Christmas

Candy Cane Oobleck

Looking for an easy Christmas sensory activity? This Candy Cane Oobleck recipe requires only 3 ingredients and is ooey-gooey fun! It combines sensory play with science for lots of holiday fun.My kids love playing with oobleck and this candy cane themed one was especially fun. They enjoyed creating patterns and molding and squishing it into a ball and then watching as that ball turned to liquid and slid off their hands.

What is oobleck?

Oobleck is a sensory play material that acts like a solid when under pressure but is a liquid at rest. That’s where the science of it all comes in. Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid because it can mimic the properties of both a solid and a liquid.

This festive Christmas offers a way to combine science discovery with sensory play.

Candy Cane Oobleck Recipe:

Supplies needed:

4 cups cornstarch
2 cups water
red food dye
baking dish
optional: peppermint essential oil
optional: plastic candy canes, pretend peppermints, and holiday cookie cutters

Directions:

Make one batch of white oobleck by mixing together 2 cups of cornstarch and 1 cup of water in a bowl.
Pour it into a glass baking dish to form a single layer.
Stir some red food dye into 1 cup of water.
Mix the red water with 2 cups of cornstarch to make red oobleck.
If you want, you can stir in a few drops of peppermint essential oil to make the oobleck smell like candy canes too.
Drizzle the red oobleck over the white.
Drop some mini candy canes in there if you want or some Christmas cookie cutters or plastic candy canes and pretend peppermints.
Invite kids to play.

There is so much great sensory input in this activity. It provides wonderful tactile input, visual input, proprioceptive input, and if you use scent, olfactory input. Kids can squish it, squeeze it, tap it, drizzle it, smush it around, and pour it.

The science of it all:

I always find that kids learn best when they don’t even realize they’re learning. Invite your child or students to explore the oobleck and talk about their observations.

When does the oobleck behave like a solid? When does it behave like a liquid?

Discuss states of matter.

Read about Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids.

Important notes:

Oobleck doesn’t keep as well as slime or playdough so it’s best to make it the same day you want to play with it.
Never dispose of oobleck down the sink or it will clog your drain. Just allow it to dry a bit and scrape it directly into the garbage.
Adult supervision should be used at all times with this or any sensory play activity.
Although this recipe is technically taste-safe, I wouldn’t recommend eating it!

Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways:

Today’s giveaway is for a bit of Christmas cheer to bring to your home. The winner will receive a holiday decoration for their kitchen.

Please note: Only residents of Canada and the United States are eligible for today’s giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out these other Christmas sensory activities:

Nativity Slime

I Spy Christmas Sensory Bag

Peppermint Playdough Station

Christmas Activity Ideas Jar

By Sharla Kostelyk

So often, the holiday season can become centered around material things like the gifts we’re purchasing or receiving for Christmas. Instead of focusing on presents this year, why not put your effort into making memories with your family? With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, sometimes that’s easier said than done. What if I could make it super simple for your family to enjoy the holiday season together with the help of a variety of fun activities? This adorable Christmas fun jar is a great way to come up with activities your family can enjoy during the holiday season with very little effort on your part.

Christmas Activity Ideas

One of the hardest parts about creating holiday traditions with your family is coming up with Christmas activity ideas everyone in the family will enjoy. But with this easy holiday craft, the hard work is already done for you!

The printable PDF included with this fun craft comes with 30 different easy holiday activities. In addition to being simple to do, most of the activities on this list can be done right at home. That makes them perfect for enjoying time together while you’re stuck inside!

This big list of Christmas activities includes traditional holiday ideas, like baking cookies and wrapping Christmas presents, as well as some unique activities to enjoy together as a family. But the best part about pulling an activity out of this cute jar is that you never know what you’re going to get!

How to Make a Christmas Fun Jar

Making this Christmas activity jar couldn’t be easier. Start by downloading the printable list of activities and the jar label. Cut out each activity on a single strip of paper. Use the helpful guide lines to cut the activities so that each activity fits perfectly on a popsicle stick.

