Inside: Cookies, books, art, Christmas tree ornament, science, sensory, and more ways to play and learn with a Gingerbread Man.
The month of December can be extremely busy with holiday parties, traveling, and preparations for Christmas. But don’t let all that business keep you from having fun with your children.
Like you, I’m always excited to find new ways to play and learn with my children. In this article, I’m sharing different ways we’re having fun with the gingerbread man theme this month.
Ten Ways to Play and Learn with Gingerbread Man Theme
Gluten-free Gingerbread Cookie from Celiac Mommy
I believe it should be illegal to get through December with kids without making gingerbread man cookies at least once. There is much merriment (and math) in this seasonal family activity. For the longest time, we used a traditional recipe from Martha Stewart. But now we have switched to a gluten-free version. As a mom of super athletic kids, I especially love the extra protein that comes from almond flour.
Gingerbread Man Books from around the world from Kid World Citizen
How is the French gingerbread man story different from an English story? Who is baked in the oven in the Russian version of gingerbread man? And does Chinese culture have a similar tale? Here is a long list of gingerbread man stories from different cultures. (What a sweet childhood memory for our children: reading gingerbread man books together while munching on a freshly baked batch of gingerbread men cookies).
Homemade Gingerbread Man Book from Fun A Day
A handmade book about Gingerbread Man? Yes, it is a brilliant idea, especially for kids who are not quite satisfied with the way gingerbread man stories typically end (such as my kids). Each page of this homemade book combines a simple craft and a short passage from a gingerbread story. Since it’s your book, the ending is open for modifications. (In our story, the gingerbread man turns out to be a super secret agent from another Galaxy who knows how to cure cancer with chocolate).
Easy Gingerbread Man Christmas Ornaments from Kid Minds
Over the years, we have made our share of gingerbread man Christmas ornaments from many things: from a mixture of flour, salt, and water to store-bought industrial-strength clay. Now, this new twist has been recommended to me by a chef from whom I took a cooking class with my friends a few years ago. The secret ingredient? Applesauce! What? We were surprised, too. You need just three ingredients to make this surprisingly durable decoration.
Gingerbread Dough from Darcy and Brian
One of the easiest ways to get my kids to sit next to me on the floor and talk about their day is to make a batch of dough and start playing with it. They can’t resist coming over and joining me in the fun. This gingerbread playdough recipe uses flour and oil. The addition of ginger and cinnamon offers a unique variation and adds a seasonal flavor.
No-Cook Gingerbread Playdough from Natural Beach Living
Here is another playdough recipe that will spark creativity and imagination. This no-cook gingerbread playdough uses molasses and ginger! Encourage kids to grab some buttons and press them into the gingerbread man’s body. Add googly eyes or any other additions for a fun, imaginative play or as props for a storytelling session.
Gingerbread Man Slime from Little Bins For Little Hands
Are your kids going gaga for slime? We know many school kids who are obsessed with it. My friend was just telling me that her daughter and her friend are going through five bottles of glue a week, making different varieties of slime. I’m glad my kids feel pretty indifferent about this mixture of glue, borax, and detergent (I wouldn’t want them to touch these materials on a regular basis). But once in a while, I feel it’s my mother’s duty to make a batch. We play with it for a bit, talking about polymers and molecules, and call it a science lesson for the day.
Velcro Gingerbread House from Frugal Fun For Boys And Girls
Make a house out of cardboard, add rows of Velcro, and voila, you have a toy that kids can decorate and redecorate with all kinds of things. Anything that you can add a strip of Velcro to can be made into an ornament: jewels, candy, buttons. (Do you think your kids will be secretly popping candy into their mouths while you’re not looking? Then stick with something less appealing).
Stand Up Gingerbread Card from Red Ted Art
This craft activity is easy and fun. Cut out the gingerbread man shape from folded paper, decorate it, and you end up with a pretty card that stands by itself. The secret to making it stand up by itself comes from the way you fold and cut it. Don’t worry. It’s not complicated.
Decorate a Paper Gingerbread Man from Fun Learning for Kids
Got some buttons, gemstones, stickers, and brown construction paper? Then, you are all set for this art activity. Just set out the decorative pieces, a gingerbread man shape, and some glue on the table. Invite kids to decorate their little gingerbread man any way they want. (Don’t be surprised to see gingerbread men with three eyes and giant teeth like we did. “It’s for self-defense,” explained my son. Bah-ha-ha).
Gingerbread Man Sensory Bags from Gifts Of Curiosity
Do your kids love squishing things inside sensory bags? My kids do! And this idea is brilliant. Fill a bag with a gel-like substance (we ended up using Smoky barbeque sauce), add two googly eyes, three buttons, and pieces of paper for a nose, mouth, and other fun things a gingerbread man can have, like earrings (why not, right?). Use a marker to draw a gingerbread man shape on the outside of the bag. Now your kids need to use their nimble little fingers to get the parts we put in the bag to the right position. It’s not as easy as you think!
Voila! Here are ten marvelous ways to play and learn with the gingerbread man theme this month. I hope you will find something to spark your interest.
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