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Creative Child December 2018

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
83 views58 pages

Creative Child December 2018

Uploaded by

mimisuperheroj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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creativechild.

com

DECEMBER 2018

NAUGHTY
OR NICE
SHOULD YOU
USE SANTA
10
WAYS
TO CHANGE TO SPEND
BEHAVIOR? QUALITY
TIME WITH
YOUR KIDS

TREATS & CRAFTS

CHRISTMAS
COOKIE POPS
#favOfTheMonth
+ BEANZ
SNOWMAN MAGAZINE
SALT DOUGH THE MAGAZINE FOR
KIDS, CODE, AND
ORNAMENTS COMPUTER SCIENCE!
CONTENTS

# f av o f t h e m o n t h
5 beanz Magazine

in the SPOTLIGHT
9 Books, Games and More

s p e c i a l f e at u r e S
13 Naughty or Nice
37 Family Kindness Challenge

kid's kitchen
19 Christmas Cookie Pops
43 Rice Krispie Trees

IN SEASON
25 10 Ways to Spend Quality Time
47 Explaining Santa

craft corner
33 Snowman Ornaments
55 Snowman Cocoa Jars
1
CREATIVE CHILD

S T A F F
publisher/editor-in-chief
Scott Reichert

Art Director
Katy Stewart

marketing director
Marikate Wilson

contributing WRITERS
Sarah Lyons
Deborah Song
Rebecca Eanes​

Web Developer
B&R Designs

president of MARKETING & ADVERTISING


Melissa Vincent
[email protected] | 818.897.9999

associate publisher
Mindy Reichert

Published by: Scooterbay Publishing, Inc.


2505 Anthem Village Dr. #E619 - Henderson, NV 89052
ph 702.837.2734 | fax 702.837.2701
scooterbaymedia.com

The Scooterbay Network:


3
#favofthemonth

your kids
WILL
love this

beanz magazine
The magazine for kids, code,
and computer science!
beanz magazine is about kids, software programming, computer
science, and how we all use technology in our daily lives. We’re a small
community of teachers, technologists, and writers who love the challenge of
exploring technology in ways kids and non-technical adults enjoy and understand.

5
We try to make technology acces-
sible, friendly, and fun. We also try
to find and collect useful but hard to
find resources, for example, forty plus
software programming languages and
tools suitable for kids and beginners.

Our October issue each year also


includes a STEAM gift with thirty plus
ideas for apps, board games, robotic
kits, and other fun gift ideas to inspire
and engage kids interested in science,
technology, art, and math.

We publish six times a year, the first


day of even-numbered months. We
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languages, computer science con-
cepts, Minecraft, Scratch, robots, se-
cret codes, fashion technology, 3D
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goal is to create a magazine kids and
their adults find interesting, engaging,
and maybe a little quirky.

The magazine has been published


online since August 2013 with a print
version started in February 2015.
We’ve won multiple awards from Par-
ents’ Choice, Tillywig, Academic’s
Choice, and Creative Child for our Learn More About
content and design. #Fav O f The M onth
KIDSCODECS.COM

6
Give the Gift of Reading
with These
Favorite Boxed Sets!
Dr. Seuss’s Beginner Book Favorite Little Golden Books
Collection for Christmas
This slipcased set includes the five This festively designed boxed set
most famous Beginner Books by of five Little Golden Books doesn't
Dr. Seuss—The Cat in the Hat, Hop even need gift wrap! It includes a
on Pop, Green Eggs and Ham, One mix of classic and newer titles, at
Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, the value that Golden Books is
and Fox in Socks. An ideal gift! known for.

Favorite Series Starters


The perfect gift for early chapter-
PAW Patrol: The Little Red book readers! This set includes
Rescue Box the first book from each of five
Toddlers will love this box of four different series introducing
board books starring the awesome readers to some of RHCB’s
pups of Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol! favorites: Magic Tree House,
It features a sturdy handle for Junie B. Jones, A to Z Mysteries,
adventures on the go. Andrew Lost, and Nate the Great.

Mr. Lemoncello’s Funtastic


Boxed Set Hilo: Out-of-This World
Calling all readers and gamers— Boxed Set
don’t miss Mr. Lemoncello's first- Take off on a new adventure with
ever puzzle-packed boxed set! the first-ever Hilo boxed set and
Mr. Lemoncello's Funtastic Boxed discover the action-packed New
Set includes the three paperback York Times bestselling graphic
editions of the New York Times novel series that kids (and their
bestselling series, plus a bonus grownups) love!
poster.

