A Week of Fun, Themed Winter Break Family Activities

A Week of Fun, Themed Winter Break Family Activities

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‘Twas the Week After Christmas when all through the house, the child was bored — but NOT quiet as a mouse!

You’ve all been there. You assume your kids will be grateful and more than happy to play with all their new toys. But instead they’re trashing the house, fighting with siblings, and complaining they’re bored! Overstimulation is a very real phenomenon. The holidays can be overwhelming for us all.  

Kids can use your compassionate guidance over the Winter Break, especially since they’re used to so much structured time. The vastness of break can lead to more TV and Nintendo Switch time than you’d care to admit. Deep down, you may long for a more meaningful experience for your kids.

After all, it’s been a difficult year. You may not like the new roles you’ve had to play – Teacher, Principal, Coach, Disciplinarian, Truancy Officer. The desire to reconnect as a family is particularly strong at this time of year when we’re basking in holiday altruism and preparing for a fresh start in 2021.

Feel free to incorporate some or all of these ideas into your week for a much-needed dose of fun…

Day 1: Board Game Day

Day 2: Winter Wonderland

  • Movie: Watch “Chronicles of Narnia,” “Frosty,” or “Moomins and the Winter Wonderland.”
  • Craft: Create ice candles to transform the backyard into a magical place. Bring the magic indoors by building your own snow globe out of a baby food jar, glitter, hot glue, and a waterproof toy or ornament.
  • Food: Dress in white for a winter wonderland dinner party with white foods – white cheese and crackers; chicken with white cream sauce, mashed potatoes, and cauliflower; and vanilla cupcakes, cheesecake, or eggnog for dessert.
  • Book: Ready or watch “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats.
  • Learn: Visit Nat Geo Kids to learn about winter celebrations, ice sculpting, and gingerbread houses.
  • Active Play: Bundle up and get outside. Take a walk around the neighborhood to see how the scenery has changed. Little ones will be happy with the standard snow angels or snowman. Return indoors for cocoa and a game of Don’t Slip Off The Snowflake. For older kids, up the ante by constructing an igloo (using bread pans) or a snow turtle.

Day 3: Space Day

  • Movie: Watch “Toy Story,” “Wall-E,” “Space Jam,” “La Luna,” or “Star Wars.”
  • Craft: Create plastic bottle jet packs. Paint galaxy space rocks. Make aliens in their spaceships.
  • Food: Wrap a hot dog in puff pastry for a “Rocket Dog” dinner.
  • Book: Read or watch “How To Catch a Star” by Oliver Jeffers.
  • Learn: Try a free app like Space Images, NASA, or Night Sky to learn more about space.
  • Active Play: Take a Space Walk, looking out for the space rocks you’ve strategically hidden, and potential aliens, too! Then flip bowls upside down to act as “planets,” as your child navigates your “ship” (a decorated cardboard box or laundry basket) through outer-space. You may also try a Space Adventure from Cosmic Kids Yoga for more structured guidance.

Day 4: Music Day

  • Movie: Watch “Coco,” “The Sound of Music,” “Mary Poppins,” or Sesame Street “Music Magic.”
  • Craft: Make your own microphones out of toilet paper rolls, tinfoil, gems, and construction paper.
  • Food: Whip up Tune-a-Piano sandwiches and a Music Note Veggie Tray for lunch.
  • Book: Read or watch “Because” by Mo Williams.
  • Learn: Learn Solfege, a system used in music theory to teach melody.
  • Active Play: Musical Chairs and Freeze Dance are fun, free games. A karaoke machine or Just Dance video game can add to the fun if you have the equipment. If you play an instrument, indulge in a few seasonal songs. Write and perform your own concert.

Day 5: Camp Out Day

Day 6: Sports Day

  • Movie: Watch a sports game – if not live, then an old historic match of your favorite team. You can also watch sports movies like “Sesame Street: Count on Sports,” “Scooby Doo Sports Spooktacular,” and “Arthur: the Good Sport” for younger kids, or “The Sand Lot,” “The Rookie,” “Mighty Ducks,” “Air Bud,” or “A League of Their Own” for older kids.
  • Craft: Make #1 Fan Foam Fingers and mini megaphones with your little sports fans.
  • Food: Order pizza and wings. Set out potato skins, a Charcuterie board, nachos, or these party foods.
  • Book: Read or watch “Bats at the Ballgame.”
  • Learn: Young children can learn to play soccer from the comfort of their own living rooms with the Soccer Shots on the Go program – an engaging virtual version of the live sessions.
  • Active Play: Play Charades, silently acting out different sports to see if others can guess what they are. Kick around a soccer ball, toss the baseball or football, shoot a few hoops (indoors, using the laundry hamper if you must!) Play Mario Tennis Aces – we won’t judge!

Day 7: Lego Day

We hope you enjoyed these fun family bonding activities. You can also contact Shine for virtual parties or pre-assembled crafting bags. If you live in New York’s East End, inquire about our safe in-person small group workshops available over the winter break today. Space is limited.

A Week of Fun, Themed Winter Break Family Activities

/in , , /by
‘Twas the Week After Christmas when all through the house, the child was bored — but NOT quiet as a mouse!

You’ve all been there. You assume your kids will be grateful and more than happy to play with all their new toys. But instead they’re trashing the house, fighting with siblings, and complaining they’re bored! Overstimulation is a very real phenomenon. The holidays can be overwhelming for us all.  

Kids can use your compassionate guidance over the Winter Break, especially since they’re used to so much structured time. The vastness of break can lead to more TV and Nintendo Switch time than you’d care to admit. Deep down, you may long for a more meaningful experience for your kids.

After all, it’s been a difficult year. You may not like the new roles you’ve had to play – Teacher, Principal, Coach, Disciplinarian, Truancy Officer. The desire to reconnect as a family is particularly strong at this time of year when we’re basking in holiday altruism and preparing for a fresh start in 2021.

