Hey, Bunny Friends!

January is the month of dreams and new beginnings. As I sit here watching snowflakes float outside my window, I'm filled with excitement thinking about all the wonderful moments we could create for those precious children in our lives. This month's newsletter sparkles with winter magic and fresh possibilities – perfect for you to make memories that will warm the hearts of those kids even on the chilliest days.

As always, my goal is to spark your creativity to make some fun for the little ones who light up your world. I've filled this month's pages with some cozy indoor activities, winter adventures, and sweet ways to celebrate the start of a brand new year together. I hope these ideas inspire you to try something new, and sprinkle a little extra joy into these winter days. Here's to us making 2025 the most magical year yet for those kids we love! With warm hugs, Mary

JANUARY 1•NEW YEARS DAY

New Year’s Day starts at 12:01am, so start your celebration on December 31st. I love new beginnings and this is a big one - the beginning of a brand-new year. It’s a time for resolutions, festivities, and reflecting on the past year while looking ahead to the future. New Year’s Day is more than just a fresh calendar—it’s a chance to create lasting memories and set the tone for an inspiring year. Whether popping balloons or crafting a time capsule, children will love starting the year with creativity and cheer.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE NEW YEARS DAY

1. CRAFT A NEW YEAR’S TIME CAPSULE
   Gather meaningful items from the past year—drawings, small toys, photos—and place them in a decorated container to bury or store until next year. This activity allows children to reflect on their favorite memories now an in the future when the items are revisited. I think it would be the most fun if you made this an annual ritual with a large enough container to last 18 years. Start it for them when they are infants. When they’re old enough, let them pick their own items. Go to the box each year. Savor those past memories and add the passing year’s treasures. A reasonable alternative if you don’t like clutter is to photo the items and create a memory book with little captions, physical or digital.

2. CREATE A DIY COUNTDOWN CLOCK
   Using paper plates or cardboard, make a clock and set it to countdown hours or minutes for a specific activity. Let the kids take charge of ringing in their “mini New Year” at each interval.

3. NEW YEAR’S BINGO
   Design Bingo cards with common resolutions (e.g., “exercise more,” “learn a skill”) or events from the past year. Celebrate together by reminiscing as you check off the boxes. You can use a blank card to fill in next year’s card by adding your resolutions.

4. WISH BALLOONS
   Write down funny goals or dreams for the new year on small pieces of paper. Place them inside balloons, inflate, and let the kids pick and pop them to see what resolutions they have to make. You could also do this with serious aspirations instead if it’s more your style.

5. NEW YEAR’S MOCKTAILS
   Experiment with fizzy, colorful mocktails using fruit juices, sparkling water, and edible glitter. Have the kids mix “magic potions” to toast the new year.

JANUARY 11 • SKETCH NOTE DAY

Sketch Note Day highlights the fun and functionality of blending doodles with notes. Created by designer Mike Rohde, sketch noting turns traditional note-taking into a dynamic, visual storytelling method. It’s a wonderful way to engage kids in learning, sparking both their creativity and comprehension. Sketch Note Day encourages kids to think outside the box, blending art with academics.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE SKETCH NOTE DAY

1. SKETCH NOTE A FAMILY STORY
   Read a story aloud and have kids sketch their interpretation of key moments. Compare everyone’s notes to see the diversity of visual storytelling.

2. DOODLE JOURNALS
   Provide each child with a blank notebook to fill with daily doodles and highlights of their day, practicing the art of combining words with images.

3. MAP A DAY IN THE LIFE
   Have kids create a timeline of their typical day using sketches, symbols, and fun phrases to illustrate each moment.

4. COLLABORATIVE WALL MURAL
   Roll out a large sheet of paper and let children collectively sketch note a topic of interest, such as “What makes a superhero?” or “Our dream vacation.”

5. SKETCH NOTE CHALLENGES
   Set up mini-challenges like “Draw your favorite word” or “Sketch how you feel about ice cream.” This encourages kids to think visually while expressing emotions and ideas.
   
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   BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO SHARE THE JOY OF SKETCH NOTES WITH YOUR KIDS, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW.

JANUARY 13 • STICKER DAY

Sticker Day honors the sticky little treasures that have adorned everything from notebooks to water bottles for decades. It pays homage to R. Stanton Avery, who invented the first self-adhesive label. Stickers are more than just decorative—they’re tiny, expressive art pieces that bring joy and creativity to everyday life. I love this day because there are endless opportunities for imaginative play.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE STICKER DAY

1. CREATE CUSTOM STICKERS
   Using sticker paper and markers or print-on-demand sticker templates, let kids design their own unique stickers. They can create animals, superheroes, or even sticker versions of their family members.

2. STICKER SCAVENGER HUNT
   Hide stickers around the house and provide clues or riddles to help kids find them.

3. STICKER STORYBOOKS
   Give kids blank notebooks and a variety of stickers. Challenge them to create a story using stickers as characters and props. Their imaginations will take the lead.

4. STICKER SWAP PARTY
   Encourage kids to bring their sticker collections for a swapping session. They’ll enjoy trading duplicates or finding rare gems from friends.

