Comments (0)6 iNSIDER Picks: What to do during winter break
December 2009
It is winter break, the children are off school and you have no plans to go away. Here are some suggestions of what to do to make this week a winner.
1. An Edible Craft
This winter break, Mt. Washington resident Laura Robb plans to be home with her two children, Morgan, 4, and Casey, 2. Morgan attends Beth El Preschool during the year, while Casey has been going to the Mommy and Me program.
A realtor with Yermin, Witman, Gaines & Conklin Realty (and a graphic designer), Robb is known for her creativity. One of her suggestions for a great winter break project is this edible snowman.
When making it, Robb suggests combining a science component geared towards young children. Her idea is to prepare hot chocolate and take extra marshmallows, watching them melt in the warm beverage. Then, parents can compare the melting of these marshmallows in the cocoa to the melting of a snowman when the temperature warms over 32-degrees.
Ingredients for each snowman:
3 large marshmallows
2 small thin pretzel sticks
1 candy corn
1 piece of licorice
white icing and red food coloring
or
mini M&M’s and mini chocolate chips (attach to marshmallows using icing)
Directions
1. Push a pretzel stick through one marshmallow so the marshmallow is centered on the stick.
2. Attach the other two marshmallows on either side of the center marshmallow, making the head and bottom of the snowman.
3. Break one pretzel stick in half and press into either side of the center marshmallow to make the snowman’s arms.
4. Using a small knife, cut a thin strip of licorice to wrap around the neck of the snowman, making a scarf.
5. Using a small knife, cut a slit in the top marshmallow where the nose would be.ÊInsert the candy corn to make a nose.
Decorating Ideas:
1. Using white icing, add red food coloring to create red icing. Use a toothpick as a paintbrush and draw the snowman’s eyes, buttons and mouth.
2. Decorate using mini M&M’s or mini chocolate chips. Use the icing as a glue to stick the candy to the marshmallows.
2. Book Club
Read a children’s book along with your child, then explore the themes in creative ways. Invite friends to participate.
Here are some book suggestions for elementary-age children from Shirley Avin, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School’s lower school librarian.
For Boys:
“A Picture Book of Harry Houdini” by David A. Adler and Michael S. Adler (Holiday House, 2009)
After discussing the book, learn some magic tricks, have a magic show and read about circus freak shows from the past.
For Boys and Girls:
“Mr. Popper’s Penguins” by Richard and Florence Atwater (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1992)
Use this book as a springboard to talk about Antarctica and penguins. View the documentary “March of the Penguins.” Check out National Geographic for Kids Web site (kids.nationalgeographic.com ) to learn more about animals of Antarctica.
For Girls:
“Gooney Bird Greene” by Lois Lowry (Yearling, 2004)
Learn about orchestral instruments or different dances that Gooney Bird mentions in her stories. Attend a concert, listen to music or hold a dance show.
3. Tasty Tour
Hop in the car and take a fast trip down Interstate 95 to the Herr’s Snack Factory in Nottingham, Pa. The company holds free daily factory tours where youngsters can see how the machines make their favorite snack foods. Each tour ends with a tasting — free snacks that are hot off the presses.
Although free, reservations are required. Call 1-800-63-SNACK or go to herrs.com .
4. Family Program
On Friday, Dec. 25, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC will be holding a day of Relaxation, Creation and ReJEWvenation. Families can stop by and enjoy activities that include inflatables, challah making, storytelling and balloon art with Jon Jensen of Twists & Tricks.
There also will be free family yoga and BREATHE classes (Tai-Chi/Meditation/Yoga), as well as Shabbat crafts, where children can make their own Shabbat kits, complete with centerpieces, tzedakah boxes, Kiddush cups and Havdalah kits. ShinShinim, a teen Klezmer band from Ashkelon, Israel, will make an appearance.
Admission is free for JCC members, $18 for families who are not members. For information, contact Dori Zvili at 410-356-5200, ext. 387 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .
5. Night Out
Need a night out, but it is Christmas Eve and everything is closed? Check out “Comedy Cantonese” A Night of Jewish Humor, Chinese Food and more. Held at Magooby’s Joke House in Parkville, the evening features national headliner Linda Belt, who has performed in a number of comedy festivals and national comedy venues, and Marc Unger, a Baltimorean who is currentlythe co-host of “The Fighting Ungers” on FOX 1370AM.
The evening wouldn’t be complete without the traditional Chinese fare. This one is a Kosher Chinese buffet, catered by David Chu’s.
Tickets are $30, which includes the buffet and show. Doors open at 7:45 p.m.; show begins at 8:30 p.m.
6. Daytime New Year’s Eve Celebration
Celebrate New Year’s Eve a little early this year at Port Discovery Children’s Museum. Stop by the museum on Dec. 31, beginning at noon, for its annual family celebration. For the first time, the children’s museum is hosting an international celebration and Israel will be one of the countries represented. Israeli activities include flag-making, pita-making, Israeli dance troupe Yesodot, music and storytelling.