What do Teddy Bear Races Have to do with Christmas?

The answer: nothing. They are just something fun and easy to do with your kids. And don't we need a little fun and easy in our lives these days?! Here are all the suggestions for your activities today:

Craft Time: Christmas card tree ornaments. Put all those cards to good use. Cut out the pictures on the card to make an ornament. If there is a picture of a tree, then cut out the tree; an angel, cut it out. Let your kids cut if they are old enough. Then let them outline it with glue and glitter. Add some yarn or a pipe cleaner to hang it from the tree.

Music Time: Sing and dance to the tune of Walking in a Winter Wonderland. But to make it more fun, put on your long johns and sing it ..."walking in our winter underwear" instead. (Google "Winter Wonderland lyrics" if you need the words)

Story Time: The Polar Express is a must read with your kids this holiday season. Head over to the library and check it out.

Outdoor Time: In the spirit of the Polar Express, play choo-choo train with your kids. Have your kids form a train by standing behind each other and holding onto the waist of the kid in front of them. You be the engine in the front. Reach your hands back for your kid to hold onto if it isn't easy for them to hold onto your waist. Now chuga-chuga-choo-choo all around the yard. If they want, let them take a turn being the engine.

Indoor Time: Have teddy bear races. Get a couple of empty plastic clothes baskets and put a teddy bear in each. Have your kids race each other or you race your kid. Set a course for the race then push your teddy bears across the floor and see who gets to the end first. Try not to dump your teddy bear along the way! (don't have plastic baskets? find something else that will work in their place - even a couple small empty boxes will do) If you have really young ones, you may want to have the goal be finishing, rather than racing.

Art Time: Let your kids do a watercolor painting of your Christmas tree.