- Examine Candy Canes
- Show the kids a candy cane.
- Have them describe what they see.
- We noticed the stripes, the colors, the shape, it looks like a letter J upside-down, and like a shepherd’s staff right-side-up.
- Let the kids eat a piece of the candy cane and describe the taste.
- Read “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore. Illustrated by Mary Engelbreit.
- The illustrations by Mary Engelbreit are so much fun. She adds beautiful colors and wonderful detail. My kids love looking at the pictures.
- Have the kids use their eyes to look for candy canes while you read each page. Then have them point out all the candy canes they can see!
- Paint a Candy Cane
- Print a blank candy cane here.
- Pour a small amount of red paint on a plate.
- Give the kids a Q-tip and let them add red stripes to their candy cane.
- Candy Cane Bead Ornaments
- Set out a bowl of red pony beads and a bowl of white pony beads.
- Use a red or white pipe cleaner. String one bead and twist at the bottom (to keep the other beads from sliding off.)
- Talk to the kids about the pattern on candy canes … red, white, red, white.
- Ask them to string a pattern of beads on their pipe cleaner to make a candy cane.
- Twist the last bead and have the kids bend their ornament into a candy cane shape.
- Hang on the tree!
- Candy Cane Playdough
- I used the recipe here and added peppermint extract, red food coloring and glitter to the warmed water and oil (before adding the dry ingredients).
- Make a batch of red and a batch of white playdough.
- Give the kids a small ball of each color.
- Show them how to make a long, skinny snake with each color, then twist them together to make a candy cane.
- Pull out the playdough tools and have playing with peppermint playdough.
- NOTE: our hands smelled like candy canes when we were finished!
- Candy Cane Snacks … these were yummy!
- Slice a banana (or 2 or 3)
- Wash some fresh raspberries (well, fresh from the store).
- Alternate a banana and a raspberry in a candy cane shape.
- Pour a glass of milk and drink with cute candy cane striped straws. Available here. We use them in our hot chocolate too