Preparing for the New Year at home
How to spend the New Year with children in a fun and interesting way? We recommend starting with preliminary preparation. It is important that the child also participates in this work: everyone knows that the anticipation of the New Year is no less magical than the holiday itself.
To create a special mood, it is necessary to introduce the child to the main New Year's figures - Santa Claus and his granddaughter. Old Soviet fairy tales and cartoons about the upcoming holiday are suitable for this. You can engage in family creativity and, together with your child, come up with a continuation of the stories shown in cartoons, or even compose your own fairy tale.
If your child loves to glue and craft, it will be interesting to create a magic tree with him. A small twig (preferably coniferous) is suitable for it, which needs to be covered with artificial snow, sparkles, or simply painted silver. To brighten up the days of waiting, which are so painful for a child, you can tie candies with tasks feasible for the child to the resulting tree. Anything: learn a poem, draw a postcard, write a letter to Santa Claus. The number of candies should correspond to the number of days remaining until the New Year: one task will be completed every day, bringing the long-awaited holiday closer.
How to celebrate the New Year if your child is less than a year old?
If the little one is six months old or a little older (up to a year), you can break the routine a little and let him celebrate the very first New Year with mom and dad. With children of this age, you should not go to visit friends, especially if this place is unfamiliar to the child. Many children cannot sleep in an unfamiliar house. But the beloved grandmother’s house is quite suitable for New Year’s Eve if the baby visits there often.
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A child who begins to crawl and sit will be interested in watching the garland, looking at and playing with bright New Year's balls (only plastic ones), and exploring the tinsel by touch.
How to decorate a Christmas tree?
Nowadays artificial Christmas trees are becoming more and more common. This is due to its durability. This spruce does not lose its splendor and beauty over the years.
But a live Christmas tree immediately fills the house with the smell of pine needles, which certainly brings a New Year's atmosphere to the house. Therefore, you still need to try to ensure that there are at least some natural spruce or pine branches in the house. They can also be decorated with small toys or just tinsel.
In recent years, new fashion trends in Christmas tree decoration have emerged. For example, designers advise hanging balls of the same color and size on the Christmas tree. This undoubtedly looks very stylish and beautiful, but the presence of a small child in the house determines some of the features of decorating any Christmas tree. You need to make sure that there are plastic, paper or soft toys hanging below that are safe for the baby. The lower branches of the spruce tree can be given for his use: for sure, the house has collected a lot of products of New Year's children's creativity - New Year's toys made by hand: snowflakes, lanterns, multi-colored paper and cardboard garlands.
The child will be interested in hanging toys on the Christmas tree, together with his family determining the place of each one. If you plan to decorate the tree not only with balls, but also with various animals, angels, and snowmen, you can put on whole performances with your child and come up with a story for each Christmas tree decoration.
A child’s favorite dolls and bears also cannot be ignored. New Year is a holiday for everyone. Let the child come up with or make, together with adults, holiday outfits for their pets and place them in a fairyland - under the Christmas tree.
New Year's costumes for children and adults
What's a holiday without a festive atmosphere? And here carnival outfits will help. Children most likely have them, but adults just need to take a mask or a shiny wig. But it's not all about the costumes. Even if there are none, you can make some holiday attributes yourself or simply dress the children beautifully.
A holiday is, first of all, a cheerful mood. And if you have already decided to please your children, then you should not constantly pull them back and calm them down - let them have fun from the heart. There is no need to swear that they are noisy, running, screaming. Do you really want your endless reproaches to remain the main memory of the holiday?
New Year's feast
Pay attention to dishes for children. Even adults sometimes have a hard time after an abundance of hearty dishes, which are also complemented by sweets. Consider snacks that are safe for babies. It’s a wonderful tradition to make toasts at the table; start it yourself and let the children continue. Make plans for the next year, wish the best and most unusual. You can record all this on camera, it will make a great New Year's film for the family archive!
Interesting New Year competitions for children
When the long-awaited holiday morning finally arrives, you need to please the child by organizing his leisure time. Of course, parents already have a lot to do before New Year’s Eve, but none of them are worth the sincere delight and happiness of the baby. So that he doesn’t get bored and lonely, you can invite other guys and play together.
If the children are already old enough and are able to wait for the chimes, then New Year's games and competitions can be held immediately before you all sit down at the festive table. You shouldn’t make the TV your main entertainment; turn down the volume so that New Year’s programs remain only background music.
Here are examples of some games and competitions for children.
“Who lives under the Christmas tree?”
Inventory for the game: pictures of animals.
The presenter must arrange the pictures so that the images are not visible. Each participant draws a card and, without showing it to anyone, goes to the tree. There he prepares to use gestures to depict what kind of animal was in his picture. They start showing the animal after the presenter asks: “Who lives under the Christmas tree?” The first person to guess correctly takes the next card, then the game continues in a circle until the pictures run out.
"Don't lose your socks"
Equipment for the game: multi-colored socks (a pair for each player).
