RockIt Times AmuseLetter
Jingle Bell Rock!

Keep the good times rolling for your preschooler!

December 2004 - Issue 9

Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing,
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing,
Returns to you glad.
~John Greenleaf Whittier

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A warm and happy December greeting to you from the RockIt Times and RockIt Productions, Inc.!

Although December always sneaks up on me and I never have enough time to do all the things I would like to do, I never cease to take the time to enjoy the beauty and joy of the season. My schedule has been unbelievably hectic recently. There is no tree up at my house yet; no Christmas lights around my door; not a plastic reindeer to be seen on my roof. And yet, still, my family is in the holiday spirit.

Does it really take all that to understand and appreciate the meaning of Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of the year? Personally, I don't think so.

It's not about decorations and presents. It's about the warm feeling of well-being, wishes of peace and happiness, being charitable and giving to others, and the vision of mankind living together as one.

On the day that we could have put up the decorations, we made hot cocoa and fresh chocolate chip cookies and started decorating a paper gingerbread man with collages of torn wrapping paper, buttons, ribbons, sparkly pompoms and bows. This one gingerbread man was a family homework project for my 5 year old son's preschool. We had every intention of getting it done rather quickly, then getting the lights up. But, instead, we found that we were having so much fun that we didn't want to stop! So the glue and goodies stayed on the table and we spent a couple hours making some of the most delightful paper gingerbread men ever (and a mess to match, of course) to be seen!

We were a bit disappointed when we realized that it was getting to dark to hang the lights. But as our gluey creations dried and we started to hang them up, we realized that our chosen activity was probably more in the "spirit" than hanging the lights would have been. We did something together as a family. We laughed and enjoyed each other's company. We didn't argue. And we always seem to argue at least just a bit in the process of hanging those lights!

I have the majority of my holiday shopping already done this year. What a relief! Now, instead of packing my children off for more last minute shopping and trips to the post office, we can spend time just being together. And, in my opinion, that is teaching them the true spirit of the holidays.

Here's wishing you all the best of everything this holiday season. May your candles burn bright, your hearth glow warm, and your heart be filled with all the love you can endure.

Until next year!
Mari

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Jingle Bell Rock!

The holidays are filled with boring "grownup" parties...what happened to all the fun for kids?

Consider hosting a Jingle Bell Rock party for your children when planning your next gathering! They'll thank you for it and you'll have a nice 45 minutes to spend not having to worry if they are playing with the ornaments on the tree...AGAIN!

This party theme may include the following songs or other rockin' tunes:

• Tapping
• Up on the Housetop
• Jingle Bell Rock
• The Ha! Ha! Holiday Song
• Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
• Twinkle Time
• It's Holiday Time

Reserve your party date today! Email to parties@rockitkids.com or call us at 847-961-6584.

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Bead Garland

Display this bead garland on your Christmas tree.

Materials:

• An assortment of plastic beads
• Plastic cording
• Scissors
• Tacky glue

Instructions:

1. Cut the plastic cording to the length desired for the garland.
2. String on the first bead.
3. Tie a knot around the first bead to keep the other beads from sliding off.
4. Place a few dots of glue on the knot to hold it.
5. String on as many beads as you want.
6. Knot the string around the last bead on the string.
7. Place a few dots of glue on the knot to hold it.
8. Let the glue dry.
9. Place the garland on your tree and enjoy!

This is a great way to use up odds and ends of beads. All look great on the garland, so bring out a good variety of colors and styles. You may also use colored pasta shapes and yarn, although these will not hold up well from year to year. When using yarn, wrap about 1-2" of then end with tape to make it stiff and easier for your child to thread.

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If you are in our neighborhood, we happily provide stress-free, interactive children's party entertainment for any function. Or, make it a Kid Rock day no matter where you live, with our perfectly assembled gift bags and party favors!

Visit the official Kid Rock website at http://www.rockitkids.com/
for more information!

Snowman Cookies

Ingredients:

• Graham cracker crumbs (about 10 whole crackers)
• Peanut butter (18 oz)
• 2-1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 stick margarine
• white chocolate (several bags of chips)

Instructions:

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, margarine and peanut butter.
2. Roll into balls.
3. Stick into freezer for a few minutes to chill.
4. Melt white chocolate chips.
5. Stick a toothpick into the chilled dough and dip each cookie into the white chocolate.
6. Stack 3 balls on top of each other to form a snowman.
7. Use sprinkles/candy for eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons.

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Snowman

I rolled a little snowman (roll hands up to head)
From his head down to his toes. (sweep hands from head to feet)
I gave him raisins for his eyes, (touch sides of temples)
A carrot for his nose. (elongate nose with fingers)
I put a hat upon his head (place pretend hat on head)
And berries for a smile. (touch sides of cheeks and smile)
I shook his frosty snowman hand (shake child's hand)
And said, "Please play with me, my friend."

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Holiday Sanity Savers
By: Ann Douglas

Feeling stressed just thinking about all the things that you need to accomplish over the next few weeks? You're certainly in good company. The holidays are a major source of stress for many people-and for good reason, too. But we have some tips to help you make the holidays harmonious.

