On the ninth day of Christmas, my About guide gave to me: answers for the thorny questions children pose to me...
This past weekend, we were lunching with neighbors when one of the children piped up with: "What's Kwanzaa?" Her dad fielded the question admirably, in just the smooth manner I imagine myself responding: sharing basic information about the holiday while also putting it in the historical context.
As with every milestone in our children's lives, the holidays are another opportunity for teachable moments. Our neighbors don't celebrate the same holidays that we do, so we are able to learn about each other's traditions and educate the children at the same time.
They're also a wonderful chance to teach children about the true meaning of the season through community service. Whether you're singing carols at the local nursing home or putting toys into a toy drive in the neighborhood, talk through the situation so your children can begin to understand the unmet needs in our world.
Photo copyright © 2010 by Katherine Lewis
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More 12 Days of Christmas from About.com Family and Parenting:
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- Ninth Day of Holiday Merriment for College Families
- 12 Days of Christmas Sanity for Single Parents: Day 9
- The Twelve Days of Christmas Printables: Ways to Tell Your Child "I Love You"
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