After you have all the activities cut out, just glue one strip to the top of a popsicle stick. You can give your jar a festive holiday look by using red and green popsicle sticks. I got mine at the dollar store or you can use plain popsicle sticks to hold your Christmas activity ideas.

When all the activities have been added to popsicle sticks, place them inside a mason jar. Decorate the front of the jar with the Christmas Activity Jar label, then add a holiday bow on top to make it look extra special. After that, all you have to do is set the jar out for your family to enjoy!

How to Use the Christmas Activity Jar

There are a few different ways you can use this Christmas activity jar to enjoy time with your family during the holiday season. Each of these methods are a great way to put a focus on making memories instead of purchasing gifts, ensuring your family has an amazing holiday season without the need for material things.

Activity advent calendar. Advent calendars are a popular way to count down the days until Christmas. But there’s no reason you have to use a traditional calendar to incorporate this fun activity into your holiday celebration. Use your activity jar as an advent calendar by picking a different popsicle stick activity each day leading up to Christmas. Your family will have tons of holiday fun every day until the big day, helping you build up the excitement for Christmas day in the process.
Memory makers. Make the most of the activities in your Christmas jar by using them to create lasting memories with your kids. Since most of the activities on the list are easy to do, there’s not much work involved in creating a fun time for your kids any day of the week. And allowing each kid to pick an activity for the day will ensure everyone in your family feels special throughout the holiday season.
Adding new traditions. Finding good holiday traditions that everyone in your family enjoys can sometimes be a game of trial and error. This year, work your way through a variety of holiday traditions by drawing a new activity from the jar each day. This method will help you figure out which traditional holiday activities your family likes to do together and which ones aren’t very popular. Make a note of the activities your family enjoyed and start to incorporate them into your holiday celebration from year to year.
I’m bored jar. Another fun way to use the jar is to help pass the time during the holiday season. If your kids are stuck at home this winter, you’re likely to hear the words “I’m bored” more than once. Every time one of your kids says those two words, let them pick a stick from the jar to help them find a fun way to pass the time.

Christmas Activity Jar

Supplies needed:

popsicle sticks (you can use regular or coloured popsicle sticks)
glue
mason jar or other glass jar
printable activities
printable label
holiday ribbon

Directions:

Print out the activity sheet and label.
Cut out the activity strips along the outer borders. (find the download for the label and activities here)
Cut out the printable label around the outer edge.
Glue the activity strips to the popsicle sticks and place the sticks in the jar.
Glue the label to the front of the jar and decorate the top with ribbon.

Check out these holiday family activities:

Christmas Movie Bingo

Minute to Win It Christmas Style

Nativity Playdough Station

Make This a December to Remember

By Sharla Kostelyk

It’s no secret that 2020 has been a hard year. Coming up to Christmas, you may be feeling a mix of emotions. This year, your holiday celebrations and traditions may look very different than past years. But there are ways to make the best of it and make this a December to remember.My friend Courtney from Click-it-up-a-Notch has designed a course called A December to Remember. This course will help you capture the moments and memories this holiday season and ensure you never forget.

Courtney has a gift for simplifying photography tricks. She allows moms to feel confident in forever preserving those treasured moments.

We all know that kids grow up too fast. Even by next year, they will have changed. That’s what makes photos such a blessing.

If you struggle with things like:

how to capture a good shot when your subject (aka busy child!) is constantly in motion
memorializing those candid moments without it feeling forced
taking good photos by the tree or Christmas lights
the inspiration to document the moments before they’re gone
getting that group shot without everyone feeling frustrated
knowing how to create a heartwarming video using your phone camera
taking memorable photos of the people and traditions you love,

then this is for you!

I know that this Christmas and the weeks leading up to it might look very different than you’re wishing they did. But I also know that you can make the best of them.

Create new family traditions.

Do a holiday puzzle.
Play board games.
Watch Christmas movies snuggled under blankets.
Make a hot cocoa bar.
Read a novel together every night.
Bake cookies.
Go toboganning.
Decorate gingerbread houses.
Sponsor a less fortunate family for the holidays.

Then capture those new traditions as well as some of your old ones using your amazing new photography skills. (there are also holiday video tips in there too…)

I’ve learned so much from Courtney and I’m sure you will too!