RHCBooks.com
in the
SPOTLIGHT
Must-see products of the month!

Sparkle*Kitty
by: Breaking Games LLC
An adorably fun spell card game for all ages,
sizes and genders, available at Walmart.
breakinggames.com

How the Grinch Stole


Christmas!
By: Dr. Seuss
A classic holiday story about the
heartwarming effect the Christmas
spirit can have on even the coldest
and smallest of hearts.
Seussville.com
My First Workout™
by: MM FITNESS LLC
Connecting children with family & fitness.
Everything need to get started comes in the kit.
For children ages 5-10.
myfirstworkout.com

Tyler the Fish Visits Lorain Lighthouse   


by: Gypsy Publications
Book of the Year: Join Tyler on his new Lake Erie
adventure to Lorain Lighthouse.
meaghanfisher.com
9
Superman Diecut Mini Puzzle
by: Paper House Productions
This durable, officially licensed Superman mini puz-
zle is perfect for children ages 3 and up!
paperhouseproductions.com Mark-My-Time
Digital Booklight
by: Reading Time Gifts
Making time to read couldn’t be easier. Reading
timer and booklight-give a SMART gift!
mark-my-time.com

Snap Circuits® BRIC: Structures


by: Elenco Electronics, Inc.
Use your imagination to create working brick
structures with Snap Circuits®! Fits your
bricks! 8+
elenco.com

Gnomes at Night
By: Peaceable Kingdom - A MindWare Brand
Work together to maneuver the magnetic
gnomes around the mazes to collect treasure
before time runs out.
MindWare.com
10
ARMOGEAR.COM
AMAZON.COM
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special Feature

Naughty or Nice:
The Trouble with Using Santa
for Behavior Modification BY: Rebecca Eanes
“Santa Claus is watching you.” It’s a popular tactic – a built-in behavior
control plan around the holidays - but do threats really produce better
behavior? And do they belong in the parent-child relationship? To make
matters worse for children, not only is Santa watching their every move
from afar, but there’s a live-in spy who will tattle.

13
The Elf on the Shelf is also watching, and reports all
misbehavior back to Santa. Children are routinely
being shamed to the “naughty list” and expected to
live up to vague notions of “being good.” Christmas
should be a time of joy, gratitude, giving, and cheer.
Instead, we’ve made it a game of empty threats and
creepy magical spies, and our children end up living
in fear rather than enjoying the magic of the holiday
season. That’s hardly fair. Consider the following
points before you use the Santa threat this year.
1. Would you rather your child behave out of
respect for you or fear of an imaginary man? The
obvious problem with the Santa threat of course is
that it is temporary. Come December 26th, what
new tactic will you use? This is always the problem
with using threats to gain compliance – you always
have to come up with new, bigger threats because
the “benefits” don’t last. The only real authority
comes through a positive, trusting relationship
between parent and child. Threats, punishments,
and shame only give you temporary control at best,
and the emotional toll those take on children is a high
price t pay for temporary control. The goal should be
for children to listen because they have a genuine
respect for you – and because they have learned self-
discipline – not because they’re terrified they’ll end
up on some made-up naughty list and disappoint an
imaginary guy.

14
special Feature

2. We forget what it’s like to be a


child. We forget how it feels to be
controlled – told what to eat, what
to wear, when to go to bed. We for-
get what it feels like to be threat-
ened and manipulated in such a way.
Imagine, for a moment, how you
would feel in their shoes. What if
someone threatened to report all of
your mistakes and shortcomings to
someone whose opinion you highly
valued? Importantly, how would
you feel toward the person mak-
ing the threat? Hurt? Devalued?
Resentful? Are these emotions we
want to stir up in our kids?
3. The Santa threat taints the
spirit of the holiday season, and
with it, your child’s memories of
Christmas with family. If you’re
going to use Santa at all, let it be
in the spirit of magic and wonder,
not fear. Let their memories be
of baking cookies with a loving
parent to leave by the fireplace
and of feeling loved and worthy of
receiving good things.

