County teachers say parents can find fun – and educational – activities for children during winter break as easily as looking in the fridge or heading to the movies.

Monday, December 27, 1999

County teachers say parents can find fun – and educational – activities for children during winter break as easily as looking in the fridge or heading to the movies.

If your children like playdough, then hit the kitchen and make it for yourself, said Dee Travis, fourth-grade teacher at Hanging Rock Elementary No. 4.

All the ingredients are in the kitchen, and the activity can teach children about measurement as well as bring hours of fun, Ms. Travis said.

"It’s really important to keep them busy, because they tend to forget things they’ve learned in class over a long break," she said. "But it’s important they have fun on their days off, too."

Ms. Travis already has used one activity in class that parents could use at home, she said.

"You can use a time capsule as a family project," Ms. Travis said. "Each family member could write a list of their favorite hobbies, friends, news of the day and other things and a list of goals for the coming year."

Use a shoebox or other container as the capsule itself, put the items in and seal it. Then, it could be buried or stored for one year, or more, depending on when the family wants to "visit the past," she said.

Kindergartners and first-graders can find fun in after-Christmas activities, said Nancy Shuff, South Point Elementary principal.

"When taking down decorations, children can sort bulbs by colors and shapes," Mrs. Shuff said. "Or parents can help children write a thank you letter for gifts."

At that age level, it also helps for children to practice finding patterns in such things as lights or wrapping paper, she said.

For kindergartners, beginning sounds and matching pictures to the first letters of names is a plus. For first-graders, teachers recommend children read anything, and practice writing skills.

Tips from South Point Elementary teachers include:

– Shaving cream finger painting, where kindergarten kids can practice writing letters in the foam. Put it on a cookie sheet for easy cleanup.

– Sorting and matching socks from the laundry will develop matching skills.

– Help your child practice writing, maybe by sending grandma or grandpa a thank-you note.

– Practice writing words by copying a page from their favorite book.

– Each day off from school, say something nice to somebody, be kind to animals and feed the birds.

– Have a read-aloud time with books children received for Christmas.

– Feed the birds.

– Write winter poems or learn winter words.

Linda Bartram, third-grade teacher at Symmes Valley Multi-level, suggests parents help their children learn a little with their hobbies.

"A lot of kids will be going to the movies; they’ve already told me that," Mrs. Bartram said. "Why not have them retell the story to you, especially by writing it down."

Children can learn sequences from movie events, or could make little home storybooks, redrawing the characters from the story, she said.

And third-grade teachers always encourage parents to take their children to the library, Mrs. Bartram said.

"The Briggs library always has special things for kids to do, like Storytime, and we always encourage that," she said. "It’s fun and keeps them interested in learning."

For older children, teachers suggest having them make homemade playdough, Ms. Travis said.

Here’s how:

– Take 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of salt, 1 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar (in the spice section) and food coloring or a Kool-Aid packet.

– Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and mix. Cook over medium heat until the dough pulls away from the side of the pan and loses its shininess. Knead and play.

Also, a newspaper scavenger hunt is a great way to encourage reading in a fun way, Ms. Travis said.

Leaf through the paper and make a list of words or pictures you want your child to find. Set a time limit or have a race against other children to find the "treasure" words. Offer a prize to the winner. A good, no-cost prize is to allow the child to stay up a half hour past bedtime.

Making a personal timeline can be a fun way to reflect on your child’s life.

On a piece of poster board or construction paper, draw a line and label it with all the years since your child was born, beginning at his birth.

Choose some pictures that represent important events in your child’s life and place them at the appropriate place on the timeline. You and your child can write captions to describe each picture.