Giving and Receiving Gifts

 Giving and Receiving Gifts:

What gift are you giving this year?

Toys: Littelest Pet Shoppes, Cars and City Rug, and Fisher Price Town.

Snack: Clementine slices and Organic Animal Crackers. 

We missed Ben and Maelo today and wished them well and that they return to us soon!

During snack time we discussed Why do We Celebrate Christmas?  We passed around a red crayon and whoever had it could tell us about Christmastime.

Anna: to remember Baby Jesus!  Lena: Yes! But not on Christmas.  He wasn't born then.  (Some believe that Jesus was actually born in the Springtime/April).  Lukas:    Harris: We eat candy canes and they remind us of the Shepards!   Zakai: Toys!  Tanner:  Eva:  What do you like about Christmas?  Why do we give gifts? Some students remembered the Wisemen who brought gifts to Baby Jesus.

Review of letters J and K.

We  jammed and jitterbugged with letter J (and listening to the Jelly Fishes song) and then kicking our Karate Kicks with letter K.  We glued our Kicking K's to paper for our Alphabet Book today.

Gifts/ Giving and receiving Discussion:

I had a large Gift Bag with wrapped presents inside.

We reviewed Franklin's Christmas Gift about Franklin (the turtle) who wanted to give away an old, broken toy to the chairty drive and later realized that he wanted to give a nice toy--like he likes to recieve.

Meaningful gift giving

1. Discuss why we give gifts. What’s your family’s motivation for giving?
2. Talk with your child about the people they would like to add to their gift list. What does each person mean to your child and your family? This is also a great time to talk about people you may not know who would benefit from a gift: the child of an inmate, a family at a homeless shelter, an individual in an assisted living center.
3. Decide together the gifts your child will make or select for each recipient. What does each person need? For example, last time you visited grandma did she mention her toaster was broken? If you can’t think of needs, discuss what each person may want: activities, hobbies, favorite food, clothing, toys.
4. Go shopping together. Preface the trip with an explanation of your intent. For example, “We are not shopping for us today; we’re looking for gifts for your friend and your sister.” This is also a time to shop for supplies if you’re making gifts.
5. Wrap the gifts together. If you have the time and energy, consider making your own wrapping paper, cards or nametags. Encourage your child to sign their name on the tag or card.
6. Deliver gifts in person or to the mail center. For gifts traveling long distances, discuss how the packages might travel to their destination: truck, plane, ship?

Grateful gift receiving

1. Discuss needs versus wants. Help your child make a list and prioritize what they would like the most. Some families are using the want, need, wear, read gifts rule. Your child’s list could include these categories. This article from The Frugal Girl offers tips for parents wishing to reign in gift expectations.
2. When opening gifts, encourage your child to stop long enough to read the nametag or card. Ask, “Who gave that gift to you?”
3. Consider taking photos or video of your child opening gifts. This may help your child recognize the importance of the moment (and can be shared with loved ones – especially those who live far away).
4. Discuss the gift and gift giver. For example: “Do you think Grandpa gave you the horse toy because he remembered you liked the horses during our trip to the farm last year?”
5. Send thank you cards. Your preschooler most likely won’t write the message, but that doesn’t mean they can’t share their thanks. Ask them to dictate their messages. Encourage them to sign their own name. In some instances, phone calls or emails can serve as a thank you, just be sure to include your child in the process.

Little Drummer Boy: Lyrics

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

 

What gifts can we give?

Do they have to come from a store?

Do they have to cost money?

Songs:

Jingle Bells

The Little Drummer Boy 

Books:

Franklin's Christmas Gift (Reviewed) by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark.

*Angel Pig & The Hidden Christmas  by Jan Waldron/David McPhail

*Giving by Shirley Hughes

One Baby Jesus by Patricia Pingry and Wendy Edelson.

Froggy's Best Christmas by Jonathan London.

Where should my preschooler be?

How can I help my preschooler at home?

READ every day.  Let your child see you reading...the paper, magazines, a book, recipies, etc.  Play games--in the car, at home, at the store.  Identify colors, numbers, words, concepts.  Play.  Create--use scissors, markers, pencils, found objects around the house.