For those who want to get a jump start and just take the course now, Courtney is offering a $30 off discount for my readers with the code: CHAOS. If you purchase the course and then are drawn as the prize winner, she will refund you your purchase.

Courtney has kindly offered to donate one course membership. Enter for your chance to win below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out all 12 Giveaways. You can enter them all!

Christmas Movie Bingo

By Sharla Kostelyk

Watching sappy, predictable holiday movies has long been a part of our Christmas traditions. Last year, we discovered that watching is even more fun if paired with Christmas Movie Bingo!My girls and I like to curl up in our pyjamas or our matching Christmas movie watching shirts in front of the TV. Add in some holiday baking or popcorn and hot chocolate and you have the recipe for a relaxing afternoon.

Those Hallmark Christmas movies can be a wee bit addictive! Often, before we know it, the whole day has slipped by.

The reason it’s so much more fun to watch with your bingo cards in hand is it makes the predictability of the movies even funnier.

Hallmark Christmas Movie Bingo:

Supplies needed:

Christmas Movie Bingo Cards (download yours here)
marker, bingo daubers, or holiday stickers to cover the game squares

Directions:

Download and print out the bingo cards.
As you watch holiday movies, mark all the squares that apply.
The winner is either the first person to fill five in a row OR you can just keep watching movies until you’re able to fill in every square on the cards.

So print off those bingo cards, pop some popcorn, get a mug of hot cocoa, and get ready to binge watch this season’s best!

Last year, my girls and I filled out all the squares on our cards.

That’s an awful lot of TV watching (!), but we sometimes made ornaments or iced cookies while we watched. One year, we rolled croquettes during the shows and the cheesy romance films were a great distraction for a tedious task.

If you want to give prizes to the winner, you can choose holiday themed treats like candy canes or holiday baking. And instead of yelling out “Bingo”, you can choose a word more fitting to the theme like “Mistletoe”!

Sign up to receive your free Christmas Movie Bingo and you’ll also receive our email series 5 Secrets to Powerful Family Connection.

If you’re looking for other family holiday fun, you’ll want to check these out:

Christmas Minute to Win It Games

Christmas Printable Activities

Christmas Games for Kids

By Sharla Kostelyk

These fun Christmas games for kids can be played at in the classroom, at holiday parties, or at home with family. They are simple to set up and provide hours of possibilities. We like to add activities to all our holiday events. Laughing together as a family is a wonderful way to create memories.

Easy Christmas party games for kids make great ice breakers. Everyone can focus on the fun and before long, laughter ensues and new friendships are made.

Christmas Games for Kids:

By far our family’s favourite are the Christmas Minute to Win It games. They are hilarious to play and so easy and inexpensive to set up. Great for all ages!

The printable Christmas Who Am I? Game at Childhood 101 is kind of like a holiday version of the popular game Hedbanz.

I’m a huge fan of the cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies. So huge in fact that I just ordered myself this shirt to wear this cheesy-movie-watching season! If you’re also a fan, you’re gonna love our Christmas Movie Bingo. And y’all? These bingo cards are funny. If you’ve seen a lot of the movies, you know there’s a formula and some common themes which is what makes these cards so clever.

The Saran Wrap Ball Game is always a hit. Everyone wins something so it’s great for all ages. It’s easy to set up and you can make it have a holiday theme.Silliness will abound with these Christmas Movies Emoji Game printable pages from Play Party Plan.

Roll a Santa with help from the printable game at Kiddy Charts.

The whole family can participate in Christmas Charades with the printable cards from Teach Beside Me. It’s a great game if you have a group with a variety of ages.

Get cards to play Christmas Charades at Childhood 101.

Snowman Twister is an adorable activity for kids. It’s easy to set up and tons of fun. This would be really cute for a children’s party.

Sunny Day Family shares a fun Christmas Music Bingo for families with three variations.

The Christmas Bingo sets from Rock Your Homeschool are so cute and kids can use jingle bells as their marker.

You can find another version of Christmas Bingo on Sunshine and Hurricanes.

Holiday entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find a free printable North Pole MixUp Christmas Game to play at Line Upon Line Learning.

