It seems like the holiday season is coming at us faster and faster every year.
When I was a kid, the stores didn’t put out Christmas stuff until after Thanksgiving. Now it seems that Santa needs to become friends with the witches and monsters because holly and mistletoe starts coming out at Halloween!
I guess it is all good, and officially to me, the season is here. I think that nobody appreciates or loves Christmas as much as little kids, and there are a whole lot of elves out there making sure that this season starts off jolly for them.
Those elves are really local parent educators from Parents as Teachers programs, and believe me — they are super busy putting together big events for the families in their communities with children younger than kindergarten age.
Group meetings are a super fun time for kids and their parents. The best part of Parents as Teachers is it is through your local school district and is free, which is something we rarely see this time of year!
Here is a run down on some events coming up. If your school isn’t mentioned, please contact it to see if it has a holiday event planned, or to get on a mailing list for upcoming events.
Also, most programs would just simply appreciate you calling to pre-register so the organizers will be prepared. If you are not already signed up in your program, this is a great time to go meet the staff and get enrolled.
• Joplin Parents as Teachers will hold its Christmas Group Meeting from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 10. The meetings will include holiday activities and pictures with Santa. The event will be held at Memorial Hall. Call 625-5294 for more details and to pre-register.
• Diamond PAT will hold its group meeting event at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and feature a life-size Candy Land game with activities for parents and children. It will also have a Christmas party at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 16 with snacks, a book exchange and ornament decorating. To register call 325-5171.
• Carthage PAT is featuring a Winter Wonderland Family Event from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Nazarene Church, located at 2000 S. Grand Ave. It will have holiday and winter games, crafts and free pictures with Santa. Call 359-7012 to reserve your time.
• Jasper PAT will hold its festivities Dec. 8 in the old gym and have games and crafts and pictures and a visit from Santa. Call 394-2301 for more details.
• Nevada PAT will host Santa’s Workshop at the high school Dec. 10. Call 448-2061 to sign up.
• Sarcoxie PAT will hold its Christmas Group meeting, called Gingerbread Christmas, at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at in the kindergarten wing of Wildwood Elementary. It is planning lots of gingerbread themed activities and a visit from Santa. Members encourage parents to bring their cameras. For more information call 548-3421.
•East Newton PAT has “Cookies with Santa” planned for Dec. 3 in the East Newton High School cafeteria. Kids will decorate cookies and take their pictures with Santa. The PAT will combine this with cake and punch to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Call 472-6882 to sign up.
• Lamar PAT has a magical evening planned, literally, as magician Dennis Wilson will entertain families with his illusions. (When not doing magic, Wilson has a second job as Superintendent of the Lamar R-1 schools!) Lamar will also have pictures with Santa and books for the kids. The event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3. Call 682-5963 to register.
• Webb City PAT is planning “Christmas Magic” from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 3. Webb City children will enjoy pictures with Santa, a free book, an ornament craft, Christmas stories and refreshments. Call 673-6073 for more information.
• Carl Junction PAT will hold the CJ Bulldog Pup Club from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 30 in the Early Education Center. It will have gingerbread activities, including a gingerbread run, and activities based upon children’s ages from 6 months to pre-kindergarten.
Another note to parents with children of all ages who love trains, the Kansas City Southern Railroad has its Holiday Express scheduled to stop at 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at the corner of Monroe and Elm in Pittsburg, Kan.
Jane Drummond is a parent educator for the Carthage School District. Contact her at janedrummond@mchsi.com.
