Keeping Your Kids Entertained During the Winter Break

This is a special week here at Pearson. After days of rehearsing, your little ones will be giving their first concert.

And once that concert is over, they will be home with you for two whole weeks.

Looking for inspiration on how to keep them active and entertained? Here are a few ideas:

• Immerse your family in another era by visiting Bronte Creek Provincial Park for their Victorian Christmas, on until Dec. 23. Bring your skates and hit the ice at their outdoor skating rink.


• You can also skate for free on Rotary Pond at Spencer Smith Park daily from 10 a.m. Take advantage of the early nightfall and stay for the Festival of Lights.


• If you want to wow the kids with even more holiday lights, be sure to check out the famous Musson House on Spruce Avenue east of Pine Cove.


• Celebrate the new year at Tansley Woods Community Centre with a free swim, gym activities, crafts and more on Jan. 1.


• Hoping for a white Christmas? Get out in the snow and have a blast with these great ideas for outdoor play from Parents magazine. Activities include blowing bubbles and watching them freeze; filling a spray bottle with coloured water and painting the snow; and playing Pin the Smile on the Snowman.


• And if it’s too cold outside, but your little ones still have a lot of energy to burn, try one of these indoor activities from Childhood 101.

Have a great Christmas holiday, and we’ll see you back at school the week of Jan. 5!

Book of the Week: Santa's Noisy Night

Santa appears to have recovered from his grumpy mood in this week’s Book of the Week.

In Santa’s Noisy Night, written by Julie Sykes and illustrated by Tim Warnes, Santa is in a boisterous and jolly mood (Christmas is his favourite time of the year, after all).

His noisiness threatens to wake the children and it’s up to the reindeer, cats, and dogs to keep him quiet.

This Week at Pearson: Christmas Concert!

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way!

Have you noticed your child singing along to some Christmas tunes lately? The kids have been busy practicing and can't wait to show you all their hard work as they sing some festive songs this week at Pearson's Christmas concerts! Concerts will take place this Wednesday and Thursday as follows:

2 AM: Thursday @ 10:30 am 

3 AM: Wednesday @ 10:30 am 

RTL: Wednesday @ 2:30 pm

2 PM: Thursday @ 2:30 pm 

Please note that children will be dismissed at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm immediately following the concerts. 

Dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh

Oh what fun it is to sing a sleighing song tonight!

                                                    

'Tis the Season to Sing a Holiday Jingle!



What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to sing some fun, festive holiday songs! Here are a few holiday tunes with fun accompanying videos on YouTube that are sure to be a hit with your little one this holiday season! Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!


Reindeer Pokey - Kiboomu Kids Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E48dJsivx7s 


I'm a Little Snowman - Kiboomu Kids Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b-U1eQqBmk


We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Super Simple Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNkvV4PR-q0&index=1&list=PLdkj6XH8GYPS_995T5ePH2Y7L6e7pbBvv


Jingle Bells - TheGiggleBellies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9ld4HCAVpE


Little Snowflake - Super Simple Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbbKjDjMDok&list=PLdkj6XH8GYPS_995T5ePH2Y7L6e7pbBvv&index=5


S-A-N-T-A - Super Simple Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGAYzlqj-aE&index=4&list=PLdkj6XH8GYPS_995T5ePH2Y7L6e7pbBvv


Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Nursery Rhymes Tv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spgEssH4F5k


Up On the Housetop - HooplaKidz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egU0mLOOu_E

Why not also practice counting while enjoying a fun holiday jingle! Check out these great holiday songs that combine counting with lots of holiday fun:

Five Little Snowmen - Kids Tv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT6jms1yVQI 


Hello, Reindeer - Super Simple Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUi1YJVChpg&list=PLdkj6XH8GYPS_995T5ePH2Y7L6e7pbBvv


Five Little Penguins - Patty Shukla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-scENG_uisc


Counting Snowflakes - MapleLeafHashima
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee639qaoYnE 


Five Fat Santas - Kids Tv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13cRzQSiHiY 


The Twelve Days of Christmas - Mother Goose Club
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndwGVyEIiqE 

Book of the Week: Are You Grumpy, Santa?

“We all know Santa’s jolly,
but there’s something else worth knowing.
There are times when even Santa doesn’t feel like HO-HO-HO-ing!”

Have your little ones ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right? Their favourite stuffed animal gets stuck down the side of the bed, you refuse to let them have cookies for lunch, and it’s too cold to go to the park.

Perhaps it would make them feel better to know that even a merry guy like Santa has his bad days.

In this week’s silly Book of the Week, Are You Grumpy, Santa? by Gregg and Evan Spiridellis, poor Santa can’t catch a break as he stubs his toe, endures a cold shower and is put on a diet by Mrs. Claus—all before he even leaves the North Pole on Christmas Eve. His luck doesn’t get any better throughout the evening, until a child’s heartfelt letter and plate of cookies restores his merry mood.

This Week at Pearson: Santa Visit and Red & Green Day!



You better watch out
You better not pout
You better not cry 
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town!

Santa is coming to visit all the good girls and boys at Pearson this Wednesday and Thursday! It's also red & green day so deck yourselves out in your festive holiday colours and get your Christmas wish lists ready for Santa! Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!

This Week at Pearson: Santa Store, Decorating Gingerbread Houses & Pajama Day!

Monday and Tuesday: The Santa Store



The holiday season is finally here,
Full of joy and festive cheer.
With gifts for Mommy and Daddy, 
And so much more.
We're going shopping,
At the Santa Store!

Children will be shopping for special gifts for their loved ones Monday and Tuesday at the Santa Store. A special thanks to all the little elves who have been working hard in Santa's workshop to stock up the shelves. Happy shopping!

Thursday and Friday: Decorating Gingerbread Houses & Pajama Day

       

I made a house of gingerbread,
It was so sugary sweet.
It took me all day long to make,
But it lasted just a week.
Monday I ate the ceiling,
Tuesday I ate the door.
Wednesday I ate the windows,
Thursday I ate the floor.
Friday I ate all four walls,
Saturday I ate the lawn.
Sunday I licked up all the crumbs, 
My gingerbread house is gone!

Children will be decorating gingerbread houses this Thursday and Friday. We'll see how many decorations actually make it onto the houses instead of in little tummies! It's also pajama day so there's no need to get dressed! Children are invited to come to school in their pajamas! Pajamas all day - yay!