Do you have any outings planned for the winter break?

Museum trips? Art exhibits? Concerts? The zoo?

I truly enjoy winter break.  It is a fun time to do activities around the city with the entire family.  No need to worry about  bedtime, homework or after school activities.  It is simply quality time with the family.

Over break we are finally going to go see the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at the Science Museum.  We have been wanting to go since the fall but have yet to make it there.

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What do your children know about Christmas?  Hanukkah?  Kwanzaa?

As the holidays are upon us, it is easy to get distracted by all of the food, parties and gifts.  However it is important to take the time to teach children about this special time of year.  When I asked my daughter why we celebrate Christmas she said, “So Santa can bring us presents.”  Obviously we need to have the “true meaning of Christmas” talk at our house.

It is also important to take the time to educate your children about other holidays and cultures celebrated throughout the world.  Children today have friends and classmates from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.  Therefore it is important for them to know what holidays are celebrated and why they are celebrated.

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Did you know Sesame Street celebrated its 40th birthday yesterday?

On November 10th, 1969 Sesame Street aired for the first time.  Yes I should have written about this yesterday but I wanted to have more to say than simply, Happy Birthday.

So with my extra day of research, I found a culture piece of Sesame Street that I did not realize.  In the US we are familiar with Elmo, Bird Big and Abby.  But did you know that in South Africa there is a muppet named Kami who is HIV positive?  Did you know that in Japan there is a green and purple character named Mojabo?

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