15
4. It damages the parent-child
relationship. Threats have no place
in a healthy, trusting relationship,
and it’s only through a healthy,
trusting relationship that you
will have any influence as your
child grows. Don’t squander it on
a temporary hoax for momentary
compliance.
The best way to have a well-be-
haved child is to help your child
feel good about herself. Children
who feel good – who feel seen,
heard, accepted, and uncondition-
ally loved – naturally behave bet-
ter because they don’t have the
negative emotions that drive poor
behavior. Children who trust and
respect their parents want to make
good choices. Telling children that
they’re on the naughty list makes
them feel like they’re bad people,
and those who believe they are bad
will act accordingly. Let’s drop the
“naughty or nice” routine and al-
low our children to feel the joy of
Christmas.

16
Let the magic
of the holidays
bring you...

LOVE &
CREATIVE

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KIDS’ KITCHEN

Christmas
Cookie Pops
There’s something decadent about
eating off of a stick. Try putting a
twist on holiday cookies this season
with these cookie pops.

BY: Deborah Song

19
INGREDIENTS:
• 6 cups of flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 2 cups of unsalted butter
• 2 cups of white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. salt
Supplies for Decorating:
• Lollipop sticks
• Parchment Paper
• Cookie cutters
(We used 4” Christmas tree, angel and circle cutters)
• Snowflake fondant plunger
• Rolling pin
• Paint brush, pastry brush or Q-tips
• Fondant (green, white and baby blue used)
• Icing pens
• Sprinkles (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Make the dough. Mix room temperature butter
and sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in
eggs and vanilla. Slowly add in dry ingredients
and mix. Mend together using hands until dough
comes together. Saran wrap the dough and chill
for 1 hour in refrigerator. This is enough dough
to make three dozen 4-inch cookies.

20
KIDS’ KITCHEN

2. Cut out cookies. Place chilled dough on top of wax paper. Flatten
first with hands then roll out using a rolling pin. To get precise
thickness, place two lollipop sticks, one on each end of the dough,
while rolling out dough. Sprinkle flour over dough to keep from
sticking to wax paper. Once dough has flattened to thickness of
lollipop sticks, cut out cookies using cookie cutters.
3. Insert lollipop sticks and bake. Carefully insert lollipop sticks
3/4 of the way into cookies using twisting motion. If the stick
has punctured through the dough, roll out a small batch of dough
and cover any opened area. Be sure to check both sides of cookies.
Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 350 degrees F (176 C) for 10
minutes or until edges have browned.

21
4. Make simple syrup. Heat 1/4 cup of water and add 1 tsp. of
sugar. Mix until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
5. Apply fondant. Roll and flatten the green, white and blue
fondant. Using the cookie cutters, cut out a Christmas tree,
angel and circle, respectively. Using a pastry brush (paint
brush or Q-tips will do), apply the simple syrup to the back
of the cut out fondants. The simple syrup will act as a binding
agent so attach the fondant to the cookie before the syrup
dries.
6. Affix snowflake appliqué. For the snowflake cookie pop, roll
out additional white fondant and press plunger into fondant.
You may need to press the fondant further into the plunger
with your fingers for a precise cut out. Once indentation has
been made, push the plunger lever, which will release the
fondant but don’t remove snowflake appliqué yet. Apply the
simple syrup on snowflake while still resting on plunger and
affix snowflake directly onto the cookie from the plunger.
7. Festoon the cookies with icing pens or sprinkles. Set aside
and let dry. Enjoy!

22
Introducing
Kathy Sherman
and the
Good Folk Collective
‘Let’s Sing!’ welcomes little ears with
wonderful renditions of folk and
children’s songs, inviting listeners to play
and sing along. Let’s Sing is made even
happier with the voices of Sherman’s
“Good Folk Kids” singers.
The 18 tracks include fresh offerings of such
traditional fare as “I Had a Rooster,” and “I’ve Been
Working on the Railroad.

Available from iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby &


GoodFolkSongs.com
For additional information and bulk sales contact [email protected]
.com
un rner
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yM
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An Award-Winning Valuable Resource


For Parents, Educators & Young Children!
Stories That Build Character to Impact Choices
Building Character is Child’s Play®

Oakley the Octopus Leads


Others to Learn Respect
“Oakley had eight hands. He did not know which to use. When
shaking hands with new friends, which hand should he choose?”
It is polite to shake hands when meeting new people,
but which hand should an eight-handed octopus use?
Oakley the Octopus worries himself into a knot as he
considers his options. At first, his classmates laugh at his
predicament. Then a special task reveals the advantages
of his many arms and he leads others to learn respect for
everyone.