Feel free to incorporate some or all of these ideas into your week for a much-needed dose of fun…

Day 1: Board Game Day

Day 2: Winter Wonderland

  • Movie: Watch “Chronicles of Narnia,” “Frosty,” or “Moomins and the Winter Wonderland.”
  • Craft: Create ice candles to transform the backyard into a magical place. Bring the magic indoors by building your own snow globe out of a baby food jar, glitter, hot glue, and a waterproof toy or ornament.
  • Food: Dress in white for a winter wonderland dinner party with white foods – white cheese and crackers; chicken with white cream sauce, mashed potatoes, and cauliflower; and vanilla cupcakes, cheesecake, or eggnog for dessert.
  • Book: Ready or watch “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats.
  • Learn: Visit Nat Geo Kids to learn about winter celebrations, ice sculpting, and gingerbread houses.
  • Active Play: Bundle up and get outside. Take a walk around the neighborhood to see how the scenery has changed. Little ones will be happy with the standard snow angels or snowman. Return indoors for cocoa and a game of Don’t Slip Off The Snowflake. For older kids, up the ante by constructing an igloo (using bread pans) or a snow turtle.

Day 3: Space Day

  • Movie: Watch “Toy Story,” “Wall-E,” “Space Jam,” “La Luna,” or “Star Wars.”
  • Craft: Create plastic bottle jet packs. Paint galaxy space rocks. Make aliens in their spaceships.
  • Food: Wrap a hot dog in puff pastry for a “Rocket Dog” dinner.
  • Book: Read or watch “How To Catch a Star” by Oliver Jeffers.
  • Learn: Try a free app like Space Images, NASA, or Night Sky to learn more about space.
  • Active Play: Take a Space Walk, looking out for the space rocks you’ve strategically hidden, and potential aliens, too! Then flip bowls upside down to act as “planets,” as your child navigates your “ship” (a decorated cardboard box or laundry basket) through outer-space. You may also try a Space Adventure from Cosmic Kids Yoga for more structured guidance.

Day 4: Music Day

  • Movie: Watch “Coco,” “The Sound of Music,” “Mary Poppins,” or Sesame Street “Music Magic.”
  • Craft: Make your own microphones out of toilet paper rolls, tinfoil, gems, and construction paper.
  • Food: Whip up Tune-a-Piano sandwiches and a Music Note Veggie Tray for lunch.
  • Book: Read or watch “Because” by Mo Williams.
  • Learn: Learn Solfege, a system used in music theory to teach melody.
  • Active Play: Musical Chairs and Freeze Dance are fun, free games. A karaoke machine or Just Dance video game can add to the fun if you have the equipment. If you play an instrument, indulge in a few seasonal songs. Write and perform your own concert.

Day 5: Camp Out Day

Day 6: Sports Day

  • Movie: Watch a sports game – if not live, then an old historic match of your favorite team. You can also watch sports movies like “Sesame Street: Count on Sports,” “Scooby Doo Sports Spooktacular,” and “Arthur: the Good Sport” for younger kids, or “The Sand Lot,” “The Rookie,” “Mighty Ducks,” “Air Bud,” or “A League of Their Own” for older kids.
  • Craft: Make #1 Fan Foam Fingers and mini megaphones with your little sports fans.
  • Food: Order pizza and wings. Set out potato skins, a Charcuterie board, nachos, or these party foods.
  • Book: Read or watch “Bats at the Ballgame.”
  • Learn: Young children can learn to play soccer from the comfort of their own living rooms with the Soccer Shots on the Go program – an engaging virtual version of the live sessions.
  • Active Play: Play Charades, silently acting out different sports to see if others can guess what they are. Kick around a soccer ball, toss the baseball or football, shoot a few hoops (indoors, using the laundry hamper if you must!) Play Mario Tennis Aces – we won’t judge!

Day 7: Lego Day

We hope you enjoyed these fun family bonding activities. You can also contact Shine for virtual parties or pre-assembled crafting bags. If you live in New York’s East End, inquire about our safe in-person small group workshops available over the winter break today. Space is limited.

4 Ways To Spread Holiday Cheer

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Perhaps this year, more than ever, you have a deep longing to make a meaningful contribution. Maybe the stay-at-home orders have given you more idle time to reflect. Perhaps you’ve weathered the pandemic well and want to pay it forward with a spirit of generosity. Or you might wish to serve as a positive role model, showing your little ones that it’s not the receiving of gifts that brings joy to the heart, but the giving. It’s not always easy to donate amid the current crisis. Some organizations are turning away gently used clothing because they’re so inundated, while others are turning to corporate sponsors to reduce the points of contact. Here are a few charities still accepting the love and kindness of volunteers to fulfill their missions.

Adopt a Child’s Letter to Santa

The Postal Service has received letters to Santa for more than 100 years. In 1912, Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock allowed postal employees and citizens to respond to these letters in what is today known as “Operation Santa.

Here’s how to participate:

  • Visit the USPS Operation Santa website.
  • Look through the children’s letters and find one that speaks to your heart.
  • Find and wrap the items on the wish-list.
  • Be sure to follow the shipping guidelines.
  • Bring your package to a local post office by December 19th so it arrives for Christmas.

On a more local level, Stockings with Care on West 24th Street in Chelsea runs a similar operation, where a volunteer “Santa” is matched with a local child’s wish list to spread the magic of the holiday season. Through Amazon’s Operation Smile Program, a percentage of what you spend can be automatically donated to Stockings with Care, too.

Make a Holiday Greeting Card for a Lonely Senior Citizen

More than 40 percent of America’s seniors regularly struggle with loneliness – a situation that is compounded even more by the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders. Citymeals on Wheels works with volunteers to craft handmade cards to brighten the spirits of the homebound senior citizens. Last year, the organization delivered 76,106 cards.

Here’s what to do:

  • Make your card out of folded-in-half cardstock or construction paper.
  • Write a seasonally appropriate greeting in marker or crayon on the front of the card.
  • Draw mood-lifting images. Avoid glitter or religious symbols or language.
  • Include a first name inside the card or sign “from your friends at Citymeals on Wheels.”
  • Include a slip with your full name and email or mailing address.
  • Address the card to:

Handmade Card Project

Liz Cantillo

Citymeals on Wheels

309 Drake Street

Bronx NY 10474

You may also direct questions to Shiela@citymeals.org. Other opportunities exist through City Meals on Wheels throughout the year, including: driving for the meal delivery service branch; helping out at a food pantry, serving and make boxes; making weekly phone calls or visits to seniors; and volunteering in the donations office. As one 80-year-old woman explained: “The beautiful cards from the children adorn my walls. This food nourished my body, but the thoughts and love that come my way touched my soul.”

