Tag: celebrate

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6 Ways to Make Mums Feel Special this Mother’s Day

It’s almost that special day in May that we all celebrate mums and mother figures in children’s lives! Making sure mums feel special this Mother’s Day on Sunday 8 May is easy with these six ways.

1. Create something to treasure

Many mums like jewellery, so why not make a real craft activity out of it and help children to make the beads and paint them for a bracelet or necklace for mum! Make them, bake them, paint them, thread them and VOILA a beautiful keepsake for mums to cherish over the years! Head here for instructions.
Other ideas are this gorgeous egg carton art, some lovely icy-pole stick photo frames or colourful tissue paper flowers.

2. Write something thoughtful

Homemade cards are a must (try this handprint card!). Help children to write something thoughtful by prompting them with questions like ‘What is your favourite thing to do with mummy?’, or ‘What makes your mummy special?’.

3. Make it personal

Mother’s Day can be a different, personal experience for many children. Don’t forget that sometimes mum may not be present, so aunties, grandmothers, step-mums and other mother figures may be more appropriate for some children.

4. Invite mums to celebrate

A Mother’s Day breakfast, morning or afternoon tea is fun for everyone! Plan ahead, let families know and keep it simple. And our next two suggestions make this even more enjoyable!

5. Make mums something yummy

These Jam Drops are a simple treat for children to help make for mums, aunts and grandmothers visiting the centre. Of course, there are the classic scones, fruit kebabs and many other options to explore.

6. Sing a special song

You may like to help children learn this short Mother’s Day poem as a special performance element for your Mother’s Day celebrations. It is always loved by children and mums! We’re sure you’ll find it is sweet and meaningful for every kind of mum. We always recite this poem with actions – they are quite obvious but if you’re not sure, create your own!

There you have it – six ways to make mums feel special. Happy Mother’s Day!

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Celebrating Cultural Diversity

With many of us excited about Christmas coming next month and celebrating with family, there are people of many cultures looking forward to different events and celebrations this time of year.  This really got us thinking about the diversity of cultures and how we can celebrate these as well.

Here are just a few big events coming up soon:

Diwali Light Festival–  One of the most significant festivals in Indian culture, Diwali, the festival of lights, sees millions attend firework displays, prayers and celebratory events across the world every autumn.  The festival is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains for a variety of reasons; although the main theme which runs throughout is the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

Christmas Day -Christmas Day is celebrated through many countries and regions – more than 2 billion people (over a third of the world’s population) will celebrate the birth of Christ.  The most popular customs of the holiday include gift giving, singing carols, exchanging Christmas cards, church services, a special meal and a display of various Christmas decorations.  The biggest being Santa, Father Christmas or Saint Nicholas bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season. For many it is a day to reflect at the end of a long year, celebrate with family and to start the New Year in good spirits.

Australia Day – Celebrated annually on 26 January, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales and the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at that site by Governor Arthur Phillip. In present-day Australia, celebrations reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation, and are marked by community and family events, official community awards, and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new immigrants into the Australian community

Chinese New Year – This is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival, the literal translation of the modern Chinese name. Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally run from Chinese New Year’s Eve, the last day of the last month of the Chinese calendar, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month, making the festival the longest in the Chinese calendar.  In 2016 it will be celebrated on Monday, 8 February, and it is the year of the Monkey.

To help children to become involved in these celebrations, have a world map on hand, print out a list of the cultural dates and discuss the various festivities with them.  The internet has, as always, plenty of resources, craft ideas, explanations, traditional dress ideas and information about all of these special days. Children enjoy seeing colour and movement, and expanding their mind about other cultures is a fantastic way to teach them.  In addition, it is so important for children to be culturally aware and to enjoy other cultures and traditions.

Cultural and religious dates – https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/programs-policy/a-multicultural-australia/government-building-social-cohesion/calendar-of-cultural-and-religious-dates

Christmas Day around the world – http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/global/christmas_day_world.php

Kids craft ideas and how to celebrate diversity   – http://www.thecraftycrow.net/cultural/

A handy list on how to Celebrating Cultural Diversity in Early Childhood Services  – http://www.resourcingparents.nsw.gov.au/ContentFiles/Files/diversity-in-practice-tipsheet-2.pdf

http://www.resourcingparents.nsw.gov.au/ContentFiles/Files/diversity-in-practice-tipsheet-2.pdf

 

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Start the Conversation about World Peace Day

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

It’s a big world we live in with hundreds of countries and thousands of languages, many different religions, time zones, and a slew of celebrations.

