Learning Through the Days of the Year

By: Diane Flynn Keith

There are historic, important, and even fun and silly events to commemorate nearly every day of the year. You can use some of these dates to boost your young child's knowledge of the world in a fun and playful way. We have compiled information, books, websites, lessons, DVDs, and other resources to help you do just that in our Universal Preschool Learning Calendar.

Here is a sample of what you will find for the month of December...

December Learning Calendar

• 1 — Eat a Red Apple Day!
  Apples are delicious. Apples are nutritious. They are grown all over the world and can be found in thousands of varieties. Have some Fun with Apples! with your preschooler.

• 6 — St. Nicholas Day!
  In Denmark, children receive gifts from St. Nicholas in their stockings on this day. Learn more about this celebration and try some of the activities for some holiday fun.

• 19 — Look For An Evergreen Day!
  Christmas trees are evergreen plants! Evergreens are plants that retain their green leaves or needles all year round, in contrast to deciduous trees that lose all of their leaves leaving the branches bare for part of the year.

  • Read The Legend of Why Evergreen Trees Never Lose Their Leaves online.
  • Enjoy the book, Christmas Tree Farm by Ann Purmell. It's the story of a boy and his family's Christmas Tree Farm.
  • Go On An Evergreen Hunt! Take a walk through the neighborhood and ask your child to help you find the evergreen trees and plants.

• 21 — Winter Solstice and National Flashlight Day!
  The first day of winter arrives on December 21st. It is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere because there are the fewest hours of sunlight. Your family may enjoy these ideas for celebrating the Winter Solstice.

  Because it is the darkest day of the year, it's the perfect occasion for National Flashlight Day! Children love to use flashlights, and thankfully, they are easy to find and inexpensive. Show your child how to turn the flashlight on and off. Show your child how to take the flashlight apart and put it back together. Describe all of the parts of the flashlight as you do this. Try this activity:

  • Fun with Shadows! Turn off the lights in the room. Shine a flashlight on a bare wall. Ask your child to stand in front of the bright light and experiment with making shadows of all shapes and sizes on the wall. Show them how to make Hand Shadows. Experiment with casting different kinds of shadows by holding different objects up in front of the flashlight. Try a stuffed animal, scissors, a pencil, a toothbrush, small toys like cars and action figures or dollhouse dishes and cups. Puzzle pieces cast interesting shadows too. I'm sure your child will think of many more to try.

• 31 — New Year's Eve!
  Your children may enjoy hearing the heart-warming story, Cecil's New Year's Eve Tail by Marie Fritz Perry. Very young children will enjoy P. Bear's New Year's Party by Paul Owen Lewis. Here's an idea for a family celebration with young children:

  New Year's Eve Slumber Party! Gather the family together in one room on New Year's Eve for a giant slumber party. Put the aero-beds and sleeping bags on the floor in front of the TV. Everyone can stay up to welcome in the New Year. (If the beds are there, little ones can fall asleep as they get tired, but they still feel like they were part of the fun.)

  Break out the party hats, horns, and confetti - make some joyful noise! Before anyone gets too tired, have each person make an out-loud wish for the New Year. Tear up the old calendar and throw the pieces into the air. Put up the new calendar. Sing "Auld Lang Syne." Toast in the New Year with some sparkling cider. Eat some favorite snacks. Watch a family-friendly movie such as It's A Wonderful Life. Those that stay awake can watch the New Year's countdown on TV. Share a New Year's hug and kiss! Have fun with your wonderful family!

That's just a taste of the entertaining and engaging resources that will help you boost your young child's knowledge of the world in this outstanding activity book and time-saver! Order your copy today - here's how:

Note: If your preschool-age child has older siblings at home, you may be interested in our comprehensive Homefires Learning Calendar with suggestions for every day of the year.

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