sadie19 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I had an idea the other night about xmas ideas and wanted opinions. i thought we could change the role play area and make the house into a santas grotto any ideas????? and also our leader dose alot on the navity ect and personally as im not ovally religious im not keen but i see some reason in doing it but i think for 2-4 year olds santa coming is a big think and i was gunna make a big painted and maybe collarge santa with a sack prob useing a bin liner and get the children to put what they would like for xmas in it?? any more ideas?? x x x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klc106 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Sounds fantastic! We have done santa's grotto many times and it is always well loved by all children Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I've had a santa's workshop for the last 2 years and have had elf outfits (as well as santa and Mrs Santa and Rudolf costumes) and put my construction stuff in there and the children have made 'toys' out of duplo/mobilo etc in there. I've also had an area for wrapping/making and tying on gift tags etc gets very messy in there but they love it! They love to wrap their finished 'toys' in wrapping paper and deliver them to their friends to play with. I ask for any extra wrapping paper from parents and usually get loads. I have also wrapped up a selection of boxes and numbered them and put them in a sack and then they have the job of delivering parcels to the correct house around the classroom (I put laminated house numbers at random around the class) The first week we brainstorm what they will need to go in there and we make these things in the creative area (I always do this so they have ownership) last year they decided they needed a sleigh so they made one with boxes and all had a great time decorating it before it was put to use delivering presents. My children are reception age but I think you could adapt these ideas to suit your children. Santa's workshop has always been one of the most successful role play areas I have ever had. Have fun! Deb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacquieL Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Santa's grotto is a lovely idea with lots of possibilities, and also ideas about what the children would like for Xmas. Xmas is about the birth of Christ, whether you believe in that or not, and the message is about giving to others not themselves, so perhaps they could also think of something they would like to give someone in their family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Probably stating the obvious but be sure to check for religious preferences. We can't have a santas grotto this year because we have several children who are Jehovah witnesses, it's making our planning for the festive season quite tricky and we'll probably have a focus on winter, snow, penguins, snow men etc instead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rea Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Can I ask why you cant have a grotto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Can I ask why you cant have a grotto? Because Jehovahs witnesses do not celebrate any aspect of Christmas and not wanting to have to exclude those children from specific areas of the setting, it is easier not to do it. We can do some seasonal crafts as long as the images are not based on either christian or traditional christmas images, for example, our Jehovah children can make calendars with snowmen, snow and penquins but not christmas trees or christmas presents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rea Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Seems a shame for the children who arent Jehovah's though. Do your parents mind that Father Christmas or the Nativity is missing? I remember being at school with a Jehovah during the early 70s, he could accept Christmas cards and gifts from school friends but not give them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlettangel Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Adding to the grotto theme we always provide a phone and "order forms" so santas's elves can take orders over the phone for presents!! They can also be encouraged to write down an address and house number. . . . . . We made a quick conveyor belt to move the wrapped parcels along and into the sleigh last year too!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Rea, We still have a big Christmas party with Father Christmas after preschool has finished and all children who want to can attend this. We decorate the playroom and have a christmas tree and we have a postbox so that we can send cards to each other so i don't think the other children are missing out on the experience of Christmas at preschool. Each child has a 'christmas box' in which they put their christmas crafts (cards, tree decorations, calendars etc) and they take these home after the party, our Jehovah children take their items home as they make them so that there is no link to the christmas festivities for them but they can still participate. It's just about being sensitive to parents wishes whilst still allowing the children to feel part of the proceedings, and it's not always easy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rea Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 It sounds lovely Max321, better than the lad I was at school with, he had to sit in a classroom on his own while we had christmas parties and assemblies, how times have changed. I dont envy you the organisation of it though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyPancakes Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Party Pooper Alert!!! I love Christmas, but I find so much of the commercialisation around it distasteful, so if the 'real meaning of Christmas' was going to be dodged around then I'd be happier for my children to have a lovely Wintery time. Eating special food because it's cold and we need to eat a bit more; having special lights because it's dark so early; giving each other little gifts to cheer each other up when it's cold and dark. Bringing in trees and berries to brighten up the house and make it smell nice when it's all closed up to keep out the cold. Merry Christmas, Honey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beau Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Lovely ideas, perhaps check out some of the other posts in the Christmas part of the forum which is where I shall move this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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