Meet The Animals That Teach Kids About Making Good Choices
Resilience Cooperation Respect Determination Respect Compassion

Baxter’s Corner titles include: Ally Alone, What a Tree it Will Be!, Oakley in Knots, Sideways
Fred, Ellema Sneezes and Gerome Sticks His Neck Out.
Available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and BaxtersCorner.com.
www.BaxtersCorner.com
[email protected]
in season

10 WAYS
to Spend Quality Time With
Your Kids This Holiday Season
Quality family time in today’s culture conjures up images of weekends spent
at Great Wolf Lodge or Disneyland because these are activities that appeal to
our kids. But quality time doesn’t have to be synonymous with making our
kids supremely happy. What kids really need isn’t more toys, more treats, or
more entertainment. They just need our undivided attention.
Deborah Song

25
Quality time is simply about creating that space for
family to be next to each other and focus on the same
things your kids are focused on. Simply being together
can be enough. Here are some ways to spend quality
time with your family this holiday season.
Play board games. Board games are a great interactive
way to spend some time together. Not only does the
hint of friendly competition keep everyone on their
toes, but there’s something about the cold weather
that enhances the appeal of board games during the
holidays. Competition and warmth aside though, what
really lights up kids is seeing mom and dad engaged in
the same thing they are.
Cook together. Part of the appeal with cooking is that
it’s a grown-up activity kids get to partake in. Plus,
kids are more prone to eat what they make. Susan
Roberts, a pediatric occupational therapist and author
of My Kids Eat Everything says kids eat horrible today
because they are just being “fed.” She claims that kids
ate better in the past when they helped prep the food,
set the table, wash dishes, and in some cases even
helped catch the food the family served. Not only is
cooking together a way to spend quality time together,
but it can make your kids less picky eaters.
Make a holiday greeting video. A video is a much more
personal way to send holiday greetings to family
members and friends, especially those you may not
have seen in a while. And with the popularity of
YouTube, creating a family holiday video can be equal
parts meaningful and fun.

26
in season

Wrap presents together. Collaboration can turn gift-wrapping from a holiday


nuisance to a holiday craft. The important precursor here is to do most of
your shopping ahead of time. My kids have used pipe cleaners and googly eyes
to create faces on some of the presents. Your guests will surely appreciate the
added touch as well.

27
Give back. Being united by a common goal and working towards
an act of service is perhaps the best way to spend quality time
together. It will teach your child gratitude for material things,
but also for the concept of family, while empowering your child
to be agents of change in the future. Whether it’s donating your
time at a shelter or collecting unused toy to donate and deliver
together, finding ways to give back as a family will creating
lasting memories and benefits.
Decorate the tree or stroll through a decorated neighborhood.
Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the fondest memories I
have as a kid. There’s something magical about seeing a tree light
up. If your family doesn’t put up a Christmas tree, you can find
an elaborately lit neighborhood street to take a stroll through,
which can be just as enchanting.
Read a holiday story together. Reading a story together might
be less interactive but it can be just as meaningful. Just being
together with some milk and cookies in pajamas next to a fireplace
is all your kids may need. Plus, reading together as a family can
help develop a love of reading.
Watch a holiday movie. There are many forms of quality time.
And sometimes the best kind of quality time is when no words
are required. Watching a holiday movie huddled together with a
blanket and popcorn in hand might be the perfect way to gear up
for winter break.
Go somewhere. For parents who need more help shifting their
focus from work to family time, sometimes the best way to shut
it off is simply to go somewhere. Even a day trip to go hiking,
star gazing, or just to learn a little more about nature will
exponentially lessen the temptation to check email or get a little
bit more work done.

28
in season

This certainly is the case for my family.


