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A Treasure-Hunt for the Holidays! |
Everyday adventures
When the holidays are near, you probably start to get extra-anxious about them just getting here already! – Normal chores and errands probably seem even more boring than usual!
While you're walking or driving around town with the grown-ups in your family, try turning you're everyday tasks into a holiday-themed adventure!
Be a detective!
When you're walking around or sitting the car, look around for little signs of the holidays! Aside from store windows with holiday displays, what other holiday-like things can you find??
- Five-pointed stars are often associated with Christmas to symbolize the starry night on which Jesus was born, while six-pointed stars are often associated with Hanukkah, since this type of star is a symbol of Judaism. How many stars can you find? Don't just look up in the sky – look on street signs, at shapes carved into the sidewalk, and at people's clothes, too!
- Look for things which are holiday colors. How many things are red, green, or both? What about blue and white? Don't forget to look for red, green, and black too – those are the colors of Kwanzaa!
- Candles and lights also play a big part in Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Do you find any candles in groups of eight (for Hanukkah) or groups of seven (for Kwanzaa)? Are there lots of homes with Christmas lights? What colors and shapes are the lights?
Make Believe!
While you're cruising along, turn your trip into a special journey by pretending to be one (or all!) of the following holiday characters!
- How would your trip be different if you were one of Santa's reindeer? Would you sit differently? Walk differently? (Maybe don't actually walk like a reindeer, but think about how you would!) Look for plants and trees that would seem like delicious snacks if you were a reindeer. How many other people do you see who might also be pretending to be a reindeer? As a reindeer, how do you say “hello”?
- If Judah Maccabee were running errands with you, what kinds of things are around you that he might be interested in? He'd probably think that cars are pretty cool, because there weren't any cars around when he was fighting the Syrians! Do you see anything (like metal trash can lids) which might remind Judah of his shield? Maybe you notice some other people near by who could be some of his Maccabees!
- Do any of the things you have to do remind you of one or two of the seven principles of Kwanzaa? How could you use something like self-determination or unity to help you with all of your tasks? What about creativity or purpose??
Calling All Special Helpers!
During the holidays, Santa isn't the only one who needs Special Helpers! Offering to help the grown-ups you are with might make your tasks more fun!
- What kinds of jobs can you help with while you are out and about? When you're sitting at a stop-light in the car, watch the red light and let the grown-ups know when it turns green! (Red and green – just like Christmas!) Maybe you can carry a special shopping bag over your back like Santa, or you can help collect change like Hanukkah gelt at the store!
- Give yourself a special Holiday Helper Name! Maybe you want your name to be like one of Santa's Elves, and call yourself Peppermint or Emma the Elf!
- Even if the errands you're running right now seem kind of boring, maybe there will be a chance later on for you to help out with one of your favorite things! For example, maybe you can help wrap presents for you cousins or aunts and uncles. (Do you know how to make bows from ribbon?) Perhaps you can help make cookies or latkes, or pick out recipes for your big holiday meal!
Wrapping up!
Sometimes it helps keep the “boring” day in perspective if you look back in the evening at everything you've accomplished!
- What new things have you learned? Were there any special, cool things that you made up or created during the day?
- Which of the places that you went to were your favorite? Why was that place so special and neat? Draw a picture showing your very favorite moment.
- Now that today is over, how many days closer are the holidays?! Look at a calendar with a grown-up and count them down!
While you're walking or driving around town with the grown-ups in your family, try turning you're everyday tasks into a holiday-themed adventure!
Be a detective!
When you're walking around or sitting the car, look around for little signs of the holidays! Aside from store windows with holiday displays, what other holiday-like things can you find??
- Five-pointed stars are often associated with Christmas to symbolize the starry night on which Jesus was born, while six-pointed stars are often associated with Hanukkah, since this type of star is a symbol of Judaism. How many stars can you find? Don't just look up in the sky – look on street signs, at shapes carved into the sidewalk, and at people's clothes, too!
- Look for things which are holiday colors. How many things are red, green, or both? What about blue and white? Don't forget to look for red, green, and black too – those are the colors of Kwanzaa!
- Candles and lights also play a big part in Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Do you find any candles in groups of eight (for Hanukkah) or groups of seven (for Kwanzaa)? Are there lots of homes with Christmas lights? What colors and shapes are the lights?
Make Believe!
While you're cruising along, turn your trip into a special journey by pretending to be one (or all!) of the following holiday characters!
- How would your trip be different if you were one of Santa's reindeer? Would you sit differently? Walk differently? (Maybe don't actually walk like a reindeer, but think about how you would!) Look for plants and trees that would seem like delicious snacks if you were a reindeer. How many other people do you see who might also be pretending to be a reindeer? As a reindeer, how do you say “hello”?
- If Judah Maccabee were running errands with you, what kinds of things are around you that he might be interested in? He'd probably think that cars are pretty cool, because there weren't any cars around when he was fighting the Syrians! Do you see anything (like metal trash can lids) which might remind Judah of his shield? Maybe you notice some other people near by who could be some of his Maccabees!
- Do any of the things you have to do remind you of one or two of the seven principles of Kwanzaa? How could you use something like self-determination or unity to help you with all of your tasks? What about creativity or purpose??
Calling All Special Helpers!
During the holidays, Santa isn't the only one who needs Special Helpers! Offering to help the grown-ups you are with might make your tasks more fun!
- What kinds of jobs can you help with while you are out and about? When you're sitting at a stop-light in the car, watch the red light and let the grown-ups know when it turns green! (Red and green – just like Christmas!) Maybe you can carry a special shopping bag over your back like Santa, or you can help collect change like Hanukkah gelt at the store!
- Give yourself a special Holiday Helper Name! Maybe you want your name to be like one of Santa's Elves, and call yourself Peppermint or Emma the Elf!
- Even if the errands you're running right now seem kind of boring, maybe there will be a chance later on for you to help out with one of your favorite things! For example, maybe you can help wrap presents for you cousins or aunts and uncles. (Do you know how to make bows from ribbon?) Perhaps you can help make cookies or latkes, or pick out recipes for your big holiday meal!
Wrapping up!
Sometimes it helps keep the “boring” day in perspective if you look back in the evening at everything you've accomplished!
- What new things have you learned? Were there any special, cool things that you made up or created during the day?
- Which of the places that you went to were your favorite? Why was that place so special and neat? Draw a picture showing your very favorite moment.
- Now that today is over, how many days closer are the holidays?! Look at a calendar with a grown-up and count them down!