Day of fun holiday crafts can bring family together.

Byline: Birth To Three by Bronwyn Holman For The Register-Guard

DEVOTING time to do something special with your children amid the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations enables all of you to appreciate the togetherness of the moment.

Here are a few simple ideas for making holiday crafts with the young children in your life. These activities provide some valuable one-on-one time that can nurture your relationship with your children while introducing them to important celebrations in other cultures.

Hanukkah

(begins Nov. 29, 2002)

Hanukkah is a celebration of the miracle of light. In 164 B.C., the Maccabees defeated the Greeks to win their religious freedom and reclaimed their temple. In the temple, they found only enough oil to last one day. The miracle is that the oil lasted for 8 days.

Hand-Print Menorah Placemats

Supplies:

1 sheet of white construction paper per placemat, non-toxic blue and yellow finger paint, glitter.

Directions:

1. Place a small amount of blue paint on a disposable plate.

2. Have child place his palms in the paint, coating each finger and thumb.

3. With thumbs crossed, have child press his hands onto a clean sheet of construction paper. The crossed thumbs with four fingers on each side create the image of a menorah with 9 candles.

4. While your child cleans his hands, place yellow paint on your plate.

5. Have child dip a finger in the yellow paint, then place the finger at the top of each candle, to "light" the menorah.

6. Decorate your placemat.

7. Once mats are dry, take them to a copy shop to be laminated.

Christmas

(Dec. 25, 2002)

Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. For many people, Christmas is also a time to celebrate the gifts of life and the love of family.

Keepsake Tree Ornaments 

Supplies:

1 wood curtain ring with a small metal hook eye at the top for each person, paint (red, green, white), paint brushes, glitter, red ribbon, rubber cement, family pictures.

Directions:

1. Place curtain ring over the picture of the family member, centering his or her face. Trace around the outside of the ring and cut out his or her picture.

2. Have each person paint the curtain ring with his or her personal design, such as candy-cane stripes or to look like a wreath.

3. Paint the year somewhere on the ring.

4. When the paint is dry, place a thin layer of glue on the back of the ring and place the ring on the person's picture.

5. When the glue dries, string red ribbon (1-foot length) through the small metal loop on the top of the ring and tie a bow.

Kwanzaa

(begins Dec. 26, 2002)

Kwanzaa was introduced as part of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s to bring the African-American community together through a celebration of unity and pride.

Personal Kinara

The Kinara holds seven candles which remind people of the seven principles that form the foundation of Kwanzaa.

Supplies:

1 egg carton (with at least seven cups), foam core, paint (red, black, yellow, green), paint brushes, craft glue, scissors, seven candles (one black, three green, three red).

Directions:

1. Cut a 4 1/2 -inch-by-11-inch piece of foam core and place it on a flat surface.

2. Cut seven individual egg cups off the egg carton and place them with the cut side down (so that they look like domes) in a line on the foam core.

3. Center the domes and trace around each one with a pencil. Remove the domes, place glue on each pencilled outline, then return the domes and adhere them to the foam core.

4. Once dry, poke candle holes in the tops of your Kinara.

5. Decorate!

6. When dry, help your child place the 7 candles in the Kinara, with 1 black candle in the middle, 3 green candles to the right and 3 red candles to the left.

For more information about these special holidays, stop by the youth department at your local libraries to see what they have in their collections.

Bronwyn Holman is the founder of MiniMusician, LLC.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer. Birth To Three is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families through parent support and education. For more information about Birth To Three, call 484-4401.

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THE REGISTER-GUARD DAYBREAK SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2002 4F