It’s no surprise that our best quality time
happens on our twice-a-year ski trips. My
kids didn’t always look forward to these ski
trips. In fact, they hated skiing at first. But
the discomfort of the cold and the challenge
of learning how to ski actually helped build
camaraderie. Bicker back at the cabin
they did. But on the slopes, my kids were
extremely encouraging of one another.
Over time, they have become better at
skiing, which has given them a sense of
accomplishments. And the memories of
snowball fights, building snowmen, and
drinking hot chocolate have also become
special bonding moments uniquely shared
within our family.
Start your own holiday tradition. The great
thing about traditions is that it can be
whatever your family wants it to be. It can
be silly, meaningful, sentimental or even
useful. One of our family traditions is a
Thanksgiving piñata. It gathers the kids
together, makes for some good laughs, and
gets rid of unwanted leftover Halloween
candy.
Trying to find time and energy for quality
family time is not easy during the hectic
holiday season. But there are many ways
to spend time together. The only necessary
ingredient is to be present and near one
another.

29
WHAT GETS YOUR FAMILYʼS
CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING?
Game Night in a Can is a party game made up of 30 different
creative challenges and physical games of skill. Each time you pick
a card you may find yourself dreaming up a brand new animal
species for Noahʼs Ark, competitively flying paper airplanes,
writing a ghost story about the room youʼre in, playing games
like Creepy Peepers, Frumpy Bumpers, Bank Face and more.
Find the creative magic at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and hundreds of
independent toy stores!
s from
(Resultnights)
game
31
32
Craft Corner

Salt Dough
Ornaments
Always on the lookout for great family
traditions...these salt dough ornaments have
been a family favorite! Try them out and
make some great gifts for family, teachers,
and friends.

BY: Rebecca Eanes

33
Materials:
• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1-1/2 cups water
* This made 25 cookie cutter ornaments and 3 large
handprint ornaments!)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Mix flour and salt
well. Gradually add water. Knead dough for about
15 minutes, until soft and pliable.
2. Roll the dough out on a floured surface about 1/8”
thick. Cut shapes with cookie cutters. We used
a small bowl to cut a circle for the handprints.
Poke holes in the top of the ornaments to thread
ribbon through later for hanging.
3. Place ornaments on a cookie sheet and bake at 325
degrees for approximately 45 minutes (until they
are hard).
4. Paint with acrylic paint.
These beautiful handmade ornaments are a treasure!
I have stored them with our other ornaments in a
large container and they keep very well. The kids
love seeing their own creations on our tree.

34
special Feature

Family
Kindness
Challenge BY: Sarah Lyons

If you spend any time watching the news, it doesn’t take long to
be reminded that there are a lot of things going on in the world.
Why not try to spread some kindness giving others (and your own
family) something positive to focus on?

37
There are benefits, a few of which are outlined below, for
both you and your kids as well as those on the receiving end
of your kind gestures. As Flora Edwards said, “In helping
others, we help ourselves, for whatever good we give out
completes the circle and comes back to us.”
Being kind makes you happier.
Being nice to others doesn’t just benefit them, it give you
a boost too. If you have ever been able to help out a friend
or a stranger in a time of need you know that being helpful
actually makes you feel happy. Doing nice things for others
boosts your serotonin. “Serotonin is the neurotransmitter
that gives us the feeling of satisfaction and well-being.”
says Lara Honos-Webb Ph.D. in Psychology Today “Most
of the antidepressant medications work by increasing the
amount of serotonin available to your brain. All of this
means doing nice things for other people changes your brain
in ways that make you feel better.”
Being kind makes you healthier.
People who volunteer in the community and are charitable
to others often experience lower stress levels and improved
overall health. According to Happier Human, statistics
show that people who are kind have less physical pain, get
better quality sleep, and exercise more.
Being kind builds self-esteem.
As parents we are always looking for ways to build self-
esteem in our kids. Helping others and being generous with
our time and talents can actually help build self-esteem
because when we help someone we feel like we have value
and a purpose. We are also letting someone else know they
are important and mean something to us.

38
special Feature

Being kind doesn’t have to be time


consuming, expensive, or hard work.
Simple acts of kindness can show someone
we care and have benefits to us as well.
Open the door for someone, pick up litter
as you pass, send a note or card in the
mail, or simply smile at others and you are
spreading kindness. Our kids follow our
lead in how we treat others and kindness
will become natural for them over time.

39
Simple Ways to Spread Kindness:
“Take emptied trash bins up for your neighbors.”
says Sarah Imbierowicz, mom of seven.

