Welcome to our 12 DAYS OF HOMESCHOOL CHRISTMAS POSTS! If you are just joining us, here’s what you’ve missed so far:
- 1ST DAY: Printable ~CHRISTMAS COUPONS~
- 2ND DAY: 12 “Living Literature” Christmas Picture Books
- 3RD DAY: Give your child the WORLD this Christmas!
- 4TH DAY: 12 Unforgettable CHRISTMAS CHAPTER BOOKS
- 5TH DAY: The SKILL-FILLED STOCKING
- 6TH DAY: 12 HOLIDAY HOMESCHOOL HACKS
- 7TH DAY: Our Favorite Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions
For our 8th day of Homeschool Christmas:
I can’t believe I’m sitting down to write this . . . OurHolisticHomeschool’s 100th post! It seems like just the other day I was writing our 50th post back in August . . . although it seems like a very long time indeed since our very first post back in March of this year. What a year it has been . . . in more ways than one.
To everyone reading this, THANK YOU! I’m honored to have YOU as a reader and subscriber. When I published that first post and made our blog “live” this past spring, I committed to seeing OurHolisticHomeschool through one hundred posts before deciding whether or not to continue. So now that I’m here, typing up that big 100th post . . . here’s my decision on moving forward: hmmm . . . well, all I can think about is the next hundred posts I want write this upcoming year! So I guess that’s my answer . . . at least for now.
For our 8th day of Homeschool Christmas, and as a thank-you for sticking with me this year, I have two freebie Stocking Stuffer gifts for you today, ready to print and stuff in your kids’ sock come Christmas Eve! If you have a second to leave me a comment, I’d love to hear what you think of these!
First up . . .
~Tell-Me-A-Christmas-Story Cards~
Talk about simple . . . just print these cards, cut out, tie up in a lovely little stack and place in your young child’s stocking. I’m putting this set in our toddler’s stocking, and I know she will love attempting to tell her own stories with them. The child simply arranges the cards in different orders to practice telling a simple story. Most likely to be enjoyed by kids ages two to six.
*Special thanks to olddesignshop.com & the graphicsfairy.com for these awesome vintage post card graphics!
Here is the printable PDF!!
Next up . . .
~The Stocking Stuffer Scavenger~
Transport yourself back to the Christmas mornings of your childhood. Remember waking up to see your stocking full to bursting on the mantle over the fire? You rushed to snatch it down, and then bright and shiny loot just started spilling out onto the floor before you even got your hand in there to start pulling stuff out! A Christmas Cornucopia! I was always amazed at how much my mom was able to cram into that one stocking. It was like a darned magic-compartment sock or something . . . spewing out mittens and candy and toys from who knows where! But then, all too soon I found it . . . the toe of my sock.
I was thinking about this childhood “finding-the-toe-feeling” the other day . . . it’s really a symbolic foreshadowing of adulthood isn’t it? I get that same “finding-the-toe-feeling” (also called “disappointment”, “let down”, or simply “reality check”) at least once a day as a . . . “grown up” (shudder). But I digress. Anyways, somewhere in my reflections I had an idea for how we could skip the whole “finding-the-toe” let down, if only just for Christmas day. I thought: what if the toe transformed from a bummer to a stunner . . . the best, most exciting part of the stocking?
What if, when our kids came to the end of their stocking’s bounty they found a little special note hiding away in the toe? A little clue tucked way at the bottom of the sock that served as a happy transition (and delay) between the stocking and the tearing open of the presents to follow; an activity to break up all that . . . looting. An invitation to embark on a Christmas Day adventure! Indeed, the inciting of an activity that would possibly rival the fun of opening presents itself! I thought: what if that humble sock had one last Christmas surprise up its . . . leg? And so, I share with you our family’s newest Christmas tradition: the STOCKING STUFFER SCAVENGER!
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know our family loves a good Scavenger Hunt. So here is one all decked with bows of holly for you to surprise your kids with on Christmas morning!
Here’s what I went for:
*vintage illustrations (with special thanks to thegraphicsfairy.com and olddesignshop.com for these amazing finds! They just make me super happy.)
*black and white picture clue card options especially for little kids
*full color “riddle-me-this” clue card options especially for older kids
First, choose between the simple black and white picture clue cards, or the full-color riddle-me-this cards, or use some of each! (For kids under six, I recommend exclusively using the simple black and white picture clue cards, and for kids older than eight I recommend exclusively using the full-color riddle-me-this cards.)
