Parent Perusals
December 18, 2019
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year From My Family to Yours!
A Note from Kimberly
Whatever you'll be doing and whoever you'll be with, I wish you lots of love and laughter. This time of year is truly a time to cherish family and loved ones and reflect on all that has happened in the year. We've all had good, bad and ugly occur in our year but the promise of a new year brings us lots of hope and new beginnings!
Concerned you might go a little crazy at home with your kids off for 2 weeks?
Don't worry! There are lots of resources on the ESC-20 parent resource webpage and in this newsletter filled with activities and ideas so check them out!
I've also shared a preview of the parent trainings and webinars coming up in January. I hope you'll make it a new year resolution to participate in what you can!
Happy Holidays! I look forward to connecting with you again in the New Year!
~Kimberly
5 Ways to Reduce the Anxiety of the Holidays
1. Maintain your Routine
2. Give your Children Choices When You Can.
3. Say, "No."
4. Stay Calm with Role-Playing
5. Carry a Little Comfort
Read more details about the 5 Ways to Reduce Holiday Anxiety HERE.
PBS Kids Holiday Resources for Parents!
PBS Kids shares some great Holiday resources!
Check them out HERE!
7 Family Time and Learning Tips for the Holidays
5 Meaningful Traditions for Kids
How to Avoid Holiday Meltdowns
How Parents Can Simplify the Holidays
The Best Gift You Can Give Your Children: Their Family Story
Researchers found that kids who know a lot about their family history tend to be more resilient in the face of challenges. In fact, knowing about family history was a strong “predictor of children’s emotional health and happiness.”
As we all take time to celebrate the holidays this season, it’s a great opportunity to help your children connect with their family heritage. Here are some easy ways to help kids learn more about their own history.
Embrace Holiday Traditions: Kids love holiday traditions, and if these annual rituals happen to be connected to your family history, culture, or religion, these fun activities can become a way of linking children to something larger. If you don’t have any strong family traditions, you can start some!
Interview a Relative: One day when my kids were asking me about farm life, I suddenly remembered that we had an expert in the family: Grandma grew up on a ranch! Through FaceTime, Grandma gamely fielded a dozen questions about milking cows, gathering eggs, making butter, and riding horses. Both grandmother and grandchildren were delighted by the exchange.
Look at Photos and Videos: The holidays are a great opportunity to pull out old photos or family movies and explore them together. Your kids will love seeing what you looked like when you were their age. Details in the photos will naturally lead to conversations.
Try a Recipe Together: Food is a great connector. Grab a family favorite recipe and as you cook with your kids, talk about your memories. If you don’t have any go-to family recipes, look up a recipe that reflects some aspect of your family’s culture and try it out!
Feeling connected to our family’s larger history is one of the most important gifts we can give our children. As the author Bruce Feiler wrote, “if you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family’s positive moments and your ability to bounce back from the difficult ones. That act alone may increase the odds that your family will thrive for many generations to come.”
~Deborah Farmer Kris
Deborah Farmer Kris is a writer, teacher, parent educator, and school administrator.
You can read more of Deborah's parenting advice on PBS KIDS for Parents.
ESC-20's FREE Parent Trainings & Webinars start back up on January 15, 2020! Check out the January offerings below & make plans to participate!
Check Out the Websites Below for Ideas on Keeping the Learning Active During the Holiday Break!
Kimberly Baumgardner, Consultant, Education Service Center, Region 20
Kimberly has become quite passionate about empowering families to be more involved in their child's education and future as well as challenging and supporting schools to increase their efforts to involve families in their child's educational journey and focus on Family Engagement as an instructional tool that improves student's academic outcomes.
Kimberly enjoys living out in the country with her husband, Tyson and two daughters, Lynette & Lucy Sue.
Email: kimberly.baumgardner@esc20.net
Website: www.esc20.net/parentresources
Location: 1314 Hines, San Antonio, TX, United States
Phone: 210-370-5431
Facebook: facebook.com/escregion20
Twitter: @ESCRegion20