December may be the busiest month of the year, but it’s also one of the best times to take part in craft activities with your kids. Before the hustle and bustle of the season sweeps you into the new year, get your children involved in these metal-making, taste-tempting, glimmery-glowing activities. Then watch their faces radiate at what their hands have made.

EASY-AS-PIE ORNAMENTS
Items needed:
Disposable foil pie pan
Holiday cookie cutters or stencils
Permanent markers
Scissors
Assortment of sequins, rhinestones, craft jewels, etc.
Glue
Hole punch
Ribbon

Instructions:
1. Lay a cookie cutter or stencil on the inside of the pie pan and trace around the design with a marker.
2. Cut out the shape with scissors.
3. Decorate it with permanent markers and attach sequins, rhinestones, and/or craft jewels with glue. Let it dry.
4. Punch a hole near the top of the ornament and string a ribbon through it.

SWEET STUFFIN’ GINGERBREAD MAN
Items needed:
Roll of brown Kraft paper (or large brown paper bag cut open so it lays flat)
Scissors
Stapler
Markers
Buttons, rickrack, other sewing notions
Glue
Wrapped candy
Hole punch
Ribbon

Instructions:
1. On a large piece of brown Kraft paper, draw a gingerbread-shaped man that is approximately 15 inches long. Cut this out and use it as a stencil to make a duplicate.
2. On one of the men, draw a face with markers. Glue on buttons, rickrack, and other notions to decorate.
3. Place the two gingerbread bodies together and staple around all of the sides, leaving a three-inch opening. Stuff the inside with candy (note: you can also add small toys, trinkets, money, and goodie coupons).
4. After you have filled the man, seal the opening with staples.
5. Punch a hole in the top of the gingerbread man, thread a ribbon through it, and hang.
6. Choose a special day to break open the gingerbread man so everyone can have a sweet treat.

GLIMMER ‘N GLOW LANTERNS
Items needed:
Colored construction paper
Large canning jar
Scissors
Glitter
Glue
Tape
Tea light

Instructions:
1. Measure and trim a piece of construction paper to be as tall as the canning jar and long enough to wrap around it.
2. Fold the trimmed paper in half lengthwise, and starting from the folded end, cut slits about ½-inch apart that go across the paper to about ½ inch from the outer edge.
3. Open the paper and lay it flat.
4. Place dots of glue randomly around the paper and sprinkle glitter over it. Shake off excess glitter and let it dry.
5. Wrap the paper around the jar, fastening the bottom end with tape. Slightly push down the paper from the top so the slits open out, and tape around the top of the jar.
6. Place a tea light inside the jar. Light the wick and watch it glitter and glow!

You light up my life…
Candles are a part of many holiday celebrations and have been around for more than 5,000 years. Historians believe the first candles were made by Ancient Egyptians, who soaked reed in melted animal fat to make torches. It was the Romans, however, who are credited with developing the first wicked candle. During the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were introduced in Europe, but they were so expensive only the wealthy could afford them. Paraffin wax was introduced in the 1850s, making candles more practical and popular. But 40 years later when the light bulb was introduced, candle-making declined. The industry regained popularity during the first half of the 20th century. Then in the mid-1980s, sales spiked when they became available in various shapes, sizes, colors, and scents.

Multicultural month…
During the month of December, various cultures observe traditions that represent their values and beliefs. But how did these holidays begin? Check out these websites to learn the history of different celebrations, along with fun factoids about the origins of decorations, recipes, and celebratory items. Then pick up these children’s books to read stories based on some of these observances.

+ educationworld.com/a_lesson/02/lp290-01.shtml
+ history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas
+ history.com/topics/christmas/christmas-traditions-worldwide
+B is for Bethlehem: A Christmas Alphabet by Isabel Wilner
+Christmas in the Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
+Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky
+It’s Kwanzaa Time! by Linda and Clay Goss
+Seven Spools of Thread: a Kwanzaa Story by Angela Shelf Medearis
+The Stone Lamp: Eight Stories of Hanukkah through History by Karen Hesse