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3 Easy Ways To Get In The Holiday Spirit
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and engaging children in these festivities only adds to the joyous atmosphere. We have come up with 3 major activities that you can undertake at your centre to begin revelling in the Christmas spirit.
However, we would also like to add that while many of us celebrate Christmas, there are many who do not. It is important to recognise these members of your OOSH/OSHC community and it is equally as important to cater to them and their beliefs.
Christmas is a time of unity and love and we should all accommodate each other. While these activities are aimed at promoting Christmas, we encourage you to celebrate other religious holidays and cultural events that may be just as important to those, as Christmas is to many of us :)
Christmas Tree
To kick off the festive season, introducing a Christmas tree is absolutely essential.
For those struggling to come to terms with how fast the year has gone, (myself included), I find putting up the Christmas tree negates the initial shock of “oh my gosh it's that time of year already?!”, and promotes fun and enjoyment rather than stress and panic.
Offering the assemblage of the centre Christmas tree as an activity is a fantastic way of channeling your children’s… shall we say, ‘boisterous’ behaviour, which is often demonstrated around this time of year.
Taking into account suggestions from each child as to what decorations should be placed on the tree, gives them agency over their celebration of Christmas, and may provide a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Perhaps the tree reminds them of the one they put up with their families.
Or perhaps it evokes a happy memory of Christmases gone-by.
Asking children to bring in their own decorations that maybe didn’t make the tree at home this year, or simply creating their own decorations in-centre will create a positive experience for them.
Craft Crate also offers a Christmas Ornament Pack if you want to hang different items on the tree, or currently have limited decorations.
Our pieces are intended to allow self-identity to flourish, and for children to express what Christmas means to them, through an array of designs and patterns.
It has been a difficult year and children often find solace in familiar events or occasions, so a tree will certainly assist them in their development.
Decorating the room
In addition to the Christmas tree, decorating the entire centre will greatly enhance the festivities.
It can be difficult catering to everyone’s perceptions of Christmas, so asking children and parents what they would appreciate being displayed in the centre is a good way to gauge their attitudes.
If your centre hasn’t done so already, celebrating Hanukkah which spans from the 28th of November to the 6th of December, would also be a great way to spread love and joy to people of differing beliefs.
Creating a diverse Christmas environment shows you care about everyone who enters the space.
Whether it's by setting up a nativity scene for families who hold the religious significance of Christmas in high regard, or whether it’s placing an advent calendar at the front of the room signifying how many days until Santa arrives-
All beliefs should be made welcome.
Tinsel, lights, holly, wreaths, fake snow, Santa's, reindeer and elves will also be sure to liven up the space and create an inviting and wholesome ambience.
There are so many different options with decorations, so be sure to get creative!
End of year party
December is not just a celebration of Christmas but the end of the school year, meaning it is always a huge occasion.
Families and staff alike have endured a tough 12 months, so in recognition, hosting a party on the final day of the school term is a gesture that will not go unappreciated.
Obviously with current COVID restcritions, it may not be possible for parents to enter the centre, however, we encourage you to organise an event in whatever manner appropriate and feasible at this time.
Our own centre is organising a jumping castle and pizza party, but other activities such as bubble soccer, a water slide or a movie using the projector and large screen in the hall are other easy options.
We also encourage other children to participate in the party, regardless of whether they are booked in, so long as they are supervised by their parents/ guardians.
This way, not only do the children booked in at OOSH/OSHC have the opportunity to socialise with their regular school friends, OOSH/OSHC is promoted to children and families who do not attend but may wish to do so next year or in the upcoming vacation care.
By celebrating and rewarding our OOSH/OSHC community, is also perhaps the best opportunity to expand upon our relationships outside of the centre.
So this Christmas/ holidays, we would love to see you all get involved in celebrating the time of year and congratulate everyone on their work thus far.
We hope you make the most of the rest of 2021 and enjoy your holiday celebrations!
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