just for kids

november 99

The season for family and holidays is nearing and this is a wonderful time to make memories with our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. For the child with diabetes, feeling an important part of the festivities is essential because there are parts of the celebration (some foods) which will be limited. This year we include crafts for the two holidays, Christmas and Hanukkah, that grace this season. In November we still have time to set aside for such projects. We include nothing that your children can't do without many tools and great expense. How important are these? We moved recently and I found myself throwing away boxes of things that should have been discarded years ago, but when I uncovered our holiday decorations, some of the most precious turned out to be the acorn tree ornaments that our daughter made in the early grades, and the cards with large block letters that we had stored away. I can't wait to receive more of the same from our grandchildren when they get old enough to crayon, cut and paste. Our first gift is one that an older brother or sister can make to give a younger sibling or relative. Recorded books with pictures You will need: a tape recorder blank cassette favorite books drawing paper art supplies rings or ribbon and hole punch To make this gift, test the batteries in the tape recorder and you are ready to start. Have the gift maker decide how many pictures he/she will make to go with the book, and the signal they will use to let the listener know it is time to turn the page. This will depend on the type of book and age of the children. Our favorite was a duck call for the classic Make Way for Ducklings. Now record the book. As the child gets older he/she can add back ground music and sound effects to make it even more special. When done, start to make the book that will accompany the taped story. Here the child can trace pictures from the book with your help or go out on his/her own. Punch holes into the pages and either tie together with ribbon, twine, raffia or use metal rings. The gift that teaches the love of learning and reading is ready to be given. Felt decorations These have been made by children for years. I found some when we moved. To tell the truth, my mother saved mine and I've not been in elementary school for decades. You'll need: felt in colors of your choice patterns for Christmas trees, Christmas tree balls, gingerbread children, and other decoration shapes a variety of buttons in different shapes and colors silver and gold trim glue gun needle and thread to match felt colors you are using filling, either cotton balls or store bought fiberfill Have your children decide on the shapes they want to make, and the colors of felt they like. Either purchase the patterns for these or make them yourself. Help your child to cut out two of each pattern. Sew brightly colored buttons and glue trim on the felt. You can also cut out small pieces of contrasting color felt for these decorations. Sew the two pieces of felt together leaving one side open. Stuff and sew the last side. Glue on a hanger or help the child to crochet one. Want to make it more personal? Help the child to sign their masterpieces on the back with indelible ink. Date it and you'll have it for life. Christmas figures These make wonderful decorations for the dining room table or for your child's night stand. We have made Santa's, snowmen and angels. Just use your imagination and you'll be set. You will need: sheets of colored paper thick enough to stand when finished a compass pencil, scissors felt tipped pens, paint and brushes or metallic twine and ink ping-pong balls paste or glue Using a compass, draw a circle about 4 inches in radius. Cut it out and cut from the edge to the center. Make a design to match the character you are making. White fur and small back buttons for Santa, metallic lace for an angel, a candy cane and buttons for a snowman. Carefully bend into a cone and glue the edges together making sure that you have the decorated side on the outside. Continue to decorate the cone shape as desired with pieces of paper you cut out. These can include wings for an angel, a toy bag for Santa and a scarf for the snowman. With a craft knife cut a small hole in the ping-pong ball and glue it onto the top of the decorated cone. Decorate the face with markers or paint. Cut hair and halo for angel and glue on, or make a hat for Santa and snow man. You will need to help with these three dimensional tasks. You're done and your child will have something to keep for years. Two easy to make menorahs Through the years many people have made many types of menorahs to celebrate the victory of the Maccabees for religious freedom. The Temple was restored and the first Hanukkah, which means "dedication" was celebrated. Menorahs have been a part of this holiday from the beginning. Images of elephants, bears and lions (symbol of Israel) have long been known. Sometimes a menorah has been as humble as a root vegetable, like a potato cut in half with the proper number of holes cut into it. The most common type was borrowed from the Temple menorah, which resembled a tree with seven branches, one for each day of the week. The menorah was supposed to be like the tree of life, which stood for light and knowledge. Most menorahs today are machine made. It can hang or stand, and use candles or oil. You can use separate holders that go together with a place for a candle in each, and one extra for the shammash or you can make a candelabra. Here we present two easy menorahs that you can make with your children that can grow with them. Animal menorah You will need: 8 carved wooden lions and 1 carved wooden elephant tools to bore candle holes into the wood Hanukkah candles Each night light the candles of the correct number of lions, and the elephant which acts as the shammash. You can place them in order, in a circle, or if you want to make this even more special, place the animals on a board that your child has painted blue and white or stained and polyurethaned. Make sure to talk to your children about how the lion became the symbol of Israel. Here is another type of menorah that can be a part of an outdoors walk in the woods. A woodland menorah You will need: a thick piece of bark about a foot long. or a piece of wood the same size acorns alum glue moss and small twigs for decoration clay Hanukkah candles Select a flat piece of bark and spray with hair spray to kill any insects that are hidden in it before bringing into the house. If using store-bought wood, select a 1 foot piece of wood. Place eight bottoms of acorns in a solution of water and alum and soak for 2 hours. Remove and allow to dry. Glue the acorn bottoms onto the bark or piece of wood. Glue moss, twigs, lichen etc. on the back and wood to decorate. Place a bit of soft clay in the bottom of each acorn to hold the candles and you're ready.   To all, have a happy memory filled holiday!