By Bonnie Neugebauer
Reprinted from Child Care Information
Exchange, August 1990.
There are at least three major problems with concentrating our time and energies on holiday celebration:
1. It’s extremely difficult to give holidays meaning that is developmentally appropriate for young children. Most holidays are based on abstract concepts that are beyond their comprehension.
2. It’s difficult to be inclusive. Are we going to celebrate holidays based on cultures represented in our program? What are some parents object to the holidays?
3. Many holidays are overdone anyway. Children see signs of major commercialized holidays everywhere, so they will be asking questions and their families will be making choices .
4. Let\’s celebrate events in the world (natural and unnatural) – a shuttle launch, the first snowflake, puddles, athunderstorm, a presidentialvisit. Let\’s celebrate wonder.
Please see Patty or Leah for a full copy of this article.