The symbol of the dove:
The peace dove flying with an olive branch in its beak is one of the most commonly featured symbols for the day. In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam a white dove is generally a sign for peace. The dove can also represent “hope for peace” or a peace offering from one person to another, hence the phrase “to extend an olive branch”. Often, the dove is represented as still in flight to remind people of its role as messenger.

So, how can you include this in your daily life?
You don’t have to organise or attend an event to participate in Peace Day. Individuals can observe Peace Day in whatever way is personally meaningful. Take time for quiet reflection, have a minute of silence at 12pm, volunteer in your community, commit to more peaceful communications in your home, share some peaceful time with someone who needs support, plant a tree, learn about a global issue related to people or the environment.

How can you embrace this day in your classroom?
Learn what makes us different and what makes us the same, and why!

Ask the children about what they think Peace Day is. Below are some links to some craft activities, which can start the conversations.

Some questions to consider:

1.Why do you think World Peace Day is so important?

2.What can we do to support this day?

3.How different would the world be if every day were World Peace Day?

Encourage the world to work together toward the goal of worldwide peace.
Just remember that knowledge leads to understanding…

For more information about World Peace Day:

http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/

Worksheet, craft and activities to use at home or in the classroom:

http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/peaceday.php

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/peace-day

20 things you can do on Peace Day:

https://justlists.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/20-or-more-things-you-can-do-on-peace-day-september-21/

 

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Celebrating the Fathers and Special Men in Our Lives

Today’s young fathers spend more time with their children each day – talking, playing and teaching them – than fathers of just one generation ago. This is fantastic news; with our lives busier than ever, our children still need strong, present role models in their lives.

We take Fathers Day to acknowledge the important role that fathers, grandfathers, uncles and special male influences play in the lives of their children; as role models, care givers, providers, protectors, supporters, friends, and the myriad other roles that men play in the lives of women and children.

Fathers are often overlooked and not as celebrated as mothers however, recent research shows just how important it is for children to spend quality one on one time with fathers or other males.

For boys Ian Grant, parenting expert and author of Growing Great Boys, believes the role of a father in his son’s life is crucial and that dads can never be too involved with their sons. “Boys whose dads are involved with them from a young age do better in lots of ways — academically, emotionally and socially,” says Grant. “Well-fathered boys show the positive effects years later with an improved capacity for empathy and the health of their social relationships. You have to do whatever it takes to be there for your kids.”

Fathers have been given a tremendous ability to influence the lives of their daughters.  Girls need to wrestle, rough house and spend quality one on one time with their fathers, or male figures to build confidence both physically and mentally.  This boosts their self-esteem, self-image and how they see themselves in the world. University of Oxford researchers noted that girls who had more involved fathers were less likely to face mental health problems later in life. Genuine praise and admiration from a father can help his daughter grow up to be an independent, confident woman.  There is no denying the fact that a healthy relationship between a daughter and a father can produce amazing results in his daughter’s life.

How to celebrate Fathers Day? Well, everybody loves a hand made craft item or a card. There are lots of simple, fun and inexpensive ideas on the Internet.  Special photos, some lovely words and a funny gift always make Dads smile.  Another way to celebrate is to spend the day together as a family. Simple pleasures like walking on the beach, a day trip to the snow, park or forest, a coffee at a favourite café and of course breakfast in bed. Because, let’s face it Dads are wonderful and special and deserve a day of celebration.

We believe that poetry is a great way to celebrate… So enjoy a poem written by Galina – ‘My Daddy’:

https://musicearlychildhoodpresenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/My-Daddy-by-Galina.pdf

Craft ideas for Fathers Day – https://www.pinterest.com/diamondkandace/crafts-for-father-s-day/

Martha Stewart Craft ideas- http://www.marthastewart.com/274629/fathers-day-crafts-for-kids/@center/307033/spring-holidays

Ways to spend the day as a family – http://miamiinstyletv.com/top-10-fun-ways-to-spend-fathers-day-as-a-family/

Article on the importance of children spending quality time with Fathers – http://www.ahaparenting.com/blog/Fathers-Day

The importance of father/ daughter relationships – http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/821928/the-importance-of-the-father-daughter-relationship

The importance of father/ son relationships – http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/importance-father-son-relationships-23229.html

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