What to watch: The Great Christmas Light Fight and/or Holiday Home Makeover
Where to find it: Hulu & Netflix
Best for ages: 4 and up
Run time: 40 min
Why We Recommend The Great Christmas Light Fight and Holiday Home Makeover
We actually love to watch these shows in the late afternoon together when we are all a bit exhausted from the day. It is a fun way to see holiday decorations and how people decorate their houses to the extreme! We have been watching The Great Christmas Light Fight with Logan since he was a baby so he has become used to this tradition of watching this holiday special, however, I think the show will hold the attention of older kids rather than younger ones. This year we watched the first episode of Holiday Home Makeover, which Logan loved because the goal was to make the real-life house look like a gingerbread house. I loved that it showed a team of people working together to give the gift of the holiday spirit to another family. The day after we watched it, Logan wanted to decorate his own gingerbread house. I did not have any supplies for a real gingerbread house so I made this large printable for him to color and tape on his bedroom door. We then went on a Christmas light "I spy" hunt around our own town. See below for both the Gingerbread House Print out & The Christmas Light I Spy Town Drive free printable.
Free Gingerbread House Printable
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Print out the free printable and tape the pieces together to make a large scale gingerbread house. I taped it onto butcher paper to hold it all together but you could just tape the pieces together.
Estimated activity time: Depending on your child's focus, anywhere from 10 mins to well over an hour. Logan still has it on his door and plays house with his Gingerbread people.
Materials needed:
Coloring supplies (we used crayons)
Gingerbread print outs
Tape
Butcher paper (optional)
Step 1: Print and tape pieces together.
Step 2: Drink your coffee while your child colors.
Step 3: While you drink your coffee you can chime in with these discussion prompts.
What colors are you going to color your candies for the gingerbread house?
How many gingerbread people do you have/want for your house?
Who lives in this gingerbread house?
What do you think it would be like to live in a giant gingerbread house?
Free Christmas Lights I Spy Town Drive
Print out the free I Spy Printable. Read Instructions & Tips. Go for a fun family drive to look at holiday decorations around town!
Estimated activity time: As long as your family wants to drive!
Materials needed:
I Spy printable
Markers
Holiday music (optional)
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:
”Scavenger Hunts are a teaching tool that combines learning with fun. The I spy approach is especially fun. It helps little ones share their find in a full sentence. Instead of just yelling out “candy cane!”, the game requires the child to say “I spy a candy cane!” The repetitive prompt is also a proven learning tool, which contributes to language development.
Observation and discrimination are necessary skills for STEM education development. Being able to discriminate and isolate in a barrage of stimulus can be challenging for children, thus the development of “I spy” books and “what is different” pictures. Adding “I spy” to a town drive is an engaging way to support these skills!
This is especially fun during Christmas, but can be incorporated into any car drive, or afternoon walk.