Waiting for Santa
What’s inside...
It's Christmas Eve and Bear is rallying his friends to prepare for Santa Claus's arrival. While the other animals are excited, Badger remains skeptical and doubts Santa's knowledge of their whereabouts. Despite Badger's doubts, Bear encourages everyone to believe and helps organize the preparations for Santa's visit. The story leaves readers wondering if Santa will indeed make an appearance.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-6
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Santa will bring the characters in the book? Why?
How do the characters feel while they are waiting for Santa? Can you relate to any of their feelings?
What are some ways the characters pass the time while they wait for Santa? Which activity would you like to try?
Why is it important to be patient sometimes? Can you think of a time when you had to wait patiently for something?
How would you help your friends if they were feeling impatient or sad about waiting?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book by relating it to their own experiences with anticipation and waiting.
Use expressive voice modulation and pauses while reading to emphasize the emotions the characters are feeling, making the story more relatable and engaging.
After reading, engage in a creative activity like drawing scenes from the book, focusing on what they think happens when Santa arrives.
Discuss the moral of the story and its applicability to everyday scenarios, reinforcing the values of patience and understanding in your child.
Prompt your child to predict upcoming events in the tale, enhancing their inference skills and keeping them involved in the storyline.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: The story revolves around a group of animals eagerly waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve, demonstrating the importance of patience as they anticipate his arrival.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to manage their expectations and wait patiently for events or rewards, such as during birthdays, family gatherings, or even while sharing turns during games.
Example Lesson: Friendship
Explanation: Throughout the book, the animals display teamwork and companionship, showing children how friends support each other during times of excitement and anticipation.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to cultivate and cherish friendships, teaching them to be supportive and considerate friends in school, playgrounds, and other social settings.
Example Lesson: Holiday Traditions
Explanation: The book depicts various Christmas traditions and the joy associated with them, imparting the value of cultural celebrations.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and participate in their own family or cultural traditions, fostering a sense of identity and belonging.
Example Lesson: Sharing and Generosity
Explanation: As the animals prepare for Santa’s visit, they demonstrate acts of sharing and kindness, highlighting the spirit of giving during the holiday season.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to practice generosity, such as sharing toys and snacks, or participating in charitable activities with their peers.