Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Countdown to Christmas: Activity #3--Drive-Thru Christmas


Here at Kindermusik, we believe stories should be experienced, not just listened to. That's why you'll see us running like ginger bread men, putting feathers on a bare turkey, pulling animals friends out of hole with foam noodles, etc., etc., etc. Have we got a treat for you this holiday season!

River Bend Baptist Church, our location for our Wednesday classes, has a wonderful Drive-Thru Christmas program this week end only. It truly is a magical journey that your family should experience together! Here are all of the details, including a video of the actual presentation: http://riverbendbc.org/celebrate-christmas. It truly is a reenactment that you shouldn't miss! My family will be there on Friday evening. Hope to see you there!

Kindermusik Homework: After the event, head home and re-enact your own favorite holiday stories with props, sound effects, music, and more!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Countdown to Christmas: Activity #2--Elfin' Magic



Dear Kindermusik Family,
Santa knows how much his magical elves like to sing and dance, so he sent us a shipment of magical, musical elves to give to good homes! I trust that you will take good care of your chosen elf. Please remember that he/she loves to make music and dance and be silly, so make sure you play with him/her every day, but first give him a name and a special place to sleep!
In the coming weeks, you may see your elf or you may not. He is Santa's jolly little helper, on a very special mission to keep a watchful eye on your family. He might be tip-toeing around your house in his quiet, tiny elf shoes, sitting on a shelf, standing on a stair, swinging from a twinkling light or peering from under the decorated Christmas tree while shaking bells! He’s a very clever elf...so keep a watchful eye on him! He might be anywhere at anytime, listening, watching and reporting to Santa. He'll be taking notes in his little note book and sending to Santa what all you say and do.

Santa is very busy and can't be everywhere - he has a lot to do to prepare for his big trip on Christmas Eve...making his list and checking it twice, supervising the toy building and making sure that the reindeer eat all of their vegetables and get a good nap before their big flight. Please take good care of your chosen elf and know that Santa is watching!

Enjoy the innocent magic of the Holiday Season!

Love,
Miss Kathy (who is a very big magical elf fan!)
Kindermusik With Kathy & Friends
Kmusikwithkathy@gmail.com
832-598-SING


P.S. I have a few lonely elves left over from last Christmas. Post your plea on our Facebook page and your child might just find herself a special little friend in the mail!

P.P.S. Here are some elfin' ideas to keep the magic flowing!