Seasonal stressbusters

There's so much to do during the holiday season: there are cookies to bake, presents to wrap, and cards to pop in the mail. Add to that all the holiday social obligations -- office parties, school concerts, neighborhood skating parties and dinners with family members and friends -- and you've got the perfect recipe for frazzled nerves!
While there's no easy way to eliminate all the stress of the holiday season, there's plenty you can do to make the holidays a lot more sane. Here are a few tips.

• Keep your child's age and temperament in mind when you're planning your holiday schedule. An easy-going baby who sleeps all the time may not be affected in the least by a late night out at a party, but a two year old who is used to going to bed at 7 pm may be thrown complete off track if she's up past her bedtime.
  
  If you know that your child isn't up to any late-night socializing, either leave her at home with a babysitter or stay at home with her yourself and send your regrets.
  
  
• Don't schedule too many special events in a row. If you hit the Santa Claus parade in the morning and the company children's party in the afternoon, your child will be too exhausted and cranky to have fun. It's better to miss out on a few holiday events than to end up with an exhausted child on your hands. Remember, it's quality -- not quantity -- that counts.
  
  
• Try to ensure your child has the opportunity for some quiet time despite all the holiday chaos. If you know you're in for a busy afternoon or evening, spend some time reading stories to her or watching a video with her in the morning. Similarly, if you've had a busy day, spend some quiet time together in the evening so that you can help her to unwind.
  
  
• Remember that children need to be active. A toddler who is confined to the car for a three-hour drive to Grandma's house can't be expected to walk in the door and sit quietly at the dinner table for the next hour. Either break up the car trip with a stopover at a park or arrive early enough at Grandma's to go for a walk around the block before it's time to sit down for dinner.
  
  
• Keep an eye out for signs that your child is experiencing holiday burnout. If your child seems to be unusually tired,
  cranky, teary or boisterous, it could be because she's overtired.
  
  
• When the holidays are over, gradually ease your child back into her normal routines. Your child may be hit with a bad case of post-holiday letdown syndrome if the fun comes to a grinding halt all at once!
  
  
• Keep your own holiday schedule under control, too. You won't have the patience required to cope with the stress of the holidays and the demands of a young child if you allow yourself to become exhausted.
  
  Hint: If you don't take care of your own needs, the halls won't be the only thing you feel like decking! Bottom line? Don't be afraid to drastically limit your holiday commitments while your children are young: there will be plenty of time to hit the party circuit when they get a little older.

Shopping stressbusters

• Shop online whenever possible. A growing number of retailers are setting up shop in cyberspace. You'll be surprised and delighted by the variety of goods that you can purchase without ever leaving your home.
  
  
• Catalog shopping is another option if you don't want to spend hours fighting the crowds in the toy stores.
  
  
• Buy the same gift for as many people as possible on your list. If you find a gift book that would be perfect for all of your favorite women friends, pick up a half-dozen copies. There's no rule that says that each and every gift you give has to be unique!
  
  
• Use your shopping time efficiently. Carry a business-card sized list of gift ideas in your wallet as well as a list of gifts you've already purchased. There's no point wasting time and money buying twice as many gifts as you need.

Holiday shortcuts

• Don't play Martha Stewart unless you want to. If you don't have time to do a lot of holiday baking, buy "homemade" cookies from the local bakery.
  
  
• If the holidays wouldn't be the holidays without the smell of fresh-baked cookies, look for ways to reduce the amount of time that you spend in the kitchen. Rather than making 12 different types of cookies, make 12 dozen of the same type. Then organize a cookie swap with a group of neighbors or friends from work.
  
  
• Focus on the holiday traditions that matter most to your family. Pass on the ones that don't like making a gingerbread house and then listening to the kids cry as the walls collapse!

About the author:

Ann Douglas is the author of numerous books on parenting and pregnancy, including The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: The Ultimate Guide to Conception, Birth and Everything in Between, The Mother of All Baby Books: The Ultimate Guide to Your Baby's First Year, The Mother of All Toddler Books, Baby Science, The Mother of All Parenting Books and The Mother of All Pregnancy Organizers. She is also the co-author (with John R. Sussman, MD) of The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby and Trying Again: A Guide to Pregnancy After Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss. She is a regular contributor to Pregnancy & Baby and WebMD, and has been featured in Parenting, Working Mother, and Good Housekeeping. She is the mother of four children, and can be contacted via her web site www.having-a-baby.com.

Copyright © Ann Douglas.

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I am sure there are at least some of you reading this fun AmuseLetter! I hear comments from parents of my own Kid Rock students after each issue! But if you never write me, I don't have anything to say in this section. I need some proof that you are reading! Think how happy that would make my boss. :D

So....

Do you have comments or suggestions for us? We love to hear and share what our readers think! Please send your feedback to us at: rockittimes@rockitkids.com

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Mari Peckham
RockItTimes@rockitkids.com
IPRA "Outstanding Teacher of the Year" Award Recipient
Publishing Editor, Rock-It Times

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