“My kids would always take a cold bottle of coke or water


out to the garbage collector.”
says Sharon Wade, Olathe mom of three.

“Always hold the door for people behind you.”


says Jeri Chester, Kansas City mom.

“Always be courteous to others because you never know


what someone might be going through.”
says NIkki Rhyme, mom of five.

“Walk someone’s dog, help neighbors with yard work or


shoveling in the winter.”
says Geri Geveshausen, mom and grandma, Omaha, NE.

“When we see things that need done, I suggest we do


them. For example, helping people struggling at the store,
taking a meal to a family, or grabbing coffee for a friend
who needs a boost.”
says Kara Thomas, Colorado Springs mom.

“Write or draw thank you notes.”


says Kathy Hromadka, Iowa mom and grandma.

40
KIDS’ KITCHEN

Rice Krispies
ChristmasTrees
BY: Deborah Song

Decorating Christmas trees is just as much fun


when it’s a Rice Krispies tree that you’re dressing
up. These festive treats are fun, economical and oh-
so-easy to make! Great to serve in bulk for holiday
parties both at home or in the classroom. Definitely
try this kid’s kitchen recipe.

43
Ingredients:
• 6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal
• 6 cups of mini marshmallows or 24 large marshmallows
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• Sprinkles, icing and other decorative toppings Pe r f e c

t
8” round cake pan G i fts !
• Optional: green food coloring Enclos
e
into a t each tree
• Optional: Lollipop Sticks r ansluc
en
ba g and t t
ie with
a ribbo
Directions: n.

1. Place marshmallows and butter in a large bowl.


2. Microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds or until
they puff up. Remove from microwave and stir well. Be
careful: contents will be hot! * If you opt to add food coloring,
add a couple of drops into marshmallows and stir.
3. Slowly pour in Rice Krispies and stir. Make sure to coat the
marshmallows thoroughly.
4. Place the sticky Rice Krispies mixture into round cake
pan.Firmly press into pan, making Rice Krispies level and
compact.
5. Let Rice Krispies sit for 20 minutes. They need to harden in
order to stick together.
6. When Rice Krispies are cool and firm, flip round pan over
onto cutting board and remove Rice Krispies round.
7. Using a serrated knife cut into 6 slices. For skinnier trees,
you can cut into 8 slices. *If adding the lolly sticks, do this now!
It can help with the decorating as well so you don’t have to hold the
sticky treats in your hand!
8. Decorate Rice Krispies trees using frosting and sprinkles.

44
BABY ANIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES

Elee and the Shining Star


To enhance Green Kids Club’s environmental
message for small children, they are introducing
a new series told from a baby animal’s point of
view – Baby Animal Environmental Heroes.
The first episode, “Elee and the Shining Star”
tells the story of Elee, an adorable baby elephant.
Watch for the next episode in the
Baby Animal Environmental Heroes series
“Molelo the Fire Ele”!

www.greenkidsclub.com / [email protected] / 208-881-5184


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editor’s choice

Explaining
SANTA BY: Rebecca Eanes

Many families choose to honor the Santa tradition


with their children. For those families, a time eventually
comes when children learn that there are no flying
reindeer, no big guy in a red suit, and no magical elves.
With this realization can come a mixed bag of emotions
that parents will need to help their child sort through.

47
While many children understand it as the pretend play of
childhood and happily carry on the tradition with their younger
siblings and friends, some children can feel quite upset and even
betrayed by the lie.
We are one of the “Santa families.” Santa left my children
encouraging notes on Christmas morning. He left footprints of
white powder across our living room floor. We made reindeer
food and placed it outside before bed, and baked cookies which
we left on a plate near our chimney. We listened for sleigh
bells quietly in the night. I never felt that I was betraying my
children’s trust. We joined in this fantasy together as we did so
many others, like our quests to find rare gems underneath the
bellies of dragons and journeys into space to discover unknown
planets. Make-believe is an important part of childhood, and,
research shows, is important for child development. There are
other benefits as well.
1. It grows imagination. When children believe in Santa, they
believe in a magical place where they can imagine all sorts
of wonderful things happening such as elves singing as
they make toys just for them and reindeer flying around
the North Pole to get ready for the big night. Their eyes
light up as they dream of the possibilities, and building
imagination will help them problem-solve and dream up
new ideas throughout their lives.
2. An emphasis on giving. Yes, there is excitement in
receiving a toy from a magical elf, but not to be dismissed
is the emphasis on giving that Santa teaches. This becomes
particularly evident when they learn the truth and begin
to share in the secret, becoming Santa for someone else.
Taking on that role with younger brothers and sisters or by
playing Santa to someone else helps children put the focus
on bringing joy to others.

