September 29, 2008

Christmas Traditions for Children

Celebrating time honored Christmas traditions, while creating some of your own, can get your children more involved in the holiday. Christmas traditions for children can be new or old. Because these rituals and lessons are passed down from one generation to the next, they can be new ones you start for your family, or they can be old family staples.

Creating a new Christmas tradition for your children can be a great way to get them to understand the meaning of family and the holidays. It can also give you the chance to customize experiences for the tastes of your child. One great place to start for ideas is eHow.com. Here you can find all kinds of how-to guides for everything from Christmas cards to how to celebrate Christmas all year long.

Once you start thinking about all the different Christmas traditions for children, you can add your own creative touch and keep it going for years to come.

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September 25, 2008

Stanley The Christmas Tree’s Lesson

In this day and age, the lives of our children seem more complex than ever. Childhood bullying has taken on a new form with advances in technology, and the media more than ever can bombard kids with images and stereotypes of how they should be or look. Stanley the Christmas Tree’s lesson is focused on staying true to yourself, being self confident, and following your dreams.

Stanley is a tree growing on a farm, with the dream he will find his way to a family to be the Christmas tree in their home. He is taken home by one family only to quickly find himself in an alley on Christmas Eve being teased by the trash cans. Stanley still does not give up hope, even though the lifelong dream he realized was taken from him suddenly. Stanley the Christmas Tree’s lesson is important for all ages. To persevere in the face of life’s disappointments and make something else good from them, to always know who you are inside, and not let anything get in the way of your dreams even if you are discouraged.

These are the life lessons we want to teach our children. Reading is just one great way to convey to your children this broader meaning. Literacy encourages an adventurous spirit like Stanley’s.

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September 12, 2008

Welcome!


Stanley the Christmas Tree is a book with a story of perseverance, holiday spirit, self confidence, and tradition. This blog is dedicated to being your resource for bringing these lessons into your own home for your children.

Stanley is a Christmas tree who had a lifelong wish that a “Special Family” would pick him to spend Christmas in their home. His dream seems lost when, on Christmas Eve, he finds himself standing in an alley with the Trash Can Family, instead of in a home decorated.

In this blog, you will find ways you can approach your children about what the holidays mean, and tips for teaching good values every day to your classroom and homeschooled children. Here you will find activities that can be aimed at building traditions such as decorating for the holidays, baking cookies, making candy, researching Christmas tree farms and other fun learning tools.