What to watch: Super Monsters Save Christmas
Where to find it: Netflix
Best for ages: 2 and up
Run time: 23 min
Why We Recommend Super Monsters Save Christmas
Why you will like Super Monsters Save Christmas on Netflix: Super Monsters Save Christmas is a great kid-friendly show and goes along with the other super monster themes of teamwork and friendship. At 23 minutes, it's the perfect morning show for you to have your coffee in peace! My 5 year old sometimes says Super Monsters is too little for him now, but as soon as I put this Christmas special on for him he was glued to it and ready for the Curious Couch Potato activity afterward.
Why your kids will love it: The Christmas theme and decorating on the show really helps kids connect to this holiday season. They will love the monster characters who are friendly and remind them how to use teamwork and build friendships & connections. Those little ones who love Santa will also love that he makes a guest star appearance in this episode.
Dice Roll & Decorate Christmas Activity
Logan and I had so much fun with this activity. This is a fun game that can be adjusted to different age ranges & abilities.
Estimated activity time: 20 minutes
Materials needed:
Print outs (see below)
Coloring supplies
Scissors
Glue stick or tape
Step 1: Print out the Roll & Decorate For Christmas PDF
Step 2: Figure out which set of the game is best for your child's ability. The two dice roll & decorate Christmas options are:
Children who can count/cut/glue can use the cut-out decoration pages, numbered dice, number & decorations dice key sheet, and blank tree & house. While Logan is able to cut I decided to cut out the pieces first so he could focus on the fun parts of coloring and work on the numbers on the dice.
Kids not ready to count/cut/glue can use the dice with pictures as well as the tree & house that are already decorated.
Step 3: Cut out and tape dice together. (You can cut out decoration cutouts if you want those prepped for your kids if you want to get right to the game.)
Step 4: The goal of the game is to work together like in Super Monsters Save Christmas by decorating the house & tree. With the picture dice you simply take turns rolling it and coloring in the picture that is shown for either the tree or the house coloring page. You can color both pages at the same time or do one after another. Logan and I did the numbered dice version first with the tree coloring page and then later did the picture dice version for fun with the house coloring page. Once we completed all the coloring Logan then decided to continue on and color the whole house so I let him enjoy some alone coloring time!
Questions & Discussion
How did the Super Monsters work together to decorate the house?
What did their teamwork look like? (Using their talents to help, support one another, ask each other for help, they all work together, etc.)
Much like the game, the Super Monsters helped one another decorate the house and tree. It was not about who did it better. They also problem solved as a team. You can bring up problem-solving in the game. For example, if you have colored in all the reindeer already and someone rolls a reindeer again you can problem solve together by deciding maybe that person gets to roll again or maybe that person could try to draw a reindeer on the paper.
Step 4: Share the fun you are having with us on Social Media! Be sure to tag us @curiouscouchpotatoes when you try any of our activities.
Jeanette's Educational Insights:
Families have holiday traditions, some more some less. Identifying with your family's traditions helps a child embrace their role in the family and connect the generations. Whether it's who gets to put the star or angel at the top of the tree or light the first Hanukkah candle in your home; it presents an opportunity to discuss family and traditions. Another opportunity is to create a new tradition special to your core family. These conversations help children understand social structures and norms, which leads to better social skills once they venture out from the family. So as you play this game with your child and you decorate the house and tree, use it as a springboard to begin conversations about your own ways to decorate and family traditions.