48
editor’s choice

3. The belief in things we cannot see. To me, this is one of the


most important lessons of Santa. It’s a child-like way to
teach faith. Whether we are talking about faith as in reli-
gion or simply the kind of faith that things will work out
alright even when we cannot see a way forward, the seeds
of this belief are sown in the believing of Santa Claus. Of
course, they can be sown in other ways as well, but this is
a benefit of the Santa tradition.

49
4. It builds tradition. I’ve written before about the benefits of family
traditions and how they bond us together. Santa is a tradition
that they can carry on with their children and grandchildren,
providing so many fond memories along the way.
Even though we love our Santa tradition, I admit that I was con-
cerned with how my children might handle the truth, particularly
my highly sensitive child. Only this year do they readily admit that
there is no magical man in a sleigh, though our belief in Santa (the
spirit of giving) is still very strong. They began questioning if Santa
was real a couple of years ago, and I let them take the lead. They fi-
nally let it go when they were ready. There was no upset whatso-
ever, and they are excited to be “in on the secret” and to play Santa
for others this year. Here’s a few gentle steps for explaining Santa
to your children.

5. Let them take the lead. My children would ask, “Mom, is Santa
really real?” I would reply, “What do you think?” or “Do you
want to believe?” When they replied yes, I let them know it was
just fine to keep believing. You will know if your children are
ready to let Santa go, or if they need to hold on a little longer.
Through thoughtful conversations and active listening, you can
let your child decide whether or not to keep believing.
6. Provide empathy. If your child becomes upset, it’s important
to empathize. I’d caution against blowing off their upset as
“ridiculous” or telling them to not be upset. They feel how they
feel, and that’s okay. Our job is to help them manage and work
through those emotions. Validate them by showing empathy and
listening to what they have to say. Explain why you felt that
Santa was important. There are several letters available online
to use as a script to explain Santa to your child which may help
make easier for both of you.

50
editor’s choice

7. Empower your child to take on the role of giver. You might say, “There’s
no one Santa because it’s a job too big for one person. The real Santa is
the spirit of giving, and lots of us need to step up and do the job. So,
yes, I am Santa, and so are many others. And now, you can be Santa for
someone, too.” Let your child choose an angel off the angel tree to buy
for or a friend to play Secret Santa to, and encourage them to spread
hope and joy this Christmas season and always.

51
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Craft Corner

BY:STAFF WRITER

Hot Chocolate Snowman Jars are fun to make


and are the perfect gift to show you really care.
When completely assembled, you get an awesome
craft that looks just as sweet as it tastes!

55
MATERIALS:
• Marshmallows
• Cocoa powder
• Graham cracker crumbs
• Chocolate chips
• Peppermint candies
• Small mason jars
• Red and tan fabric ribbon
• Black felt paper

DIRECTIONS:
1. Place cocoa powder in one jar. Close it securely.
2. Place marshmallows in a second jar and secure lid tightly.
3. In the third jar add a layer of crushed graham crackers. Then
sprinkle a layer of chocolate chips and peppermint candy.
4. Cut out a large circle in the black felt paper. The circumference
of the circle should be a couple of inches greater than that of the
lid.
5. Place the circle on top of the marshmallow jar lid and hot glue
the fabric to the outer rim of the jar. You can hot glue a ribbon
around the hat to add dimension.
6. Place the cocoa powder jar below the marshmallows, followed by
the crushed graham crackers and peppermint jar at the bottom.
7. Draw on the buttons, eyes and mouth of a snowman with sharpie
and an orange carrot nose with an orange marker or paint.
8. Tie a strip of fabric or ribbon around where the marshmallow
and cocoa powder jars meet to give your snowman a scarf.
9. Once that’s complete, hot glue the outer rim of each lid so that
they will stick together but you’ll still be able to twist them
apart. Then you’re done!

56
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