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Stuff their Stockings & Brains

By Joyce Powell


No matter what the holiday tradition, parents strive to create holidays to remember—for good reasons, not bad! Oftentimes, parents feel pressured to make the “perfect” holiday, complete with picturesque snow and gingerbread men.

But the kids just want to be included in the hustle and bustle of the season: baking, decorating, shopping, and wrapping gifts.

For the busy parent who is already stressed from holiday season obligations, including your children in these activities will seem like it will create more problems than it solves. With a little patience, however, parents may find the results rewarding.

The holidays may be a break from school, but they don’t have to be a break from learning. Research has shown that when parents and teachers work together, children are the winners.

Here are a few activities that will stimulate learning and togetherness:

Older children can sit down with you and draw up a budget for gift giving. This provides them with lessons in mathematics and how to follow a budget, as well as generosity in general. It also helps them to understand how much time and thought you spend on giving presents. This activity can be a welcome respite for older children from the constant “gimme more” message that they see on television or hear in the schoolyard.

Encourage children to offer gift suggestions for family members. Your son or daughter may know that their sister developed an interest in astronomy: Get her a telescope. Also, one of your children may have over heard how dad loves a TV show that just came out on DVD.

Require children to help you with your household chores such as sweeping, wiping off tables and countertops, and dusting. Even very small children can participate. Not only does this help reduce your workload, but it also gives your child an opportunity to spend time with you while you’re getting work done. It’s important for children to realize how satisfying it can be to keep their homes neat and clean—even if they don’t appreciate it at the time.

The holidays usually mean a lot of houseguests, and it can be overwhelming for children at any age. But you can help your child feel more in control by asking him or her to help you get bedrooms ready for guests. Your children can help make beds, locate pillows and blankets, and—after your guests leave—carry dirty laundry that needs washing. While you’re doing these chores together you can talk about who your houseguests were, why they’re important to you, and how happy you are that they spent time with you. You can also ask your child to help you brainstorm some fun activities that the whole family can enjoy with your guests.

Allow children to assist you when wrapping presents. This will stimulate their problem-solving abilities, especially with large or odd-shaped presents. It’s also a good way to spark a conversation with your children. Nothing is more conducive to heart-to-heart talks than a mindless task such as wrapping presents, washing and drying dishes, or making holiday cards.

Get the children moving outdoors by letting them assist in decorating. While they hold your tools, your children can also calculate the exact number of light strings it will take to decorate the porch. Allowing them to have some ownership in the decorating will give them a sense of pride and belonging, and you might just spark your child’s creativity.

Let them participate when you haul out your baking supplies. Not only will they get a simple lesson in the chemistry of baking, but decorating cakes and cookies will encourage their artistic inclinations. This is also a simple activity for children who would like to give a gift to a friend or family member, but don’t have the resources. Nothing tastes sweeter than a gift made by someone who loves you. And, as anyone who bakes knows, it’s also much more difficult to over-indulge in sweets when you have had a hand in making them.

By allowing and encouraging children to engage in these holiday activities, parents are not only building memories, they’re stimulating learning—and both last a lifetime.


Joyce Powell, a special education teacher in Vineland, is the elected President of 192,000 teaching staff, support staff, and retired members of the New Jersey Education Association.