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Photographs from the Plymoth Plantation historical site in Massachusetts, make this an unusually vivid visual presentation of Native American life. Especially meaningful to children because of the focus on a child's point of view. |
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Text and photographs follow a six-year-old Pilgrim boy through a busy day during the spring harvest in 1627: doing chores, getting to know his Wampanoag Indian neighbors, and spending time with his family. |
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Text and photographs from today's Plymouth Plantation follow a Pilgrim girl through a typical day as she milks the goats, cooks and serves meals, learns her letters, and adjusts to her new stepfather. |
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Dover products are terrific resources, and you can't beat the price! |
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Your children could use these to make great placecards for the Thanksgiving table. If Thanksgiving is at Grandma's, you can tell her you're bringing them. Don't look for perfection. We've saved the set my 30-year-old daughter Jasmine made years ago, with the younger sisters adding to it each year. |
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If you grew up in a nonChristian home and Thanksgiving was about parades, football, food, and getting ready for the sales the day after, this book will get you started on the road to a more meaningful Thanksgiving with a richer heritage to pass down to your kids. |
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I love hymns! If you've never gone to a church where hymns are a staple, you will find as you listen that they are full of faith and worship - much more substantial than praise choruses. Our family's been listening to this recording for years. |
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A simplified version of the adult original, this thoughtful text details God's plan for America revealed in its history from Christopher Columbus through George Washington. Questions at the end of each chapter for family discussion. Will help you learn to tell the story to your children. |
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Among many wonderful books about Squanto, this one stands out, showing clearly that the primary player in the Thanksgiving story was not a Native American or Pilgrim, but God. |
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I think this one is beautiful. The cornucopia originated in a Greek myth but has become a special symbol of Thanksgiving, signifying harvest and abundance. For my Thanksgiving centerpiece, I fill a cornucopia (from Pier One or someplace like that) with a bed of ruffly lettuce, shiny purple eggplant, squashes, fresh red peppers, and a profusion of nuts. Some years I do fruit and nuts instead.
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More and more, Christian parents must depend on oral tradition to pass on the true Christian roots of our country. I did not know until I homeschooled my own children just how evident the hand of God was in the shaping of the United States. The story of Squanto is one we must pass on to our children: The story of the man without whom the Pilgrims might not have survived and in whom God used all things to work together for good. Produced by Focus on the Family: “More than a story about an honest man who triumphed over tragedy. It is also a tribute to forgiveness, integrity and the ability to look beyond the color of a man's skin.†|
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Richly detailed, engaging illustrations of the Mayflower voyage, the first wedding at Plymouth, the Indians, the harvest. Language-rich, child-friendly format. |
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 The story painted of Thanksgiving in U. S. textbooks and encyclopedias published prior to 1970 painted a very different picture of Thanksgiving than the one that's painted now. Unless your children attend Christian schools, there is no way your children will learn the incredibly beautiful story of devout people who gave thanks in spite of losing half their number during the first year in the New Land. Giving thanks not to the earth or the Indians, but to the God they knew would never leave them nor forsake them. You need teaching tools to give them the whole story. |
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How we cook our Thanksgiving turkey - and roast chickens and spareribs and other large quantites for a large family all-year 'round. |
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Written by a dear friend of mine, this is a study any mom can do on her own - or with a group - to keep her focus on the Reason for the Season. |
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One of our Christmas season traditions is jigsaw puzzles. We have a collection we've accumulated over the years and we always have one out on a table in the living room. Usually there is Christmas music playing in the background and although the living room is not a hands-off kind of place it does have a slightly more serene atmosphere than the rest of the house.
The wonderful thing about having the jigsaw puzzle out is that it attracts different groupings of people - makes them slow down for a while to working on the puzzle and talk together.
We have a collection which includes Santas and Norman Rockwell, but I love it when I can find one which recognizes what Christmas is really about. This one is called "The Story" and it tells the whole story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelations in 24 images around the border which are also the ornaments on the Christmas tree.
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When we hear a story many times we think we know it. But the truth is, there are layers and layers of understanding. The Nativity Story will not only help your kids grasp the full significance of the miracle of our Savior's birth, but it will give you a renewed appreciation for the human struggles and sacrifice surrounding it. |
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Some claim that the song for The 12 Days of Christmas (December 25 through January 5) originated as an oral catechism while others insist this is an urban legend. While thinkers debate, our kids can still enjoy this coloring book which reflects on the spiritual foundation for our faith in Jesus Christ - a fitting way to celebrate his birth! |
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One of the best Christmas gifts you can give your children - passing on the rich heritage of classic carols in a context they can embrace: child-friendly stories of the origin and meaning of each carol, with tales of the composers' own childhoods - plus a CD with crystal-clear kids' voices singing against an orchestral background. So much intelligence and love went into this project - it's absolutely perfect for children. Sure to enrich your family's Christmas celebration and legacy! |
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From Amazon page: Arnold Ytreeide takes the whole family on an Advent journey in anticipation of Christmas. Day by day we follow the adventures of Jotham, a lad who has a very special relationship with Jesus that will be revealed at the end of this engaging story. With a nightly story that you can scarcely put down, a devotional thought, prayer and the lighting of the Advent candles, Jotham's Journey will draw your family closer together and near to Jesus, God-incarnate in the Child of Bethlehem. |
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Great idea for Mother's Day gift! I've had my own bird clock for seven years. Every hour is represented by a different bird and on the hour, you can enjoy hearing that bird's song. A light sensor turns off the sound automatically in the dark. I keep mine in the laundry room, and I have a small version on my desk next to the computer. Enjoy! |
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The story of a young mountain boy who, seeking refuge from a snowstorm, finds his way to the cabin of a woman who cares for his injuries while telling him the entire Christmas story - beginning with the Creation and the fall. The illustrations are gorgeous - and amazon has used hardcover copies starting at 2.94. |
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Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy - which in turn was based on Matthew 25:35-40 - this is a nicely-illustrated version with used hardcover copies at amazon starting at 1.49. |
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From Publishers Weekly: "On a Virginia plantation in 1859, the enslaved families work hard to get both the Big House and their own Quarters ready for Christmas. The McKissacks carefully and convincingly delineate the discrepancies between the two milieus, and the contrast is startling and stirring." If you're interested in raising children with compassion - who don't take material blessings for granted and who will think of others before themselves - this book will be a welcome addition to your home. There is so much to talk about. Even the illustrations and the feelings expressed on the faces are cause for much reflection. This book will add depth and meaning to Christmas for your family. Ages 8-adult. |
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A beautful Christmas melody with a challengingl message. Tripp and I do a duet of this song each year as a gift to our children. I know it's hokey, but kids like parents to be hokey :) Even though we're just average singers, it means a lot - and the message is the heart of our family. Following the master and serving others, even in adversity.