Provide a Gift through Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots Foundation assists the U.S. Marine Corps in providing a sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. The local mission hopes to support 40,000 Long Island families in need. So far, they’re a third of the way to reaching that goal, so any assistance you can provide will be much appreciated.

How to participate:

  • Find the nearest drop-off location.
  • Purchase from popular toy categories like sporting equipment, books, backpacks, electronics, radio control cars and trucks, games, science kits, dolls, and hover boards/helmets.
  • Host a drop-off box at home if you’d like to have friends, family, and coworkers get involved. This is a great project to organize in memory of a loved one who has passed.
  • Participate in the Suffolk County Collection Drive on December 13th at 8 am, where a car parade drives from Millers Ale House in Commack, NY to Millers Ale House in Lake Grove NY to raise awareness and charitable donations.
  • You can also make a financial contribution here. As a top-rated charity, 96 percent of your donation goes directly to providing toys, books, and gifts to children, while the other 4% covers fundraising drives.

If you sell used toys on eBay, you can donate 10 to 100% of your sale price to the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation. Donors receive tax deductions and credit on eBay seller fees.

Host a Zoom Party for the Kids

Children exude resilience, even when they struggle internally to process all that’s happening. Whether they vocalize it or not, your children are likely feeling pangs of loneliness and isolation from school cancellations and paused social lives. Throughout the pandemic, Shine has offered craft bags and online classes to bring kids together. Our fully customizable holiday bags are full of goodies from wreaths to treats you can bake. The Shine team of educators sing, dance, perform live music, and guide the party through activities tailored to your theme. We can also staff a private day camp hosting up to eight kids (ages 4-11) with arts and crafts, science and nature, games and sports, music and educational programming. Contact us for details.

Looking for more ways to give back? You might also like:

The Art of Giving Back
Shine’s Favorite Things for the Holidays
10 Ways To Get NYC Kids Into the Giving Spirit
8 Activities for World Kindness Day
5 Simple Things You and Your Kids Can Do To Give Back During the COVID-19 Quarantine

DIY Thanksgiving Place Setting Crafts

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If there is any silver lining to 2020, it’s having more time with our kids — whether homeschooling, quarantining, or simply socially distancing in your own little pod. Crafting is an excellent way to relieve stress, so we’ve compiled a list of fun, easy Thanksgiving place setting crafts to help you bust boredom, while also adding a personal touch to your table spread.

Gratitude Pumpkins

What You Need:

  • Brown Marker
  • Orange and Green Paper
  • Green Pipe Cleaner
  • Hole Puncher
  • Brads (x2)
  • Scissors

How To Do It:

Cut five 8.5 x ¾-inch strips of orange paper. Punch a hole at both ends, and one in the middle, of each strip. Stack the strips on top of each other, placing a brad through the center to hold them together. Fan out the strips to look like an orange sun, writing something your child is thankful for on each strip. Cut out a leaf-shape from the green, write “I’m thankful for…”, and punch a hole in it. Layer the strips on top of each other again, word-side down. Wrap a green pipe-cleaner around the second brad and curl the ends around a pen so they look like curly tendrils. Finally, fasten the brad through the last pumpkin strips holes. Fan the pumpkin back out and voila! You can find more step-by-step photos here.

Spin Art Turkeys

What You Need:

  • A Salad Spinner
  • Toilet Paper Rolls
  • Paper Plates
  • Tempera Paint
  • Googly Eyes
  • Orange foam (or construction paper)
  • Red ribbon (or red-painted apple stems)

How To Do It:

Cut your paper plates to fit inside the salad spinner. Pour tempera paint onto the plates – whatever colors your child likes. Spin, spin, spin! Cut slits into the sides of your toilet paper roll. Fold your spin-art tail in half – colored side out – and insert it into the slits. Add googly eyes, red ribbon (or, in a pinch, red-painted apple stems), and an orange foam triangle beak with glue. Follow along at Dilly-Dali Art.

Pumpkin Handprint Photo Keepsake

What You Need:

  • Flour (1 Cup)
  • Salt (1 Cup)
  • Water (1/2 Cup)
  • Orange Paint
  • Brown Paint
  • Twine, Ribbon, or String
  • Round Cookie Cutter
  • Cookie Stamps
  • Small Piece of Cardboard
  • Craft Glue
  • Photo
  • Scissors
  • Oven

How To Do It:

Mix flour and salt. Add water. Roll the dough to 1 cm thick. Form a pumpkin shape, reserving a small piece of dough, which you’ll attach on top as the stump. Press your child’s handprint into the center of the pumpkin. Use the cookie cutter to make the circle for the photo. Stamp the date with cookie stamps. Add one hole on either side of the top pumpkin for the string. Bake the pumpkin for three hours at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven, turn upside-down, and cool overnight. Paint and let dry. Add the string and photo, attaching a piece of cardboard backing with strong craft glue for added stability. Get more info at Teach-Me-Mommy.com.

Windsock Turkeys

What You Need:

  • Recycled can – cleaned and dried, with the top and bottom removed
  • Brown Paint
  • Elmer’s Craft Bond Quick Dry Glue
  • Elmer’s Medium Tip Painters Pen (Orange)
  • Large Googly Eyes
  • Fall Color Ribbons
  • Feathers, Felt, or Mix & Match Fall Color Construction Paper
  • Masking Tape

How To Do It:

Paint the can brown, allowing it to dry completely before drawing on the orange beak with the Painters Pen and attaching the eyes with Quick Dry glue. Cut 10-15 pieces of ribbon approximately 18”. Cover the inside rims of the can to protect little fingers, and then place rows of glue overtop the tape. On top, attach the turkey tail feathers made from actual feathers, felt, paper, or any combination of materials. On bottom, attach the decorative ribbons. Use the glue to attach a felt waddle and a ribbon for hanging over a chair. Visit Happiness is Homemade if you need more information.

