Having a son and daughter-in-law who live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where it is very cold with snow during the winter, I have seen many “snowbirds” — what we Southerners call folks who travel from northern states to southern states during the winter to stay warm, then they travel back to their homes in the north in the spring when the cold snows begin to melt.
I’m thinking that each summer, I will become a “southbird” and travel to cooler weather in Michigan as I stay (nest) at my son’s home till it gets a little cooler down south. This all sounds good, but with young children we have to be creative to keep them cool.
When young children do complain about the heat, “Frosty The Snowman” and “Let It Snow” are two songs I love to sing with children to bring on laughter, joy and a smile. Pretty soon, we are breaking out singing their favorite Christmas carols and songs. Christmas in July is a wonderful intergenerational idea to just have cool fun.
In preparing for this fun event, simply use a summer plant as a Christmas tree and decorate with a few lights and ornaments. Since we usually have packed our Christmas decorations away, make it simple in choosing your family’s favorite decorations.
It can be fun to paint Christmas symbols on smooth stones or seashells. Making sand snowmen can be done on the beach or even using sand in your yard. Try decorating sand pails and balls with Christmas symbols.
On my teacher calendar, I see that Thursday, July 6, is recognized as First Picture Postcard Day. During the long days of summer, your child will be intrigued with making “Christmas in July” postcards. Young children love to color, cut and create. Your family will be delighted to receive a midsummer “Christmas in July” Christmas card made by young children. Sharing these cards with the elderly who may be living in a facility or are housebound is an act of love and encouragement from the heart of a young child.
Nothing can beat ice cream for a “Christmas in July” snack food. On July 23, 1904, the ice cream cone was invented. I always search for pointed sugar cones that can be decorated as Christmas trees with frosting and candies to make for a delicious craft treat. Christmas tree cones can be made extra delicious by providing an ice cream sundae bar for all ages. Children and the elderly can decorate their ice cream with red and green sprinkles, and summer fruits like strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, grapes, kiwi and more. Red and green popsicles are also a delightful summer treat. July 9 is recognized as National Sugar Cookie Day, so it is timely to cut out your favorite Christmas shape sugar cookies to celebrate “Christmas in July.”
Children love to sing Christmas music. This provides a wonderful intergenerational Christmas celebration as the young and old sing happy songs such as “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” “Winter Wonderland” and other familiar seasonal songs.
This is a time to share stories as families can gather winter and Christmas books from our local libraries to share. Pulling out favorite Christmas movies to celebrate Christmas in July provides for fun. This is a time to share winter holidays such as Hanukkah and Kwanza, as well as how holidays are celebrated all around the world.
Other “cool” child-friendly days to celebrate are P.T. Barnum’s birthday, July 5, who created the three-ring circus called “The Greatest Show On Earth.”
Why not role-play the circus as a simple neighborhood or family event by pretending to be different animals, swinging like the trapeze acts, walking around the sandbox like it is a tight-wire, pretending to be clowns and ringmasters? The creativity could go on and on.
Thursday, July 6, is National Fried Chicken Day. A little history on this: The practice of deep-frying chicken in fat was imported to the United States by Scottish immigrants. Friday, July 7, is Macaroni Day — another childhood favorite.
Next Monday, July 10, get out the Teddy Bears because it is Teddy Bear’s Picnic Day. At Trinity Methodist Preschool, we are going to celebrate this day by inviting our young students to bring Teddy Bears to preschool on July 11 and do many fun activities with our Teddy Bears.
As a teacher, I truly love teaching about all the seasons of the year. As I experience the warm breezes of a summer day, I wish I could lock up the warm weather in a jar and release it in my classroom on a very cold winter day. Whether very hot or cold, we can savor each day God gives us and share this gift of each day with our young children. I hope these few teacher ideas bring happiness to children and families as we celebrate summer.
Classroom Observer
Beth Pinyerd