5. STICKER ART COLLAGE
   Lay out an assortment of stickers on a big canvas or poster board. Let children work together to create a giant, collaborative piece of sticker art to display at home.

JANUARY 14 • LOGIC DAY

Logic Day, a celebration of reasoning and problem-solving, inspired by the birth of philosopher Alfred Tarski, a pioneer in logic. This day encourages critical thinking and mental exercises that sharpen the brain—perfect for curious kids and puzzle lovers alike! Logic Day is a delightful way to stretch young minds. Activities like escape rooms and Rube Goldberg machines make critical thinking feel like an exciting adventure while fostering creativity and collaboration.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE LOGIC DAY

1. DIY ESCAPE ROOM


   Set up a simple escape room with puzzles and riddles kids must solve to “escape.” Use clues like number patterns or hidden messages to challenge their reasoning.

2. LOGIC BOARD GAMES

   Play games like Chess, Mastermind, or Clue, which rely on strategy and deduction. These are fun ways to reinforce logical thinking. Tournaments with prizes are always fun.

3. BUILD A RUBE GOLDBERG MACHINE

   Challenge kids to create a machine that accomplishes a simple task in a complicated way, like flipping a light switch. They’ll practice problem-solving and creative engineering.

4. LOGIC PUZZLE CRAFTS


   Have kids create their own puzzles, such as mazes or riddles, to stump family and friends. Solving their peers’ puzzles becomes part of the fun!

5. TRUTH OR BLUFF GAME


   Take turns telling two truths and a lie. The rest of the group uses logic to figure out which statement is the bluff.

JANUARY 16 • DRAGON DAY

What child is not fascinated by dragons? Appreciate a Dragon Day is a whimsical holiday dedicated to these legendary creatures. The day celebrates the lore, majesty, and imagination that dragons inspire across cultures. Dragons symbolize power, creativity, and wonder. This day allows kids to immerse themselves in a world of fantasy and fun.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE DRAGON DAY

1. DRAGON EGG HUNT
   Craft “dragon eggs” by painting rocks or creating paper mâché eggs. Hide them around your house for kids to find and keep.

2. DESIGN YOUR OWN DRAGON

   Provide art supplies and have kids draw or sculpt their own dragons, complete with unique abilities and backstories.

3. DRAGON TALES STORYTIME

   Read dragon-themed books like The Paper Bag Princess or How to Train Your Dragon. Encourage kids to act out their favorite scenes. Movies work too, but there’s something about hearing a story and seeing the pictures in your mind. We can’t have too much of that no matter how old we are.

4. DRAGON BAKING PROJECT
   It seems to me, the best part of baking projects for kids is not what you’d think. It’s not eating the bakery, although that’s always a delight. It’s imagining that “fire-breathing” dragon head and decorating your cupcakes so each have a unique superpower and personality. Here’s a nice video for kids to make dragon cupcakes. Check it out HERE.

5. DRAGON OLYMPICS
   Set up dragon challenges like “flying” (jumping contests), “hoarding treasure” (collecting items in a set time), and “roaring” (best dragon roar), crawling like a dragon. Award medals or prizes for fun categories!

JANUARY 17 • BEN FRANKLIN DAY

Ben Franklin Day honors one of America’s most famous Founding Fathers. Franklin was an inventor, author, diplomat, and philosopher who left a legacy of curiosity and ingenuity. This day is a great opportunity to inspire children to learn about his life and embrace their own innovative spirit with hands-on learning.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE BEN FRANKLIN DAY

1. DIY LIGHTNING EXPERIMENT

   Create static electricity with balloons and learn about Franklin’s famous kite experiment. (No actual storms required!) The Franklin Institute offers this excellent story about the kite experiment HERE. And here’s a video that explains static electricity for kids and the associated ballooon play. Click HERE.

2. INVENTOR’S
WORKSHOP
   January 17 also celebrates Kid Inventor Day, a tribute to young innovators who’ve changed the world. Children have created some of history’s most important inventions: the trrampoline, braille, popsicles, Christmas lights, earmuffs, and the snowmobile. Challenge kids to invent something useful with household items, just like Franklin did. Reward their creativity with small prizes.

3. DESIGN AN ADVERTISEMENT

   Once kids invent something, let them make a commercial or poster to pitch their idea. They’ll learn about marketing while having fun.

4. FRANKLIN’S PRINTING PRESS
   Teach kids about Franklin’s role in publishing by creating mini-newspapers or broadsheets on historical or silly topics.

5. MONEY & SAVINGS GAME

   Learn about Franklin’s famous phrase, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” through a game that teaches budgeting and saving. Examples include Pay Day, Payback, Cash Flow, Financial Peace for Kids, Rich Dad, and The Allowance Game - all available on Amazon.

JANUARY 18 • WINNIE THE POOH DAY

Winnie the Pooh Day, celebrated on January 18, honors the beloved bear and his creator, A.A. Milne. This day marks Milne’s birthday in 1882, recognizing his timeless stories of friendship and whimsy in the Hundred Acre Wood. Pooh and his friends—Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, and the rest.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE WINNIE THE POOH DAY

1. HONEY TASTE TEST

   Explore different types of honey (clover, wildflower, or orange blossom, etc.) with a Pooh-style tasting party. Pair the honey with biscuits or fruit and vote on the favorite.

