Holiday Food Fun For Kids!

Hi! I'm Ayn and I am a Ga. Pre-K teacher, serving 4 and 5 year olds in an inclusive setting. I share my classroom adventures on my blog, little illuminations.

The holidays are synonymous with festive food. Kids enjoy cooking and decorating holiday snacks as much as we do! Today I'm sharing a few fun ways for kids to make some tasty treats.

One of the time honored holiday traditions is making a gingerbread house. (This is a great way to use up an leftover candy, too!) Put the house together and decorate with frosting and candy. 

If you want to try gingerbread decorating and you are not a baker, or simply have time constraints, you can pick up some pre-made gingerbread men (like Little Debbie) and decorate!

Our baking is quite limited (due to child care regs), but we still have a lot of fun with the decorating!

 

These penguins are such fun to make! We've used goldfish crackers, candy corn, Bugles corn snacks (pretty much whatever is handy) to turn Oreos into penguins.

Make polar bears out of Oreos, white frosting and a few candies.

Instant Snowman S'mores are such an easy idea and can even be easily packaged for a cute individual gift! Decorate marshmallows making a snowman face using food markers and pair with a striped fudge shortbread cookie. Microwave for a couple of seconds and instant s'more!

We took chocolate frosted cupcakes and added M&Ms, Nilla Wafers and pretzels to make yummy reindeer cupcakes.

Snowman doughnuts are as easy as they are fun! Decorate powdered sugar doughnuts with candy corn and M&Ms to make a snowman face!

These chocolate chip reindeer cookies are to die for! And they are so cute! I actually got these as a gift last year and fell in love! I think I'm making a batch later this week for those little extra "gifts" that are good to have on hand, just in case. 

The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the time spent with your child creating memories and yummy treats! I hope your holiday season is merry and bright! 


Stop by and visit me anytime at littleilluminations.blogspot.com or visit the little illuminations fanpage on facebook! And be sure to check out PreK+K Sharing EEE!


 

GET READY for the CHA, CHA…..PENGUIN CHA-CHA!

GET READY for the CHA, CHA…..PENGUIN CHA-CHA!

This month I want to showcase a young author/illustrator, Kristi Valiant, who lives in my hometown.  She is an extremely gifted young woman.  Not only being the mother of two beautiful young girls, the wife of a busy man, and the illustrator of several books…………..she is now the author/illustrator of “PENGUIN CHA-CHA.”  Every Early Childhood classroom needs this book on their book shelf. 

Many of us have habits and one of my biggest habits is buying books.  The mail lady says I keep her job important with my Amazon and ABE book orders.  Put your books in important spots in your curriculum and then add projects that reinforce the language shared with the children.   
  

 

 

 Some of Kristi's other book, s and they are all on my shelf can be viewed on Amazon.  The Goodbye Cancer Garden is a favorite and I purchase and give it to people who are diagnosed with cancer.  It is a beautiful story written by a mother who a the cancer diagnosis.  Kristi's illustrations make you want to reach out and touch each page.  They compliment the entire story and are in your memory forever.

 

Cora Cook's Pancit can be added to a multicultural curriculum and  to the list of things to do with the children in the kitchen.  Cook and Eat!

 

 

This precious smile is always inviting others to share her excitement about writing and illustrating her books.  She is the Indiana representative for SCBWI (Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and has revived the group to the top of the ladder of exciting organizations to belong too.....................check it out and join today.

 

 

 

DIANNE DE LAS CASAS

 

GOTTA HAVE THIS LADY'S BOOKS

 

 

 

 

Dianne De Las Casas is another author friend from Harvey, LA.  This girl has set the world of picture books on fire.  Check out her web site at www.storyconnection.net and you will be thrilled to share all the story connections and author information.

Above is just a sample of one of her newest books "Little READ Hen" and it is filled with great language and language twists.  The circle at the bottom is her branding logo and when you see this logo you will see something exciting from Ms. Dianne.

The characters on the left are from the Little READ Hen book and can be used for puppets so children will retell this story.  Her books have a connection to State Standards and Core Curriculum.

 

 

 

 

Dianne has a beautiful daughter Ms. Eliana who is an author of children's cook books.  She is a beauty just like her sassy mama and has hit the circuit of chefs with a thunder.  Watch out world here she comes...........pot, pans, skillets, mixing bowls and great recipes!!!!

 

PICTURE BOOK MONTH

 

Picture book month was created by Dianne and is an international celebration of picture books.

She has a special shelf at my house and this shelf is filled with signed books by my author friends.  Get yourself a new book and go to the author's web sites and sign up for their blogs and learn the curriculum connections.

 

Something new on the horizon........................beginning February 2014 I will be offering

IN-HOUSE-FIELD-TRIPS

via

 

The background is up, the camera is on the 37" screen, my office needs cleaning and all props are being prepared for this event.  In Feb. I will be offering a WINTER WONDERLAND visit and then in April the connection will be a SPRING FLING.  All 30 minute visits will be seasonal.

Give me a call for more information and secure a date for a visit to your school, library or home.

 

Until next month have a great beginning of FALL and celebrate our FREEDOM.

 

Mary Jo Huff
Author, Storyteller, Song Writer, Puppeteer
www.storytellin.com
maryjo@storytellin.com
812-455-1558