If you’re looking for a holiday classroom activity, try Fun Learning for Kids’ Gingerbread Board Game. It can be edited for math or literacy centers.

This idea for a Gift Tag Memory Game from Play, Teach, Repeat is so simple to set up.

The Magnet Bell Christmas Game on Teach Beside Me combines learning with fun.

Christmas Tin Can Bowling is a familiar activity with a holiday spin from Red Ted Art.

Play Christmas Tree I-Spy Ornament with the printable from Joy in the Works.

Pin the Reindeer Nose is demonstrated on Red Ted Art.

If you’re looking for something to play one-on-one with your child, this Christmas Matching Memory Game from Simple Everyday Mom is perfect.

Set up a simple Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt.

Christmas Board Games:

The Santa Claus Game Christmas Scavenger Hunt Game Christmas Trivia Pin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas Activity Tis The Season Christmas Trivia Game Spot It! Holiday Christmas-opoly Santa’s Sleigh Ride

Printable Holiday Activities:

Keep kids occupied while you’re busy baking or wrapping with these free printable Christmas activities. You’ll find games, countdown calendars, learning activities, and colouring sheets.

Christmas Wonderland Roll and Cover Game – Simple Fun for Kids

Christmas Doodles I Spy Game – And Next Comes L

Printable Christmas Games Coloring Workbook – Darcy and Brian

Christmas Kindness Countdown Chain – Coffee and Carpool

Rudolph Word Search – Baby Budgeting

Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt – Empowered Single Moms

Roll and Colour Christmas Game – Picklebums

Printable Elf Jokes – Artsy Fartsy Mama

Snowglobe Activity Sheets for Kids – Crafts on Sea

Roll a Santa Numeracy Game – Kiddy Charts

Christmas Acts of Kindness – Learn in Color

The Best Wish List for Kids – Pint-Sized Treasures

Free Printable Advent Calendar Activities – Real Life at Home

Printable Christmas Mazes for Kids – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Christmas Word Scramble – Crayons and Cravings

Free Printable Christmas Coloring Sheets – Sarah Titus

Printable Grinch Countdown to Christmas – Three Little Ferns

Free Christmas Rhymes – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Find and Colour Christmas Doodle – Your Therapy Source

Christmas Addition and Subtraction Cards – Living Life and Learning

Spin and Cover Christmas Math – 3 Dinosaurs

Christmas Language Arts Pack – Real Life at Home

Christmas Ornament Sorting – PreKinders

Elf Paper Puppet – Red Ted Art

Christmas Coding STEAM Activity – J Daniel 4’s Mom

Free Christmas Playdough Mats – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Printable Cards – For Modern Kids

Looking for more ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

Be sure to check out:

You can also find 26 Christmas Party Games for adults and children.

On the Go Christmas Sensory Tub

By Sharla Kostelyk

The holidays are full of excitement. They also carry with them their fair share of stress, even for kids. It’s with that in mind that we created this On the Go Christmas Sensory Tub.

Sensory play can be very calming for kids. Being able to take something like this with them to events or in the vehicle can help your child better manage their emotions. It would also make a good addition to their Christmas Calm Down Kit. The items for this portable sensory activity were all purchased at the Dollar Store, so it is very inexpensive to create.

The red and white sand swirled together gives a bit of a candy cane look. The jingle bells add a sound element as well as giving a nice contrast of colour.

On the Go Christmas Sensory Tub:

Supplies needed:

plastic container with lid
white sand
red sand
white round beads
clear gems
green jingle bells
scoop or spoon

Directions:

In a bowl, mix together the red and white sand.
Toss in the other materials. Mix together.
Transfer into portable containers with lids.

As with all sensory activities, adult supervision should be used at all times.

Helpful tip: If you’re wanting to use this in the vehicle and are worried about mess or spills, you can transfer the contents to a resealable bag and seal to create a Christmas Sensory Bag.

This on the go Christmas Sensory Tub engages the visual, tactile, and auditory (because of the jingle bells) sensory systems.

Check out these other holiday sensory activities:

Fill an Ornament Sensory Bag