The game is moving and requires a lot of free space, so you need to remove all breakable objects in advance. The presenter hands out socks to the kids and asks them to put them on. The participants' task is to crawl on all fours and pull off as many socks as possible from other guys and not allow them to be taken off themselves.
“Santa Claus, where is your nose?”
Inventory for the game: Whatman paper (one or more) with Santa Claus pre-drawn on it, who has no nose; plasticine of different colors; handkerchief.
A picture of Santa Claus is hung on the wall. The presenter explains the task to the kids: they need to sculpt one nose for each from plasticine of different colors. The participant must stick on the finished nose with his eyes blindfolded, following the prompts of his comrades. This game evokes a lot of positive emotions among the children.
"Snowballs"
Equipment for the game: a basket or box decorated with traditional New Year symbols; snowballs made in advance from cotton wool.
The guys can be divided into teams. If there are few participants, everyone can play for themselves. The kids' task is to throw as many snowballs into the basket as possible. The one who hits the most often wins.
Another option: just play in the snow. Since they are made of soft cotton wool, the game will be safe but very fun.
"Cones for Mishka"
Inventory for the game: toy bear, cones (one less than the number of participants).
The game is a children's analogue of the well-known game of chairs. The presenter places the teddy bear on the floor and places pine cones around it. Then he tells the story: “One day a bear was walking through the forest and lost all its cones. He was very upset and searched for them for a long time, but to no avail. Guys, let's help Mishka?
Then the music turns on, and while it plays, the participants scatter around the room, pretending to be searching. As soon as there is silence, the guys grab the cones. The one who doesn't get it is eliminated. One of the collected cones is returned to the bear, the rest are again laid out in a circle. The game is repeated until all the cones get to Mishka. The one who gets the last bump wins.
"New Year's Magic"
Equipment for the game: a sheet of colored cardboard, semolina, a glue stick.
The presenter distributes sheets to the participants. Using a glue stick on cardboard, each person draws a snowman or snowflake. Then everyone fills the entire sheet of cardboard with cereal, making sure to say some New Year’s spell, and blows on the sheet. The semolina will remain in the areas coated with glue in the shape of a pre-drawn figure. Such a surprise game will evoke enthusiastic emotions in children. It is suitable for the end of the holiday, when all the guys are already tired. Everyone takes the resulting drawing home.
How to give a gift “from Santa Claus”?
I would like to make a special note that the most important thing that all children expect from the New Year is, of course, gifts! It is very difficult to send a child to bed on New Year's Eve so that he discovers a gift in the morning. After all, he is so waiting for a miracle and a gift! How to put gifts under the tree when the baby is constantly watching it?
You can put them under the tree when the children finally fall asleep - let them find them in the morning. Or after the chimes, then one of the parents should distract the children, and the other should quickly arrange the gifts.
The child can be distracted by playing or helping in the kitchen while another adult puts the gifts under the tree and opens the window. Then you can point out to the baby that there was some knocking and footsteps in the room, and ask the baby to check what’s wrong. A New Year's miracle happened: Santa Claus left a gift, but he was in a hurry and forgot to close the window while flying away on a reindeer sleigh.
You can also put gifts under the tree when you go for a walk. Then the children will believe that Santa Claus really came!
Another option - very popular lately - is inviting Santa Claus to your home. He will not only give New Year gifts to children, but also entertain them with games and a small performance.
But in this case it is necessary to take into account some nuances:
- Such services must be ordered strictly from a special agency so that the child does not suffer disappointment from the inept acting of the actors.
- If the baby is still young, then before calling actors to your home, you should think about the child’s reaction. Usually very young children are frightened by a noisy and dressed-up creature, and are not at all happy about it.
Let us also note that you don’t have to resort to the services of specialists, but dressing up your dad, grandfather, neighbor, or family friend in a suit is also great and fun, and much cheaper (you will only have to spend money on purchasing a suit that can be used for more than one year) .
Parents' mistakes when organizing a New Year's party
Sometimes when organizing a New Year's celebration, parents make mistakes:
- They leave the baby with the grandparents, and go to a restaurant or a noisy company. New Year is, first of all, a family holiday, and it is worth spending it with the people closest to you, that is, with your child.
- The baby's mother spends the entire New Year's day in the kitchen to surprise everyone with treats. The baby feels all this fuss, he may get nervous that he is not getting enough attention. As a result, problems with falling asleep and nighttime whims are possible. It is better to order food from a trusted restaurant or involve your spouse or other loved one in the preparation.
- Sometimes adults on New Year's Day allow a one or two year old child to try dishes that he has never eaten before, including foods that are too spicy, salty or sweet. As a result, allergic manifestations and indigestion are likely. Thus, Dr. E. Komarovsky is more concerned about the origin of food on the holiday table where a child is present than about any hygienic parameters. He urges parents to be more attentive to the New Year's menu, and, if several children are present, to attract their attention with entertainment, not pickles.
Video: child and holidays (Dr. E. Komarovsky)
What to give your child for New Year?