~For the black and white PICTURE CLUE CARDS~
1.) From the pdf included at the end of this section, select only the picture clue cards for which you have a match somewhere in and/or around your home. Examples: candy cane, Christmas tree, fireplace, etc.
2.) Print onto cardstock (white or any color you like)
3.) Cut out the cards.
4.) Hide the last “Stocking SurPRIZE” . . . see end of the post for ideas!
5.) When it is time for the hunt, decide which clue will come first and hold onto that clue. Then, according to the picture of the reserved clue, hide the rest of the clue cards according to the images on the clues. Example: you hold onto the teacup card, you hide the candlestick card in a teacup, you hide the sledding card under the candlestick, you hide the doll’s tea party card on top of a sled, etc.
7.) Give your child the first clue to begin the hunt.
~For the full color “RIDDLE-ME-THIS” CARDS~
1.) From my pdf included at the end of this section, read through the riddles/clues on each card and select which cards you are able to come up with a match in and/or around your home that you think your child will be able to decipher.
Examples:
This clue could perhaps lead the scavenger to something to do with a queen . . . perhaps a favorite queen in a book. For us this clue will lead to the Q is for Queen ABC card on the wall of the school room:
This riddle would most obviously lead the scavenger to soap somewhere in your home . . . hopefully the bathroom:
This clue may lead the scavenger to the cleaning closet:
This clue may lead the hunter to a family photo album or memory book:
This clue would most likely require a quick google search which would lead the hunter to the spice cupboard and salt shaker:
This riddle could lead the scavenger to a book of Mother Goose, mistletoe, holly, or a dolly! When a clue has lots of possibilities like this one, you can leave it ambiguous for many attempts of finding the answer or you may choose to give it a more clear direction by underlining certain words or underlining letters intended to scramble in order to solve the location of the next clue!
This clue would most obviously lead to the family printer, or perhaps . . . chestnuts . . . if you’re cool enough to just have those hanging out in your pantry:
Instructions continued:
2.) Print onto cardstock (woven white linen cardstock will give it an extra vintage feel but is not necessary)
3.) Cut out the cards.
4.) Hide the last “Stocking SurPRIZE” . . . see end of the post for ideas!
5.) When it is time for the hunt, decide which riddle-me-this card will come first and hold on to that clue. Then, according to the riddle of the reserved clue, hide the rest of the clue cards according to the riddle results for each clue.
6.) Give your child the first riddle to begin the hunt.
Here is the printable PDF!!
~Two Quick Scavenger Tips~
1.) Don’t Help!
At some point during the hunt, your child will most likely tell you that the hunt is too hard, or that he cannot possibly solve this riddle! Your natural inclination will probably be to help your child solve the riddle or hunt. But in my experience, this robs from the scavenger the satisfaction of solving each riddle or clue for him or herself. It’s ok if it takes her a few minutes (or maybe hours!) to solve a few clues! It’s the whole point of the hunt! If your child absolutely needs help solving a clue, don’t let it be elicited from you. Have your little (or big) scavenger call Grandma, or run over to the neighbor’s for some off-site help. When I have assisted in solving a clue . . . whether for my son, the kids I used to nanny, or my middle school students in one of my classroom scavenger hunts . . . I have almost always been told that the hunt was “too easy” and to “make the next one harder!” This response almost always comes from a child who will have twenty minutes earlier been begging in near tears for help.
2.) Save it for next year!
Repeated holiday traditions will give your child a rich and secure holiday heritage, and it will make your life easier each year! I have a plastic tote for each holiday where I store special holiday books, games, and activities that I only bring out once a year. Our son looks forward to the old and familiar favorites and it makes my life a lot easier, affording me the time and energy to create new family traditions! This hunt can easily be re-printed year to year and/or switched up/made more difficult as your child grows.
~Keep your eyes on the PRIZE (ideas for a rewarding finish)~
1.) The first wrapped gift of Christmas (this is what we’re doing)
2.) A special Christmas breakfast
3.) A fancy Christmas tea party
4.) A family board game party
5.) A surprise Christmas outing such as sledding or skiing
6.) A Christmas movie and treats
Happy Stocking Stuffing!
Thanks for reading our 100th post! You made our day . . . and year!
Love, ~Our Holistic Homeschool~
Magical ideas! Scavenger hunts are THE BEST! ❤️🎄❤️