<h6><span style='color: #ff0000;'>Suriviving Nursery Christmas Party</span></h6>, Toys to You

Suriviving Nursery Christmas Party

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Suriviving Nursery Christmas Party

Christmas Party Survival Tips
Christmas Party Ideas

CHRISTMAS PARTY - TIPS TO SURVIVE IT

Christmas and other festivities are exciting. As well as festivities, the traditions and yes, all right - the christmas presents from Santa, these occasions appeal greatly to the children because they are a departure from the norm. A break in routine can have many positive rewards, and this time of year can also be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate diversity and community through different festivals. But changes in routine also need careful management where children are concerned. This can be a challenge when you have end-of-term deadlines and colleagues and family are run ragged. With end-of-year christmas parties, the temptation can be just to give in and go with the flow, whereas amid all the excitement you need to do your homework and plan things more carefully than ever.

Christmas Party Fun and Games
Obvious though it sounds, make sure your childrens christmas party games are age appropriate, and be realistic about what you can achieve in the time. Try to alternate games that generate laughs and excitement with more calming, sit-down activities which can still be fun, such as quizzes and story-telling activities.

Me, Me, Me?
A common lament at this time of year is that increasingly Christmas is all about consumerism and acquiring the latest toys and computer equipment. Ideally, in the build-up to Christmas there will have been discussions about christmas gifts giving and sharing. Try to follow these ideas through in your christmas party celebration.
The traditional kids party format can be little more than a string of games, but there are lots of things you can do at a christmas party which are as much or more fun, don't involve winning, and can even be educational. How about organising face painting, then using a digital camera to make photos or cards from the result? Put your party on your school's website or prospectus afterwards!

The winner takes all
Sometimes christmas parties and organised games just reinforce differences and inequalities. The last thing you want is for children to get anxious or upset because they feel they have under-performed, or not been successful. If you do have games with winners, make sure that all children are given an opportunity to succeed where possible. If you have prizes, make sure there is also something small for everyone at some stage.
There are dozens of non-competitive games which are sheer fun and can be simple (like having to say 'sausages', whatever question you're asked) or more complex. 'Catch it-Drop it', for example, involves one pupil tossing a ball to another while calling a command: the catcher must do the opposite of the command ie drop if told to 'catch'. Whoever does as they're told becomes 'it'.

Let it Go but Don't Let it Slip
As christmas party excitement levels rise, behaviour can often deteriorate. You are likely to be tired and looking forward to the time when it's all over. Wherever possible, ignore minor misdemeanous or silliness. It's a tricky balance to strike: you want to continue to praise and reinforce good behaviour but the message is that high spirits are best overlooked. That doesn't mean a free-for-all: if everyone is to feel able to enjoy themselves then you need to maintain boundaries.

Scary Stuff
Younger children in particular have a wide range of fears, many of which seem completely irrational to adults. Many children dislike the dark or crowded rooms, so be senstive to this if you are planning some atmospheric lighting. For very young children, Father Christmas can be terrifying, and if you are planning a visit from Santa, you'll need to make sure that fearful children are near an exit.
Children can be stressed just by unfamiliar acitivities: talk about the christmas party beforehand so the children have some idea what to expect. Some may find the christmas party noise frightening and for many, the sound of balloons squeaking or bursting can be the last straw, so tie them up safely out of the way.

Go Easy on the Es
Recent research found that children's calmness and overall behaviour improved when their diets were modified to remove E-numbers and additives. Fish and chips have given way to fruit and vegetables in many schools, but good resolutions can fall by the wayside at christmas party time. Traditional party fare tends to consist almost entirely of highly processed food - crisps, cakes and fizzy drinks packed with E-numbers which produce a lot of the wrong type of energy.
If students bring food from home, plan and discuss to ensure they bring a mix of foods. You don't have to say no to everything but make sure there are fresh foods and snacks as well as the usual christmas party pieces. Involve children where possible in preparing healthy food.
Remember to be especially vigilant at this time of year about allergies: some children can have serious reactions to nuts and these exist in trace quantities in many Christmas foods such as mince pies and Christmas cake.

Be Inclusive
Learning about different faiths and different festivals and events such as Eid should already be incorporated into the curriculum. In planning the christmas party, put some thought into the kind of celebration you are holding. Children from various religious backgrounds might like the opportunity to tell others abou how they celebrate at this time of year.
On the other hand, some faiths, such as Jehovah's Witnesses or Plymouth Brethren, may not be able to take part in discussions of other faiths or celebrations of Christmas, so you'll need to be sensitive and check with parents if you party is specifically Christmas-orientated. Sometimes Ramadam overlaps with the end of term, and parents of Muslim children who are fasting may not want their chidlren to come to the christmas party, simply because there'll be tasty food around.
And for families in difficult circumstances Christmas can be a time of great stress, so again, sensitivity is the name of the game.

Short and Sweet
There is of course a fine line between excitement and over-excitement, which breeds exhaustion, stress and tears (and that's just the children). Keep stress levels down by setting a time limit on your christmas party - the shorter the better. Try an hour and a half for younger children, and add half and hour to an hour for older ones. Anything longer than two and a half hours is going to be very hard to sustain for all of you.

b>Have some FUN
With all the things you have to do before you head off on a well-earned break, it's easy to forget the purpose of the christmas party is to have a bit of fun Right, now for the staff christmas party!!

This article was first published on www.teachernet.gov.uk!!
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Ethical Toy Shop | Articles, Experts & Links | Toys to You Features | SURVIVING CHRISTMAS |

Suriviving Nursery Christmas Party

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