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Kids love singing this song - and it's a fun memory-trainer. This beautifully-illustrated lift-the-flap edition makes it even more fun to sing along. I've had our copy since the 80's - the pages are fine quality and all the flaps are still intact. So while it's no longer available new, check amazon and www.alibris.com for used copies which still have the flaps intact.
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A wonderful Christmas resource - with the gospel accounts of Jesus' birth, famous Christmas stories including O. Henry's 'Gift of the Magi,' carols, poems and remembrances - iillustrated throughout with Norman Rockwell's best. The large hardcover is a bargain at amazon for only 10.19, and used copies are available there from 1.99! If you can only afford one Christmas book, this is a must for any family. |
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Came across this today - List price 99.00 and amazon is selling for 24.99!! And it looks like a beautiful set! |
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I had no idea that there was a nativity set kids could play with! I came across this today and thought - What a great idea! That way it's easier to accept if the family set is "Look But Don't Touch." |
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This Dickens classic has been part of our family's Christmas tradition for many years. We often see the play, or have children performing in it. Christmas Carol is a great example of the fact that a story does not have to be overtly Christian to make a spiritual point - in this case to illustrate the power of redemption in an individual life. Of the many versions available, this is simply the best - with incredibly detailed illustrations depicting real life in London and conveying a rich emotional landscape. A little pricey, but worth it for the heirloom/memory factor. (Some of the illustrations of the spirits' visits could be unsettling for younger children.) |
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High qualityby DK Pulisheing. 12 pages, 50 stickers - great fun for little children - making the story of Christmas concrete. Besides Amazon, check http://alogin.linksynergy.com/php-bin/affiliate/links/showmerchant.shtml?oid=39828&nid=1&subid=&link_type=2Alibris for brand new copies only 5.06. |
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Every year I give each of my children a special Christmas ornament. Each child also has a special box to hold his ornament collection for eleven months between Christmas trees. When I started this tradition, I told the kids, “When you get married, you can take your box with you for your own Christmas tree.†And lo and behold, first one, then a second daughter did just what I’d promised. I never thought any farther. So I was surprised and delighted this year when my grandsons suddenly noticed, “Grandma! Our mommy has this angel too! And this teddy bear! And this one with Jesus!†“Yes, I gave those to your mommy when she still lived here with your aunts and uncles. She took hers with her when she married your daddy. †“Our mommy gives us a special decoration for when we get married, too,†my grandsons informed me solemnly. I couldn’t help but smile. Traditions are treasure that grow more lustrous with the passage of time. |
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It's little things like this that mean so much to children.For anyone who's not seen these, the heat from the candles make the angels go round, which makes the chimes ring with a little tinkling sound. I loved these as a little girl and still do. |
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If you've never gotten into classical music, I can't think if a better way to start than The Messiah nor a better time to start than Advent or Lent. The Messiah is based on the foretelling of the life of Jesus, his birth, death, and resurrection. It is composed entirely of Scripture. You can read the specific scriptures here. Handel composed The Messiah in only 21 days, and is said to have seen visions of his subject matter. He said of the Hallelujah Chorus: "I saw Heaven opened and the host of it worshipping the Glory of God." Believe me, if you listen to this glorious music - especially knowing the scriptures themselves - you will be transported too. |
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Here's a memorable family tradition: a You Are Special plate to use for birthdays. Remember that something that seems like a little touch to you will actually be a big deal for your child. If we forget to get out the Birthday Plate, our kids are sure to remind us! I also make whatever the birthday boy or girl requests - which hat our house has been everything from top ramen or fish sticks (when the kids were younger) to tacos, chicken curry, flank steak, or paella (now that they've caught on to what's REALLY good :) |
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In writing about Advent, I was researching and came across this book. The Jesse Tree is a new concpet to me, but I was so impressed by the table of contents and illustrations of this book (you can use amazon's Search Inside feature to see the beginning pages), I have ordered it for our family to begin December 1. While Advent is not an important season in some churches, it is a great time to prepare your children's hearts for the true meaning of Christmas. This book looks like something which will become part of our traditions each year. |
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