December Learning at Home with HIPPY Halton

HIPPY Halton
2 days ago
3 min read

Winter Wonders, Kindness, Animals, and Cozy Family Fun

At HIPPY Halton, we believe that children learn best through play, family connection, and simple routines. Each month we share activities that help preschoolers build important school readiness skills in language, math, science, and social development. These activities are easy to do at home and require only simple materials.

This December, we will explore winter weather, giving and kindness, animals in winter, and cozy activities that bring families together. Each week features playful, hands-on ideas that nurture curiosity, confidence, and creativity.

Week 1: Winter Wonders

This week children will discover the magic of winter while practicing early language, counting, and scientific exploration.

Activities to Try

Language and Reading: “Snow” by Cynthia Rylant: A gentle, poetic story that introduces winter weather, snow play, and cozy moments. Perfect for building winter vocabulary and early comprehension.
Math: Try Snowflake Counting. Cut out paper snowflakes and number them from 1 to 10. Ask your child to put them in the correct order.
Science: Explore ice by freezing small toys in ice cubes. Let your child observe the melting process and talk about solids and liquids.
Social and Emotional: Create a Winter Feelings Chart. Have your child share how winter makes them feel, such as happy, excited, cold, or cozy.

Week 2: Giving and Kindness

This week focuses on helpfulness, generosity, and small acts of kindness during the holiday season.

Activities to Try

Language and Reading: “The Mitten Tree” by Candace Christiansen: A warm story about kindness, giving, and helping others in small and meaningful ways. Ideal for teaching empathy and simple giving concepts to toddlers.

Math: Make Gift Sorting activities. Cut and colour simple gift shapes. Sort them by colour or shape and count how many are in each group.
Science: Try the Melt a Heart activity. Place ice hearts into water or use a dropper to drip water on them and watch them fade or dissolve. Connect this to the idea that giving comes from the heart.
Social and Emotional: Create Kindness Stars. Children draw or write a kind deed they can do, then share them with family or friends.

Week 3: Animals in Winter

This week helps children learn how animals adapt, hibernate, and stay safe during the cold months.

Activities to Try

Language and Reading: “Over and Under the Snow” by Kate Messner: A beautiful, calming book about animals living under the snow during winter.Ideal for curiosity, vocabulary, and early observation skills.
Math: Draw animal tracks on paper and have your child count how many footprints they see.
Science: Hibernation Activities! Create Hibernation Dens. Use small toy animals and cozy blankets to pretend they are preparing for winter. Talk about adaptations and shelters.
Social and Emotional: Set up a Cozy Critter Corner. Children pretend to be animals finding warm, quiet spaces to rest. This teaches comfort, patience, and calm.

Week 4: Cozy Indoor Fun and Winter Celebrations

This week celebrates warmth, family time, and fun activities that bring comfort during winter days.

Activities to Try

Language and Reading: “The Snowy Nap” by Jan Brett: A cozy, beautifully illustrated winter book about Hedgie the hedgehog trying to stay awake for winter fun. Warm, comforting, perfect for indoor winter learning.
Math: Play Snowball Toss Counting. Use cotton balls or paper snowballs and toss them into a basket. Count each one until your child reaches ten.
Science: Try the Salt and Ice Experiment. Sprinkle salt on ice and watch how quickly it melts. Talk about why salt is used on winter roads and sidewalks.

We are excited to be included in the Oakville Community Foundation’s GIVE Oakville campaign again this year.

Your support helps preschool children in Halton build the early learning skills they need for a strong start in school.

From November 15 to December 9, you can make a direct impact on local families.The Foundation covers all credit card fees so every dollar goes straight to helping children learn and grow at home.

Thank you for supporting HIPPY Halton and helping more families thrive.

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