ELF MAGIC
(For Mommy’s Eyes Only…)
Traditions are the framework of our lives--things that we do over and over again that provide us with a sense of security and define our family. In today’s busy world some families are losing the art of traditions. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives we just don’t make the time to treasure the little rituals that form the core of family memories. Obviously the Magic Elves are all about tradition and this year is the time to start a new tradition in your family. Many of these ideas are geared toward older kiddos, but that’s the joy of the Magic Elf….he/she will grow as your kids do! Here are some ideas to get you started…
Elf Tree: Create a special tree for the elves. This may be a tree that you let the kids decorate with homemade ornaments or perhaps the elves will bring a new ornament for the tree each year. However you set it up the “tradition” of the elf tree will be one that is remembered throughout life.
Elf Breakfast: Pick a specific day in December and make it a “new tradition” for the elves to prepare a special breakfast on that morning. Think of fun items like red and green pancakes or green milk, or another special menu. If you really want to be creative…create a printed menu…listing the specialties…use clip art so the kids can color the menus as a special after breakfast treat.
Elf Light Tour: Have the elves leave a map of the neighborhood with stars or another kind of marker by houses that must be seen. Then bundle up the family (and the elves) and go on a drive around the neighborhood following the map provided by the elves.
Elf Mall Thank You Trip: Take the elves to the mall along with some bags of “Elf Kisses” or “Elf Hugs” perhaps the Elf Bookmarks the kids created or the Jingle Bell ornaments. Have the elves (and kids) present the Thank You Treats to those “frazzled” store workers who put in long thankless hours during the busy season.
Elf Sled: Find a small sled for your elves…they look really cute perched on the sled indoors or bring it outside so your elees can enjoy a romp in the snow. Snap some pictures for your Elf Journal and help them make an elf sized snowman.
Elfish Hike: Have the elves leave a note suggesting a winter scavenger hunt. They should list things to find in “nature” and then as a family.head into the winter woods or a nearby park to begin your search. Along the way collect twigs, acorns, sweetgum balls, seed pods, and other items to spray paint and use as holiday decorations. Placed in a wooden bowl with a bit of evergreen…they bring the beauty of winter inside for the holiday season.
Elf Snow Celebration: Prepare some elf snowman kits so you will be ready for any snowfall. Collect small stocking caps in bright colors or Santa hats, colorful scarves, and other snowman building supplies. Be ready for a spur of the moment romp in the snow and afterwards gather back inside for “Elf Cider”…(hot chocolate or Wassail).
Elf Snowflakes: One night when everyone is sleeping…help your elves make and hang snowflakes by fishing line from the ceiling. When the kids wake up have the kitchen or family room or whatever room you use full of dangling snowflakes!! After all, they miss the North Pole and need a bit of the white stuff to feel really at home!
Elf Bird Treats: Have the elves leave directions for a “feed the birds” project. Perhaps you can string popcorn or make peanut butter and birdseed pinecones to hang in the trees around your house. Our fine feathered friends will love a holiday treat!!
The Lost Elf: Hide one of your elves in a safe place outside and leave some footprints leading out the door. Suggest to the kids that the elf has wandered off and is lost outside. Time for a search and rescue team to head outside for a bit and look for him. The search in the wonderful winter air will refresh everyone.
Elves Love to Do What Your Kids Love To Do: Elves adapt quickly to a household, and many mornings are found busy with the favorite activities of the kids who live there. Reading favorite books, playing games (including the Wii or Nintendo DS), having a tea party with best-loved dolls, and riding skateboards are all favorite Elf past times.
Elves Are Into Computers and Social Media: Elves in homes with teens have been known to have email, Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep an online eye on the kids and send funny emails, status updates and tweets. Many elves also seem to surf the internet late at night, finding fun new sites for the kids to enjoy.
Elves Love to be in Pictures: Apparently, Elves are very good at self portraits. Many families have found their digital cameras full of pictures of their Elves in all kinds of crazy poses.
Elves Often Have A Driver's License: If an Elf cannot be found in the morning, the car is the first place to look. Elves are often found in the driver's seat, sitting on a stack of pillows or books. The car may be parked backwards or in a crazy position, and in some cases even down the street or in a neighbor's driveway. Typically, Christmas music is blaring through the speakers and the gas tank is mysteriously closer to empty than before.
Elves Write in Journals: Elves and children often learn more about each other and build bonds by writing letters back and forth. Some Elves arrive with a festively decorated journal to keep all the correspondence in one place. It has been rumored that some Elves only write backwards, so children must hold the note up to the mirror to read it. A few are conversant in Pig Latin or other codes that older kids must decipher.
Elves Tell Potty Jokes, Too: Elves love to turn the toilet water green (with food coloring), toilet paper kids rooms or whole houses, and write on bathroom mirrors with mom's lipstick.
Elves Spell Their Names - Everywhere!: Each Elf has a name. Some are named by the children they watch. Others arrive with a note introducing the Elf. Either way, all Elves seem to love to leave their signature as often as possible. Maybe the Elf's name is written in Cheerios, flour, or chocolate syrup on the counter. Other times in toothpaste on the bathroom mirror. Best of all, in food coloring on freshly fallen snow.
Elves Love Things That Remind Them of Home: Cotton ball snowball fights are a favorite past time of elves. Also, Elves often make elf sized snow angels. If real snow is not available, then Insta-Snow or flour make good substitutes. A favorite game for Elves is Candy Land. If the house does not already have a copy, Elves have been known to bring one from the North Pole as an early Christmas gift.
Elves Do Not Always Come Alone: What could be better than an Elf on the Shelf? Several Elves, of course. That means the mischief can multiply and children awake to elaborate scenes of Elf mayhem.
Elves Play With Their Neighbor Elves: So many families have their own Elf on a Shelf during the holidays that Elves join with neighbor Elves to increase the fun. Many neighbor elves have been waiting together at the bus stop for their children to arrive. Other Elves host a Christmas party for neighborhood kids.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Countdown to Christmas: Activity #1--Go on a sleigh ride




Countdown to Christmas: Activity #1--Go on a sleigh ride

Props Needed: laundry baskets, towels or large scarves, bells

Toss the clean laundry out of the laundry baskets and pile your kiddos in for a fun sleigh ride through your house. Loop a beach towel or a scarf through the handle to avoid back pain for Santa's work horse. Use towels to cushion the baskets for the wee-est of elves. Sing "Over The River" while taking your kids on a ride they won't soon forget!

Check It Out: Over The River

WHY Do We Do This: Our little friends have a difficult time understanding space and boundaries, so sitting in a basket defines their sense of space. You might want to even read them a holiday book or two and see how long they'll sit in their baskets! This song is also a great way teach prepositions--(OVER the mountains, THROUGH the woods, UNDER the kitchen table, AROUND the dog). And, it's just plain ole family fun!

Post a comment or a picture on our Facebook Page about how you used this activity, and you might win yourself a pair of jingle bells to add an extra dose of fun!

Kindermusik Countdown to Christmas!

Join us in the upcoming weeks as we bring a little Kindermusik magik to your holiday season. We'll be sharing some of our favorite activities to make this season more fun, more inspirational, and a wee bit more educational. Check back often as we'll also be giving away some prizes along the way!

Spring enrollment begins this week! E-mail us at kmusikwithkathy@gmail.com to get more information. We'd love to share some Kindermusik magik with you and your favorite lil elf each and every week!