Table Teepees

What You Need:

How To Do It:

Print out the teepee templates on white or colored paper. Cut along the solid black lines. Fold along the dotted lines so the bottoms align. Apply double-sided tape to the folded flap to connect the two sides of the teepee. Cut two straws into 5” pieces, taping them in a crisscross to the inside of the teepee. Cut out a banner, write a name on it, and use decorative Washi tape to affix it above the door of the teepee.

If you’re interested in more holiday crafts, inquire about upcoming workshops and classes in New York’s East End. We also do pop-up parties, entertaining the kids while you focus on hosting and conversing with your guests!

DIY Thanksgiving Place Setting Crafts

/in , , , /by

If there is any silver lining to 2020, it’s having more time with our kids — whether homeschooling, quarantining, or simply socially distancing in your own little pod. Crafting is an excellent way to relieve stress, so we’ve compiled a list of fun, easy Thanksgiving place setting crafts to help you bust boredom, while also adding a personal touch to your table spread.

Gratitude Pumpkins

What You Need:

  • Brown Marker
  • Orange and Green Paper
  • Green Pipe Cleaner
  • Hole Puncher
  • Brads (x2)
  • Scissors

How To Do It:

Cut five 8.5 x ¾-inch strips of orange paper. Punch a hole at both ends, and one in the middle, of each strip. Stack the strips on top of each other, placing a brad through the center to hold them together. Fan out the strips to look like an orange sun, writing something your child is thankful for on each strip. Cut out a leaf-shape from the green, write “I’m thankful for…”, and punch a hole in it. Layer the strips on top of each other again, word-side down. Wrap a green pipe-cleaner around the second brad and curl the ends around a pen so they look like curly tendrils. Finally, fasten the brad through the last pumpkin strips holes. Fan the pumpkin back out and voila! You can find more step-by-step photos here.

Spin Art Turkeys

What You Need:

  • A Salad Spinner
  • Toilet Paper Rolls
  • Paper Plates
  • Tempera Paint
  • Googly Eyes
  • Orange foam (or construction paper)
  • Red ribbon (or red-painted apple stems)

How To Do It:

Cut your paper plates to fit inside the salad spinner. Pour tempera paint onto the plates – whatever colors your child likes. Spin, spin, spin! Cut slits into the sides of your toilet paper roll. Fold your spin-art tail in half – colored side out – and insert it into the slits. Add googly eyes, red ribbon (or, in a pinch, red-painted apple stems), and an orange foam triangle beak with glue. Follow along at Dilly-Dali Art.

Pumpkin Handprint Photo Keepsake

What You Need:

  • Flour (1 Cup)
  • Salt (1 Cup)
  • Water (1/2 Cup)
  • Orange Paint
  • Brown Paint
  • Twine, Ribbon, or String
  • Round Cookie Cutter
  • Cookie Stamps
  • Small Piece of Cardboard
  • Craft Glue
  • Photo
  • Scissors
  • Oven

How To Do It:

Mix flour and salt. Add water. Roll the dough to 1 cm thick. Form a pumpkin shape, reserving a small piece of dough, which you’ll attach on top as the stump. Press your child’s handprint into the center of the pumpkin. Use the cookie cutter to make the circle for the photo. Stamp the date with cookie stamps. Add one hole on either side of the top pumpkin for the string. Bake the pumpkin for three hours at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven, turn upside-down, and cool overnight. Paint and let dry. Add the string and photo, attaching a piece of cardboard backing with strong craft glue for added stability. Get more info at Teach-Me-Mommy.com.

Windsock Turkeys

What You Need:

  • Recycled can – cleaned and dried, with the top and bottom removed
  • Brown Paint
  • Elmer’s Craft Bond Quick Dry Glue
  • Elmer’s Medium Tip Painters Pen (Orange)
  • Large Googly Eyes
  • Fall Color Ribbons
  • Feathers, Felt, or Mix & Match Fall Color Construction Paper
  • Masking Tape

How To Do It:

Paint the can brown, allowing it to dry completely before drawing on the orange beak with the Painters Pen and attaching the eyes with Quick Dry glue. Cut 10-15 pieces of ribbon approximately 18”. Cover the inside rims of the can to protect little fingers, and then place rows of glue overtop the tape. On top, attach the turkey tail feathers made from actual feathers, felt, paper, or any combination of materials. On bottom, attach the decorative ribbons. Use the glue to attach a felt waddle and a ribbon for hanging over a chair. Visit Happiness is Homemade if you need more information.

Table Teepees

What You Need:

How To Do It:

Print out the teepee templates on white or colored paper. Cut along the solid black lines. Fold along the dotted lines so the bottoms align. Apply double-sided tape to the folded flap to connect the two sides of the teepee. Cut two straws into 5” pieces, taping them in a crisscross to the inside of the teepee. Cut out a banner, write a name on it, and use decorative Washi tape to affix it above the door of the teepee.

If you’re interested in more holiday crafts, inquire about upcoming workshops and classes in New York’s East End. We also do pop-up parties, entertaining the kids while you focus on hosting and conversing with your guests!

8 Activities for World Kindness Day

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November 13th is World Kindness Day. This international observance was introduced in 1998 by a coalition of kindness NGOs known as the World Kindness Movement. It began as a way to highlight good deeds in the community, overlooking boundaries of race and religion, to recognize the common thread of kindness that we all can share.

What Is Kindness?

Kindness is often confused with niceness or thoughtfulness. Kindness goes one step further than merely being nice. It’s a natural reaction to be nice to others who are nice to us. Kindness, though, is a proactive choice – going out of your way to cheer someone with your words and actions.

Thoughtfulness can be kind, but it’s often a word used to describe how we act toward family and friends. True kindness extends to the people in the community we may not know so well. It’s reaching out to classmates we’ve just met, neighbors we may not see often, and people of different skin colors, faiths, genders, and socioeconomic status.

8 Ways To Exercise Kindness

Of course, the best way to raise kind kids is to model it yourself – listen genuinely; put aside the chores and spend quality time when it’s needed; spend a few minutes playing; read books about kindness; observe and praise kindness in action among siblings; give random notes and gifts; emphasize the importance of recognizing friends and family on birthdays and holidays; wave and smile to strangers; find a passion project and volunteer.

