knowonder!

Christmas

LET’S READ!

Christmas! It’s a favorite holiday of many people for lots of good reasons. It’s a day to sing carols, eat yummy food, and give gifts. For some families, it’s a religious celebration that commemorates the birth of a man named Jesus Christ. Whatever you celebrate or do on Christmas, it’s a day spent with family. full of joy and love!

Christmas is a winter holiday that happens every year on December 25th. Oftentimes, parents will put presents under the tree leading up to Christmas, and then a magical man named Santa brings presents in the middle of the night. Then, on Christmas morning, kids get to wake up and see all of their presents from Santa!

The day before Christmas, December 24th, is called Christmas Eve. In western cultures, kids often get to open one present on Christmas Eve, and then they have to be patient until Christmas morning to open the rest. In Hispanic cultures, they celebrate Noche Buena on December 24th, which is a day full of parties and celebration. People also like to put out milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve so he can eat them during his long journey to deliver presents to kids all around the world.

LET’S TALK!

1. What is your favorite part of Christmas?

2. What does your family usually do on Christmas Eve?

3. Does it snow on Christmas where you live?

LET’S READ!

Santa Claus is a man with a long white beard and a big round belly. He wears a red velvet shirt with white fur on the sleeves and the down middle, along with red pants and big black boots. He also wears a thick black belt with a big golden buckle and a little pair of glasses.

Throughout the year, Santa builds toys and presents for kids around the world. His workshop is all the way in the North Pole, and it’s full of elves that work very hard on the presents that will be delivered to kids everywhere on Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Santa loads up a big red sleigh with a huge black bag of toys. The sleigh is pulled by nine reindeer that can fly! Their names are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and finally, Rudolph.

On Christmas night, these nine reindeer fly through the air pulling Santa’s sleigh behind them. When they deliver presents, the reindeer land the sleigh on the roof and Santa slips through the chimney, then puts all the presents his elves made under the tree.

LET’S TALK!

1. Ask your child if they have heard about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer before. If they haven’t, sing them the song. What do they think about Rudolph?

2. What’s your favorite thing about Santa Claus?

3. What do you think reindeer hooves would sound like on the roof of your house?

LET’S READ!

There are many things people love about the Christmas season. Let’s talk about them!

One of the best things about the Christmas season is the music. There are many Christmas-themed songs that people love to play as soon as November 1st hits. Have you heard of All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey? That’s a classic! Here are a few more songs people love to play and sing during Christmas time: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Jingle Bells, The Christmas Song, Feliz Navidad, and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.

People also really enjoy the snacks (and drinks!) that become more popular during November and December. Two great Christmas drinks are apple cider and hot cocoa. Both of these drinks are warm and sweet–perfect for a cold winter night. As for popular snacks, candy canes make an annual appearance in stores everywhere. It’s a common pastime to decorate sugar cookies with red and green frosting and pretty sparkles.

LET’S TALK!

1. What’s your favorite Christmas song? Sing it for your child! (If you feel like you’re not a good singer, don’t worry. Your child loves your voice.)

2. What’s your favorite Christmas treat?

3. Tell your child what a Christmas list is. What do you put on a Christmas list?

LET’S READ!

Have you heard of caroling? This is a fun activity in which people get together in a group to sing with each other. They then go door-to-door, knocking on each neighbor’s door to sing for whoever answers. The carolers learn a few Christmas songs to sing, with the most well-known one being Deck the Halls.

Christmas also involves stockings. Stockings are hung from the fireplace, and parents and Santa alike put little presents like socks and candy in them.

Finally, one of the best, most loved parts of the Christmas season is putting up and decorating the Christmas tree. Some people like to go to a forest and cut down a real tree, while others like to go to a nursery and buy a real tree. Most families buy a fake tree at the store so they can use the same tree each year and they don’t have to worry about keeping it alive. Once the Christmas tree is set up, it’s decorated with garlands, lights, and ornaments. Putting up the Christmas tree is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!

LET’S TALK!

1. Is there anything you don’t like about Christmas? What is it and why don’t you like it?

2. Tell your child about the “Naughty or Nice” list Santa makes every year. Why is it important that they’re nice and good so they can get presents? What will Santa give them if they’re naughty?

3. Talk to your child about the winter activities you like to do during Christmas time. Maybe you enjoy sledding, building snowmen, or making snow angels!

VOCABULARY WORDS:

Christmas, winter, song, carol, joy, holiday, food, dinner, decorations, tree, Christian, Santa Claus, presents, elves, North Pole, reindeer, naughty, nice, presents, coal, treat, nativity, stocking, candy

ACTIVITIES:

• Sit down with your child and make a Christmas list. Make one for each of you! What do you want for Christmas? Dream as big as you want.

• Teach your child the first line of Deck the Halls and pretend to be carolers. You can find a room and stand on one side of the door, then have your child knock and sing to you and vice versa, or you can perform together for other family members.

• Pretend with your child that you’re Santa’s reindeer and walk around the house pretending you’re pulling Santa’s sleigh.

• If you’re Christian, look up a way to do a nativity scene with your family this Christmas. If your child is little enough, you could dress them up as Jesus. Have fun with making costumes, assigning parts, and putting on a cute family production!

RESOURCES:

1. Mickey Saves Santa (YouTube Video)

2. How Christmas Started? – The Dr. Binocs Show (YouTube Video)

3. Blippi’s Holiday Movie – Christmas Scavenger Hunt for Kids (YouTube Video)

4. Our Favorite Christmas Songs for Kids (YouTube Video)

5. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Full Movie (YouTube Video)

6. Peppa Pig – Santa’s Visit Full Episode (YouTube Video)

7. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (Andersen Press, 2017)

8. The Littlest Elf by Brand Dougherty (Scholastic Inc., 2012)

9. ‘Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Greenfield Thong (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2014)

10. Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Bratun (HarperCollins, 2007)

11. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss (Random House Books for Young Readers, 1957)