2. BUILD THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD
   Create a miniature version of the Hundred Acre Wood using cardboard, sticks, leaves, and toys. Encourage kids to design homes for Pooh and his friends.

3. CHARACTER TREASURE HUNT
   Hide small items or toys representing each character around the house. Use riddles and clues to lead kids to discover who each treasure belongs to.

4. DIY POOH STORIES
   Provide children with a blank booklet to write and illustrate their own adventures starring Pooh and friends. Let them read their stories to the family.

5. POOH’S PROBLEM SOLVING PARTY
   Present kids with “Pooh-style” dilemmas, like finding honey in a pretend maze or helping Eeyore fix his house. Use teamwork to solve each challenge.

JANUARY 20•MLK DAY

Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the life and legacy of the Civil Rights leader who championed equality, justice, and nonviolence. It’s a day of reflection, service, and action, inviting people of all ages to continue King’s work toward a better world. MLK Day is an opportunity for children to learn about social justice and kindness.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE MLK DAY

1. PEACEFUL PROTEST POSTERS

   There are few things more American than freedom of speech, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to criticize the government. Teach kids about King’s peaceful activism by creating posters with messages of kindness and justice. Display them in your home or community.

2. ACT OF SERVICE SCAVENGER HUNT

   Create a list of good deeds, then challenge kids to complete as many as possible in a day.

3. DREAM CLOUDS CRAFT

   Cut out cloud shapes and have kids write or draw their dreams for a better world. Hang the clouds as a reminder of their aspirations.

4. FAMILY “I HAVE A DREAM” SPEECH

   Encourage kids to write their own “I Have a Dream” speech about what they’d change in the world. Have a family gathering to share everyone’s speeches.

5. DIVERSITY LESSON

   Although DEI training has given diversity a bad name in some circles, diversity can have countless positive impacts. It’s an important concept to grasp and can be approached without a “woke” agenda. You can teach little kids this lesson using different colored eggs. It will be a lesson that sticks because it’s thrilling for kids to crack eggs. And, like the eggs, no matter the color on the outside, we are all pretty much the same on the inside. Paper dolls offer another fun diversity craft. A row of people cut-outs await your child’s coloring in different shades of human. Crayola has a box of “multi-cultural” crayons - a box of different flesh-tones. They make the project easy and kids love finding the crayon that matches their skin.

JANUARY 28•LEGO DAY

Lego Day commemorates the founding of the Lego company in 1932 and its iconic, imaginative building blocks. Loved by kids and adults alike, Legos inspire creativity, problem-solving, and endless hours of fun. And I emphasize the word “endless.” The humble lego sparks imaginative play and learning with endless possibilities for fun.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE LEGO DAY

1. BRICK CHALLENGE JAR
   Fill a jar with Lego challenges like “build a vehicle” or “create a tall tower.” Have kids draw a challenge and compete or collaborate in teams.

2. LEGO STOP-MOTION MOVIES
   Teach kids how to create stop-motion animations using their Lego sets and a phone camera. This is so fun it spills over into stop-motion in countless areas. Brace yourself.

3. LEGO MATH FUN
   Give math learning a little zazzle by using Legos for hands-on math activities, such as counting, addition, subtraction, sets, measuring, or demonstrating fractions with different block sizes.

4. LEGO LANDMARKS
   Math isn’t the only subject that lends itself to lego fun. Challenge kids to build Lego versions of famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or the Great Wall of China. Share fun facts about each site as they build.

5. LEGO CLEAN-UP RACE
   Turn clean-up time into a game by timing how fast kids can sort Legos by size or color. They’ll learn organization while having fun.

JANUARY 29 - PUZZLE DAY

National Puzzle Dayhighlights the joy and benefits of puzzles, from jigsaw puzzles to crosswords. Puzzles are not just fun—they also improve problem-solving, memory, and concentration. Puzzle Day is a fantastic way to blend fun and learning. Puzzle Day helps kids develop their critical thinking skills while enjoying a memorable day of problem-solving.

FIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE PUZZLE DAY

1. DESIGN A JIGSAW PUZZLE
   Let kids draw a picture, glue it to cardboard, and cut it into puzzle pieces. Solving their own designs adds a personal touch to the activity.

2. PUZZLE RACE
   Compete to see who can complete a small jigsaw puzzle the fastest. For added fun, use puzzles with similar themes to spark conversations.

3. MYSTERY BOX CHALLENGE
   Create a puzzle-solving scavenger hunt where each solved clue unlocks the next box. Fill the final box with a prize or treat.

4. INTERACTIVE PUZZLE STORY
   Read a story aloud, but pause to solve puzzles that reveal the next part of the tale. These could be riddles, word searches, or visual puzzles.

5. EDIBLE PUZZLE
   Bake cookies and cut them into puzzle shapes. Kids can piece them together before enjoying their tasty creations.

HAPPY NEW YEAR