Clothes should be given only to very big fashionistas, and exactly the ones they really want. And the best gifts for children for the New Year are games, toys, and bright books. There’s no need for sweets either – on New Year’s Day there are usually enough of them. But if the child did not receive a New Year's bag in kindergarten, school, or from grandmothers, then a bag of sweets, fruit or a large chocolate bar would be appropriate. The gift needs to be beautifully packaged - mystery is one of the attributes of the New Year!
Read more about what to give children for New Year.
How to celebrate the New Year with a small child?
It is clear that the newborn does not care at all: will his family have fun on December 31st or will he fall asleep peacefully after watching “Home Alone”? For him, strict adherence to feeding and sleeping patterns is more important. And since these are, first of all, the responsibilities of a mother, it all depends on your mood. Do you feel empowered to throw a party for your family and friends? Are you sure you can go to a quiet nursery during feedings? Wonderful! Do not do anything through force. Otherwise, your fatigue and irritation will affect both lactation and the baby’s mood. And then you are guaranteed a “restless” night.
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What to gift?
Myself. Mom's eyes, smell and breasts are the main things to study for a baby.
As for his physical development, up to three months the baby’s joints become more flexible, he straightens his arms and legs when waking up, unclenches his fists (if not, then he needs a massage), the first smile appears (involuntary, but real!), learns to fix his gaze on the faces of relatives, learns to hold his head.
Toys of this period should not be too noisy, squeaking, not too bright or large. Halftones and small shapes. Let them be multi-colored, but it is better that these are shades and not pure colors: yellow-orange, blue, soft pink - a baby up to three months perceives them best.
At three to four months, the child begins to gurgle and coo (in exactly this sequence). This is how his speech develops. Yes, yes, the very beginning. Your lullabies, conversations with your baby and a musical carousel (mobile) above the crib contribute to this. Her melodies fascinate the baby. He is no longer frightened by the city noise outside the window and the meowing of the cat. But a sudden creaking of a door or the hum of a vacuum cleaner can.
He reaches for objects, but cannot yet take them. Now is the time to practice gripping the rattle.
This device is a separate rich topic. Its roots are in Ancient Egypt. Centuries ago, an object similar to a rattle or tuning fork, with many disks, rods and figurines, called a sistrum, entertained the goddess Hathor.
Over the centuries, having undergone many innovations, it has become a toy for small children. But it hasn’t changed its purpose – to attract attention and entertain. And for a child this is one of the main conditions for full development. Modern rattles can keep a baby occupied for a long time. Playing with them develops all types of perception, motor skills, and even cognitive functions. Psychologists call rattles a simulator for growing a child prodigy. So a high-quality, smart rattle is worth a lot.
The rattle can also be a teether. And this is very useful during the appearance of the first teeth.
A model that combines materials of different textures: wood, fabric, plastic is the best. Such a thing will develop tactile sensations, motor skills, vision and perception.
For an older child, choose a musical toy with buttons, flashing lights and polyphony. This toy will allow you to get more vivid impressions from the game.
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6-7 months
New Year's walk
Sometimes adults try to put their children to bed immediately after the chiming clock and the presentation of gifts. But you really want the magical night to last! After celebrating the New Year, you can go for a walk with the whole family! Go down the slide, play in the snow. Then what is eaten at the table will be digested faster in children’s stomachs, and after active games and frosty air they will come happy, tired and go to bed. If the children are very small, then it is better to take a walk before dinner, in the evening.
Children should believe in Santa Claus. They must write him letters, teach him poems, songs, dress up in costumes and wait for gifts. All this not only makes the children happy, not only creates those magical childhood memories, but also develops the child well and brings him closer to his parents. Therefore, in no case should we forget about the New Year's miracle for a child, whose joy depends entirely on adults.
If you plan the festive evening in advance, not forgetting about the details, then the New Year with children will be bright and interesting not only for kids, but also for adults. Happy New Year to you!
Selecting a menu
If the baby has already given up breastfeeding and is completely on artificial nutrition, then the mother can afford any, even the most exotic, dish and a little alcohol. A properly selected menu will be required if the baby continues to eat breast milk. Naturally, mom wants to relax and treat herself to something tasty and not too healthy. But you need to remember that some of this food will certainly end up in the child’s body, and this can lead to either a banal bowel disorder or severe intoxication and allergies. Naturally, a sick baby is not the best start to any New Year. To prevent this, a breastfeeding woman should not eat:
- Seafood;
- Exotic fruits and citrus fruits;
- Fatty and fried foods;
- Salads with mayonnaise;
- Semi-finished products and canned food;
- Store-bought cakes;
- Alcohol.
However, even without these traditional New Year's table dishes, there are many healthy and at the same time safe dishes. A nursing woman can prepare baked or steamed meat and fish, vegetable salads with vegetable oil. You are allowed to eat cheese and non-spicy side dishes; bananas, pears and apples will not do any harm, and you can wash it all down with compote, fruit drink or juice.
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