Here are 8 activities to do with your child for World Kindness Day:

  1. Write a note and draw a picture for the teacher. The pandemic has been particularly stressful for teachers, whether they’re working virtually, splitting time in the physical classroom, or all in. Be sure to have your child include mention of what, specifically, is likable about the teacher. When you’re done, take a photo and send by email or messenger.
  2. Thank your mail carrier. Leave a note that says, “Thank you for delivering our mail each day!” USPS allows letter carriers to receive gift cards to specific retailers or eateries valued at $20 or less. FedEx does not allow deliverers cash or gift cards, but may receive gifts valued up to $75. UPS drivers have received knitted items, baked goods, and nominal gratuity tips.
  3. Give out three compliments today. Give out three compliments today. For young children, it can help to write out the compliments onto note cards that they can deliver to people. Another great exercise for young children with siblings is to have them write out three nice things about a brother or sister.
  4. Gift food. Make six giant chocolate chip cookies, place each one in a cellophane bag with a ribbon, including a note that says, “You’re a smart cookie!”, and drop them off to class friends or cousins. Give out bags of chips for the class with a note that says, “You’re all that – and a bag of chips!” Buy a stranger’s coffee or lunch at the drive-thru. Deliver a themed care package to an elderly neighbor – movie snacks, pasta night, chicken soup for the soul, or canned garden themed. If there are leaves or snow in your neighbor’s yard, clearing it is another random act of kindness.
  5. Donate locally. Gift a copy of your favorite book to your librarian. Donate outgrown clothes to Amvets or a homeless shelter. Pack up a grocery bag of popular items for the food pantry. Give food and litter to the animal shelter.
  6. Share Mother Nature’s bounty. Leave a potted plant on a loved one or neighbor’s doorstep. This time of year, you can also paint positive messages on miniature pumpkins and leave them on random doorsteps. Stop by a nursing home or senior center and give a bouquet to someone who hasn’t had a visitor in a while.
  7. Be the first thought in a grandparent’s day. Have your child send a sweet message to a grandparent first thing in the morning. A simple sentiment might be, “My days are brighter because of you!” or “The morning breeze is so gentle and sweet, it reminds me of you. Wish we were together today!” Your child might sing a favorite song to share or just give their own unscripted heartfelt message in a short video clip.
  8. Celebrate diversity. Kindness involves appreciating people who may have different cultures, traditions, beliefs, and preferences than ourselves. Choose a different culture to focus on each week. This week, you might serve up enchiladas with mariachi dinner music and watch “Coco” to celebrate Mexican culture. Next week, you might cook Jerk chicken while listening to steel drums and watch “Pirates of the Caribbean,” which was filmed in Jamaica. Every bit of exposure to something foreign and new helps. Little Passports is a great subscription service that sends curated boxes based on different countries from around the world. You might also consider signing up for one of our Globe Trekker classes geared toward kids 4-10 — which combines music, art, food, and games from around the world.

Ways To Celebrate Dia de los Muertos

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Dia de los Muertos is a holiday celebrating the rebirth of life in death, observed throughout Latin American communities on November 1st and 2nd. Most commonly, celebrations are associated with Mexico, but there are lively celebrations in US cities like Albuquerque, NM; San Diego, CA; San Antonio, TX; Tucson, AZ; and even locally, on Staten Island.

The History of Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos dates back thousands of years to ancient Mesoamerican cultures like the Aztecs, Mayans, and Toltecs. These civilizations believed that a person traveled to Chicunamictlán (the Land of the Dead) after departing from Earth. Souls must pass nine challenges here, over the course of several years, to reach Mictlán (the final resting place).

Ancient Nahua rituals, originally held for the month of August, provided food, water, and tools to help the souls make this arduous journey. Later, the celebration was moved by Christians to correspond with All Saints and All Souls Days on November 1st and 2nd. The souls of children are believed to return on the 1st and the adults on the 2nd.

Modern families commemorate this holiday with culinary traditions and the creation of altars in their homes. In some communities, it is customary to clean gravestones, decorate the plots with flowers, and hold candlelit vigils in honor of their loved ones.

We love the idea of celebrating Dia de los Muertos because it uniquely recognizes the cyclical nature of life, reinforces family customs, and honors departed relatives. It’s also a fun way to reinforce cultural sensitivity. Here are a few ways to partake in this annual tradition.          

Bake Bread of the Dead

Recipes vary, but this version of Pan de Muerto (from a renowned bakery in Mexico City) calls for unbleached flour, sea salt, sugar, crumbled cake yeast, dry yeast, water, over a dozen lightly beaten eggs, unsalted butter, orange rind, and orange flower. Put on the Mariachi music and enjoy the delicious aroma of yeasty bread that fills the air. It only takes 20 minutes to bake, but you’ll need to get your starter ready the day before to allow adequate time for rising.  At the end of your rising period, you’ll be fashioning the dough into a skull and crossbones. We also recommend making Mexican Hot Chocolate in the crockpot to go with your bread!

Decorate Your Home with Ofrenda

Ofrenda means “offering.” On November 1st, older members of the community set up altars to commemorate and attract loved ones who have passed away. A fine white tablecloth is laid out on a small wooden table. Decorative tissue paper is placed over the cloth. Images of saints and a crucifix are generally placed on an elevated altar in the center of the table.

The ofrenda includes:

  • Velas – candles (one for each departed soul) light the way back home
  • Copal – incense elevates the family’s prayers to God
  • Flor de Muerto – marigold “flowers of the dead” also helps attract souls to the altar
  • Calavera – skulls made of granulated sugar, meringue powder, and water
  • Papel picado — perforated papercrafts to denote life’s fragility and invite souls to pass
  • Pan de Muerto – “bread of the dead” feeds the hungry souls that come
  • Sal – salt in the shape of a cross purifies the souls and protects them from corruption
  • Agua – also a purifier, water can quench the thirst of returning souls
  • Fotografias – photographs ensure that your loved ones can cross over

Personal items are also typically added. These belongings may include favorite articles of clothing like hats or shawls, beloved toys/games/stuffies for the kids, vices like coffee/cigarettes /liquors honoring a person’s taste, and favorite foods (mole, tamales, fruit, arroz rojo, hot chocolate, and dried fruits, for instance).

