Watching Christmas through the eyes of young children is truly an enchanting experience. Creating Christmas magic is more than just building sweet family traditions, it supports your child’s early childhood education, as well! The simple, repeated traditions at home or in daycare or preschool classrooms can do everything from building stronger language skills to creating a strong sense of belonging that will lay a foundation for learning throughout life (Source). From special homemade sugar cookies to beloved classic books read year after year, cherishing the Christmas season can be as sweet and simple as you want it to be. In this article we will take a look at some lovely traditions that you can incorporate into your Christmastime, as well as some of the ways that these traditions support early childhood education.
Here at Chester Child Development Center, we value meaningful traditions while supporting development and fun through the busy holiday season. Call us today to schedule a tour and talk about our classrooms, holiday plans, and enrollment opportunities.
The Importance of Christmas Traditions
Research shows that family rituals and traditions help children feel secure, connected, and loved. They are linked to better emotional regulation, resilience, and even stronger school adjustment and academic outcomes. When children feel safe and secure, it is easier to learn and gives them more confidence to want to learn. Traditions also turn a busy time into something a little more predictable and safe! Yes, the daily schedule might be off, but doing the same activities that they did last year can bring a calmness that only comes from knowing what to expect to the chaos.
Here at Chester Child Development Center, we would love to be a part of your family’s traditions and to have you be a part of ours! Call us today to ask about our yearly traditions. Schedule a tour to take a look at our festive lesson plans and see how we celebrate Christmas!
Tradition Idea #1: A Simple Christmas Countdown Ritual
Instead of a candy-filled advent calendar, try a short nightly countdown that builds the anitcipation for Christmas, and also gives the child a visual tracker of the days they will have to wait. Practicing waiting is an important skill developed in early childhood education that will serve children for life:
- Light (or pretend to light) a candle–this builds on number knowledge through counting days
- Sing the same simple song each night–repeated books, phrases, and songs can help with language development.
- Add a sticker to a calendar or remove a link in a paper chain
Daily routines help preschoolers and toddlers feel safe and calm, especially helpful during the busy holiday season. Organizations like Zero to Three note that predictable routines support emotional security and learning–so keeping a routine or two amidst the chaos can be a helpful and sweet bonding opportunity.
Here at Chester Child Development Center we offer a calm and supportive environment through the busy season, while also embracing the fun and the magic! Make us a part of your daily routine and enroll your child today!
Tradition Idea #2: Storytime With Meaningful Repetition
Reading the same books over and over might get quite boring for adults, but it is amazing for young minds! Pick one or two favorite Christmas books to read multiple times throughout the Christmas season. You will support your child’s early childhood education in helping them broaden their vocabulary, narrative structure, and comprehension (Source).
Sprinkle some magic on your reading time:
- Let your child “read” the pictures or finish predictable lines.
- Ask simple questions: “Who is this?” “What happens next?”
- Connect the story to real life: “We’re eating cookies just like the character did!”
- Do a craft, activity, or bake in conjunction with the story.
We love reading here at Chester Child Development Center! Schedule a tour and come see some of our favorite holiday books and let us share our daily magic with you!
Tradition Idea #3: Giving and Gratitude Rituals
Refocusing this exciting season of Christmas onto giving and being grateful for what you have is huge. Whether your child attends childcare of daycare or stays home, children tend to be inwardly focused–which is completely developmentally appropriate. Intentionally focusing on gratitude and giving sets a new tone for the holiday season, encouraging the development of empathy and social skills with activities that your preschooler can participate in.
- Let your little one pick out a toy or canned goods to donate–there are plenty of causes that would love the support this Holiday season!
- Have your toddler or preschooler create simple cards or drawings for neighbors, teachers, family, nursing homes, or overseas military!
- Start a “gratitude bedtime ritual” where each night they share one thing they enjoyed that day.
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Keep the thankfulness from Thanksgiving going and continue making a list or visual with things your child is grateful for, reviewing them every chance you get.
Experts support that family rituals give children a sense of identity —“this is who we are; this is what it means to be part of our family”—and are linked with emotional well-being and positive social development.
Come see us here at Chester Child Development Center! We would love to show you around and chat about how we encourage and teach our students about the “joy of giving” this Christmas season.
Tradition Idea #4: Cozy Traditions
As the cold wind blows, set some fun traditions in place that might not be extravagant, but are extremely lovely. It doesn’t take much to add some extra magic to the every day.
- Hot cocoa after playing outside (especially if it has snowed!)
- Family time around the fireplace
- Candle-lit dinners to brighten the early arrival of night
- Make Snow-cream with fresh snow.
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that children do best when routines are regular, predictable, and consistent. These small additions can be incorporated into the already-established routine, while still adding a little bit of holiday magic.
Routines are our bread and butter here at Chester Child Development Center. Call today to schedule a tour and meet our lovely early childhood education teachers and find out how they bring they make the season festive while still holding to their routines.
Making Magic and Memories
Christmas traditions don’t have to be big or expensive for them to be memorable and special. Focus on the connection, joy, and relationships, rather than monetary or societal expectations. Doing so will keep the magic and the memories going well after the holiday decorations have been put away.
Ready to find a childcare or preschool that values your family, your traditions, and works hard to create lovely and developmentally rich experiences for your little one? Call us here at Chester Child Development Center and ask about our early childhood education program and our classroom openings!