, and tends to mark the official start of our Advent celebrations.
Stock up on your candy and supplies, and invite friends or family to make calendars with you.

Red or green poster board (or construction paper glued to a file folder or piece of cardboard)

Pen or marker

Old Christmas cards, rubber stamps, or Christmas stickers

Scissors (optional)

Glue (optional)

25 pieces of wrapped Christmas candy

Ornamental Frosting (see
page 365
)

Ribbon

Draw a December calendar on the bottom half of a piece of red or green poster board.
Have your child cut designs from old Christmas cards and glue them to the top half of the poster board, or decorate it with rubber stamps or Christmas stickers.
Use Ornamental Frosting to stick a small piece of wrapped candy onto each grid of the calendar from December 1 through December 25.
Lay the calendar flat until the icing sets, then punch a hole in the top and make a hanging loop with a piece of ribbon.
Each day your child will have a visual and tasty reminder of the number of days until Christmas.

Make a batch of dough ornaments (see Baker’s Clay or No-Bake Cookie Clay recipes in
Appendix A
).
Glue magnets to the backs for Christmas refrigerator decorations, hang from your Christmas tree as ornaments, give as Christmas gifts, or use as a finishing touch on wrapped gifts.

White tissue paper cut into squares

Scissors

Fold a square piece of white tissue paper into quarters, then fold into a triangle shape.
Cut small shapes along the folded edges, then unfold it to see a snowflake.
Tape the snowflake to your window, or around the house for some holiday decorating.

This “gingerbread” house is made with graham wafers and is easier for little hands than one made with traditional gingerbread.

Graham wafers

Cardboard milk carton

Ornamental Frosting (see
page 365
)

Gumdrops, candy, raisins, chocolate chips, LifeSavers, cereal, and other edible decorations

Make Ornamental Frosting to hold the house together.
Use the frosting to cement graham wafers to the sides of a cardboard milk carton (remember to cover the frosting with a damp cloth when you’re not using it).
Allow the frosting to set partially before adding the roof.
Decorate with gumdrops, candies, raisins, chocolate chips, LifeSavers, cereal, and so on.