Make Sugar Skull Crafts

Sugar skulls are one of the most famous icons known to Dia de los Muertos, representing the sweetness of life. You can buy the molds and make the sugary treats yourself – or perhaps you’d enjoy one of these handicraft versions instead:

Another easy and popular craft is the Dia de los Muertos garland – comprised of pretty patterned papers, string, clothespins, scissors, and markers.

Watch “Coco” for Family Movie Night

“Coco” is a Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Disney/Pixar animated film, geared toward ages 7+, but suitable for all ages. What 12-year-old Miguel wants most is to play Mariachi music, but his family believes that music has cursed them. This vibrant, beautiful coming-of-age drama is a tribute to kin and culture, as viewers journey to the underworld to uncover Miguel’s family secrets. Blessed with a wonderful soundtrack and packed with references to Dia de los Muertos traditions, the film is as enjoyable as it is educational.

Alt Picks: If you’ve seen “Coco” hundreds of times already, you might want to try: Let’s Go Luna’s “Day of the Dead” episode on PBS; Film School Shorts’ “Dia de los Muertos” on PBS; Scooby Doo and the Monster of Mexico on Amazon Prime; The Book of Life on Hulu; or Super Monster’s Dia los Monsters on Netflix. Once the kids go to bed, check out the James Bond movie Spectre (also on Hulu) — which inspired the first Dia de los Muertos parade in 2016.

Take a Culture Class

If you live in the NYC region, Shine offers Listillos, a Spanish immersion class combining storytelling, games, art, theater, music, cooking, crafts, Spanish language lessons, and field trips. These fun, engaging classes appeal to students learning Spanish as a second language, as well as native natural speakers who want to participate in cultural activities. The bilingual class is taught by a native Spanish speaker and is open to children of all language levels. Contact us to inquire about availability.

What To Do For Halloween in New York’s East End

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Halloween fun all month long has given us a treat when we needed it most. Still wondering what you should do with the kids on the big day itself? Finally we have a Saturday Halloween, so it won’t be as rushed as years past, AND it’s a full moon, so you can leave your flashlights at home. While you may be tempted to skip festivities this year, mental health experts say it’s important to balance physical risks with mental health risks. There are plenty of ways to reduce the risk of catching coronavirus, while partaking in annual October traditions – some classic, others new for 2020.

Learn About the Science of Getting Spooked

The Center for Science Teaching and Learning is hosting exhibits, character actors, take-home crafts, and a woodland walk at SpookyFest. Ticket times will be spaced so that only one family will be traveling through the woods or crafting at a time. The event is open to ages 3+ and costs $10 for family-friendly fun, with Halloween time slots from 6:30 to 9:30. 

Fly on Down to Dracula’s Farm

The Northshore Horse Rescue at 2330 Sound Avenue in Baiting Hollow is showing off its Halloween-themed horse paddocks with a 30-minute drive-thru tour from 10 am to 2 pm on Halloween. Each vehicle receive a Halloween candy basket, so bring your face masks. Tickets are $32 per car (or $27 for advanced registration), with all proceeds supporting the horse animal sanctuary’s rescue mission. 

Sing with Spookley, the Square Pumpkin

The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts will present Spookley The Square Pumpkin: The Musical for children ages 3-10. The Halloween performance is at 11 am – outdoors behind Roseneath Cottage (239 Middle Country Road in Smithtown), with social distancing measures in place. Guests must purchase advance tickets online for $18 a person.  

Complete a Virtual Arts & Craft

The Museum of Arts and Design is open on Saturdays from 11am – 7pm, but tickets are limited to 25 percent capacity – so the museum has decided to host a ZOOM Halloween event for all ages instead. 

For a $5 donation, artist Lexy Ho-Tai will walk your child through creating a festive mask using repurposed and recycled household materials at 10 am. 

At 11 am, you can share stories with the Strangers Project. Brandon Doman will be at Washington Square Park adding the tales to the collection.

At noon, you’ll learn how to create edible stained-glass candy and participate in a family-friendly costume contest on Instagram. Learn more about the event and register here.

Plan a Safer Trick-or-Treating Route

Governor Cuomo has refrained from outright banning trick-or-treat activities, but the CDC classifies the house-to-house visits as a “high-risk” activity. 

Spiking infection rates have been reported in neighborhoods like Kew Gardens (2.24%), Edgemere-Far Rockaway (3.69%), Williamsburg (2%), and Midwood/Borough Park/Bensonhurst (4.71%) – so you may want to avoid these communities. 

Instead, you may want to try one of these Best NYC Neighborhoods for Trick-or-Treating. 

Keep the Parade Spirit Alive

The annual Halloween parade in Greenwich Village has been cancelled, but the organizers have promised “a trick that’s actually a treat” – like a pop-up live event — so stay tuned to discover their last-minute surprise announcement. 

You can watch a retrospective look at past parades on NY1 at 7pm Halloween night.

If you prefer to be out and about — at the same time, you can see one beloved tradition live on, as Master Puppeteer Basil Twist releases a giant spider out of Greenwich Village’s Jefferson Market Library tower.

Host Your Own Ghosts

The CDC has listed several “low-risk” activities to enjoy with your family this Halloween:

  • Carving, painting, or decorating pumpkins
  • Decorating your living space
  • Organizing a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt 
  • Watching spooky movies
  • Holding a virtual costume contest with friends on Zoom.

You can also cook up one of these kid-friendly Celtic Halloween recipes together. 

Entertain Boys and Ghouls at a Private Pod Party

If you have a small group of close friends or relatives you’ve been seeing already, you may feel comfortable having a modest gathering. Remove the stress by calling in party planners to assist. Shine organizers can drop by your location for a pandemic-friendly Halloween crafts, storytelling, songs, games, and culinary delights. Our fully customizable party solutions are a great way to make your child’s party stand out – or to entertain the kids, freeing moms an dads to enjoy adult conversation. Contact us to inquire about availability. 

