Groundhog Day!!!

Next week we celebrate Groundhog Day; so why not plan a fun activity with the family?  This will be an excellent time to teach your children as well as build a bond.  

First, you will need to gather some flashlights, a book, some stuffed animals, blankets, and chairs.  Make sure that one blanket is white or a light color.  Next, you will gather your children around and build an inside fort out of chairs and blankets.  Make sure there is enough space for all of you, and place the stuffed animals inside.  Third, turn off the house lights and turn on the flashlights.  Talk about shadows and how light creates them.  Once the children settle down into the fort, begin to talk about groundhog day and what it is about.  Tell them that you are going to make your own animal shadows.  Using the stuffed animals and your hands, cast shadows onto the white blanket and talk about the animals and shapes.  Attempt putting your hands into your child's hand to make shapes of animals, or other common shapes like a heart or circle.  Allow the kids to make the animal sounds and talk about their favorite ones.  This will be such a fun activity that will encourage growth as a family and will also allow for a teachable moment for your kids to learn about the holiday and about animals.  You can end the fun with reading a book by flashlight.  This would be a great pre-bedtime activity.