Everything You Need To Know About Kid Parties in a Socially Distant NYC

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There’s good news if your child has a summer birthday: New York City moving toward reopening after the statewide PAUSE. As of June 8th, our region entered phase one, meaning that 10 or fewer people may gather. By phase three, we’ll be allowed to gather in groups up to 25.

Is a Kid Birthday Party Risky During a Coronavirus Pandemic?

At this point, any contact outside your home pod elevates your risk of COVID-19 transmission, but the 1 percent virus positive test rate is minuscule enough that having a small backyard gathering may not raise the hairs on the back of your neck, especially if you’re friends with several other families that generally minimal contact with others and practice social distancing.

True social distancing can be a challenge with young children. Ideally, each guest would remain six feet apart and wear masks in close passing or when dishing food. Older kids may be able to follow these guidelines, but you may want to consider hosting a Zoom party or a more structured format for younger kids.

Socially Distant Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas

There are many ways to celebrate a child’s birthday, even with social distancing in place:

  • Birthday Parades – Decorate a special chair into an honorary “throne” for the day and set it up curbside, while friends and family drive by with balloons, signs, and music playing. Oriental Trading has a number of themed decorations you can pass out to guests before the big day. You could also ask your guests to dress up in old Halloween costumes to make the parade more entertaining. Gifts can be dropped off to a point person at the end of the caravan if you wish.
  • Movie Parties – Drive-ins are likely to be all the rage this summer. Staten Island BBQ will be showing classic kid-friendly films like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Greenpoint’s new Skyline Drive-In overlooks the East River and Manhattan skyline and welcomes guests who may not have a car to park as well. If you have a grand to spend and would like a more intimate backyard movie party, you could hire Arcade Specialties – or you could source your own materials for less.
  • Picnic Parties – A number of NYC restaurants offer picnic takeout and there are plenty of parks to choose for your setting. Blue Moon Mexican Café offers birthday takeout for six, which includes fixins’ for tacos or fajitas, a dessert platter, beverages, sombreros, and birthday candles. Armed with little more than a cooler, a basket, and a blanket, you’ll have a unique and memorable way to celebrate a birthday with one or two other families. Social distancing will be easier to follow, using the blankets themselves as “safe zones.”
  • Zoom Parties and Virtual Performers – Everyone can join a party from their own comfortable space at home, while a virtual performer sets the agenda so it’s meaningful for the participants and not just anarchy. BubbleDad can wow kids with bubble characters, smoke bubbles, square bubbles, and shared secrets on how to blow the perfect bubble. Yogi Beans will virtually host up to 25 kids with themes like unicorn, safari, or undersea that take kids through yoga activities, a Choose-Your-Own adventure, and a birthday singing – all recorded for your viewing pleasure later. Hire My Fairytale Party to have your child’s favorite princess, hero, or character sing, read, and play games with your group. Sammie & Tudie’s Imagination Playhouse offers an interactive 30-minute Zoom “comedy magic circus” geared toward ages 3 to 8. Kids ages 7+ can make a clay creation – like a bird, shark, dish, cupcake, or dinosaur — led by Clay Art Center or you can have your group make something yummier (like pizza, soft pretzels, muffins, or cookies) along with Taste Buds Kitchen.

Shine Party Boxes Make Your Social Distancing Event Special

This summer, we are pleased to offer the best in high-quality child birthday entertainment, whether you’re celebrating in the backyard with a small group or connecting virtually with friends from afar.

Custom Curated Birthday Party Boxes have been in high demand during quarantine. It’s the next best thing to a fully hosted event. We’ll create custom curated party boxes based on whatever theme you’d like and send them out to all the kids attending your virtual party.

Our first-ever party box, delivered to the birthday child and each invited guest, featured a jolly good pirate theme, complete with costumes, props, treasure maps, gold doubloons, treasure, stickers, tattoos, and all the art supplies needed to make our signature treasure chest craft.

On the day of your event, we’ll dress the part, singing, dancing, and performing live music to complement your theme. Our programming is highly customizable with games, surprise character visits, and baking or crafting activities. We’ll work with you to ensure your child feels attended to on this momentous occasion.

Other Shine birthday options include:

  • Online classes – Enjoy our signature mix of art, music, cooking, crafts, exercise, and more from the comfort of your own home – in a private family session or with friends!
  • Craft bags – Shine Director Aaron Goldschmidt leads engaging Zoom classes paired with craft bags delivered to the homes of all party attendees. Complete up to four signature Shine crafts. We’ve done lanterns, wreaths, decorated journals, puppets, masks, flower pots, vases, bird feeders, tie-dye, bridge paintings, sand art, and more. Check out our quarantine craft bag highlight to see some of what we offer.
  • Private day camps – Host up to eight kids (ages 4-11) with activities ranging from arts and crafts, outdoor science, and nature exploration, to sports and games, percussion workshops, and educational programming. Space is very limited, so email info@shinenyc.net to reserve your spot asap!

We want to help you through this difficult time! Call 212-414-5427 or email info@shinenyc.net to learn more about offerings, options, and pricing.

Storytelling Activities for World Storytelling Day

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World Storytelling Day is celebrated on the spring equinox and during the following week. This year’s festivities kick off Friday, March 20th and the 2020 theme is “Voyages.”

Storytelling has played an integral role in passing on cultural knowledge, beliefs, and traditions from one generation to the next. Without cave paintings, Bard stories, or recorded myths, so much human history would be lost forever.

Consider the many ways storytelling enriched the lives of people around the world:

  • Thanks to early storytellers like Aesop and Homer, the ancient Greeks were familiar with stories dating back to 12th century BCE.
  • Ancient Egyptians told detailed narratives about life, death, and their belief in an afterlife in picture form, as preserved hieroglyphics show.
  • In medieval Europe, troubadours relayed histories and information about neighboring communities, as well as presenting topics for political debate.
  • The Norse Viking sagas were the culmination of nearly 300 years of oral storytelling tradition by the time they were finally published and shared with the world.
  • Storytelling saved the life of Scheherazade, the heroine of 1,001 Arabian Nights.
  • In West African regions, griot storytellers served as historians and politicians – a tradition still thriving in Mali, Senegal, and Gambia.
  • In Australia, Aboriginal storytellers were performance artists who entertained during the long, dark winter months.
  • The Native Americans used stories as a way of imparting values, character traits, and tribal identity upon their young.

What started as Sweden’s “Alla Berättares Dag” (All Narrators Day) in 1991 has now spread around the globe from South Africa and Singapore, to Canada and Croatia. As Indian storyteller Vyasa said in the poem Mahabharata: “If you listen [to a story] carefully, at the end, you’ll be someone else.”

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate World Storytelling Day in 2020, consider one of these activities…

1. Learn the art of storytelling.

The Art of Storytelling by Pixar was produced with Khan Academy to take students on a full curriculum of using human interest and emotion to tell a story. Filmmakers from Pixar share insights into how to develop storytelling skills that can be particularly useful in the elementary school years. The videos are just three or four minutes long per section and are followed by writing prompts and activities that facilitate learning. The idea that “we are all storytellers” is a meaningful point to share with our children.

2. Play a game.

The award-winning “Tall Tales” game inspires your family’s storytelling by providing thought-provoking settings and characters. The rest is left to your imagination! Younger children will immediately launch into free play, while older kids might find inspiration in the five rule variations. Small figurines come with the game, so it is recommended for children past the age of putting random objects into their mouths.

3. Write your own creative “voyage” story as a group.

Folding stories were classic 80s sleepover games. The story begins with a title or opening line prompt. Each person writes two lines of text. Ideally, the last sentence will end abruptly to leave a thought-provoking start for the next player. The paper is folded so each of the players can only see what the person immediately before them has written. Once the paper gets around the group a few times, the first writer will read the whole story from start to finish.

Here are 15 story prompt ideas to get you started…

  • I don’t know how I am going to get home. Worse yet, I am alone and have to…
  • The water is always calm when I go out at 4 a.m…
  • Many things get the hair on the back of my neck up, but nothing more so than…
  • From behind a lacy curtain she watched as four riders galloped toward the house…
  • There are a few rules to live by if you want to survive an overseas voyage on this ship…
  • When I opened my eyes, I found myself sitting…
  • The rain fell hard, for the third week in a row…
  • The moment I stepped out of the plane, I knew I had come to the wrong place…
  • I don’t know the first thing about flying a hot air balloon, and yet, here I am…
  • My hair blew back in exhilarating fashion with each beat of the Pegasus’ wings…
  • The only thing that could get me back to that island is gold… well, and love for adventure…
  • The entire city was in ruins…
  • “Pssst, wake up,” someone said into my ear in the dead of night. “I have a mission for you…”
  • There’s an island where all lost items turn up. I woke up, cold and wet, on the beach…
  • Humans return from Mars for the first time. But something is not quite right about them…

4. Read with your children.

There are countless literary “voyages” you can take with your children. Perhaps you have favorite stories you read in your childhood you’d like to share with your children. The New York Public Library’s list of most-checked-out books of all time is likely to remind you of a few! Otherwise, try these:

Why: Dive into 10 classic folk tales from India, China, Japan, the US, England, Scandinavia, Russia, Greece, the Middle East, and South Africa, which feature interesting characters like a talking tree, an ill-tempered genie, and a greedy witch. Kids will love the bold, colorful illustrations that accompany each story.

Ideal Ages: 3-8

Why: Geronimo Stilton is the publisher of The Rodent’s Gazette newspaper. In this colorful, 320-page adventure, he returns to the Kingdom of Fantasy to find the land plagued by endless winter. He travels by magical talking ship, hoping to restore peace and springtime to the land by contending with a threatening volcano and rescuing the Queen of the Fairies.

Ideal Ages: 5-8

Why: These picture books combine charming illustrations with simple explanations of the sights, character, and traditions of each region covered. 

Ideal Ages: 5-8

Why: In this chapter book, the voyage of Doctor Dolittle is told by 9-year-old Tommy Stubbins, a crewman and naturalist accompanying the animal healer to Spidermonkey Island. After surviving a perilous shipwreck, Doctor Dolittle, Polynesia the parrot, and Chee-Chee the monkey meet a wondrous sea snail who holds the key to a great mystery. Parents and children alike will enjoy this adventure from start to finish. Afterward, you can watch the movie!

Ideal Ages: 8-12

Why: The reader is not just a passive entity in these unique books. The reader acts as decision maker and storyteller as well, choosing which actions the characters should take to determine the end of the story. With the original R.A. Montgomery series, you and your child can journey through the jungle, Mayan ruins, under the sea, the highest mountain peaks, and even out of this world, into space. With the Oregon Trail books, you can voyage across America in a covered wagon circa 1850, while trying to avoid perilous conditions from wild animals and natural disasters, to strangers, and sicknesses – with 22 different endings to choose from. 

Ideal Ages: 8-12

Why: This treasury combines myths, fairy tales, and legends from around the globe with a story for every week of the year. The 12 chapters correspond with the 12 months of the year and match stories to important holidays, festivals, events, and seasonal themes.

Ideal Ages: 8-12

5. Speak with an elder.

If your child has grandparents living, plan a day to visit and hear stories from the older person’s life.

You can use these prompts to get grandma or grandpa recalling childhood memories:

  • What’s your earliest childhood memory?
  • Who was your best friend? What did you do together?
  • What places do you remember fondly?
  • Describe your mother’s kitchen. What were family dinners like?
  • Describe the most unusual place you have lived or visited.
  • Were you ever injured or ill during your childhood? What was that experience like?
  • Do you have any quirky relatives in your family tree? Tell us about them.
  • What values did your parents try to instill in you as a child?
  • What sayings or expressions did you hear often while growing up?
  • Describe your most memorable family vacation.
  • Describe your favorite holiday traditions.
  • What was your most beloved toy like?
  • How are you and your parents alike or different?
  • What personal achievements made you proud?
  • What was one lesson you learned the hard way?

All and all, World Storytelling Day is the ideal opportunity to focus on reading, writing, and recollecting. You can find many, many more ideas at StoryArts.org that are ideal for the classroom or at home. If you’d like to carry on the tradition, consider joining one of Shine’s workshops or year-round classes, where we combine storytelling, music, art, cooking, and play from cultures around the world.

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