Candy Canes

Preschool Activities
We love to make shaving cream paint for the bath, so I was really excited when I saw this Candy Cane paint recipe from Bath Activities for Kids.  Just mix the ingredients together in a plastic cup and let little ones paint the wall, their bath toys, even themselves.  The food dye washes off very easily with just a little soap and water.
For a more festive bath, you can also add food coloring and glitter right into the bath water.  A word of warning though, red paint plus green water makes for brown water by the end of the bath.

There are so many fun candy cane crafts to enjoy that we just didn't get to:

• Paper chains made with red and white construction paper can be used to decorate the kid's room.  
• Simple candy cane ornaments can be made by twisting red and white pipe cleaners together.  
• Threading buttons onto pipe cleaners is great fine motor practice for little ones and can be used as a patterning excise with older children.

Family Activities

I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11 (NIV)

Candy canes were not originally created as a religious symbol.  However, candy canes can be used as a reminder of the Christmas story.  Shaped like a shepherd's staff used to keep and care for sheep, candy canes remind us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd, sent to walk on this earth and keep and care for us throughout eternity.

Play a Shepherding game: Scatter white pom poms or cotton balls on a table top.  Use candy canes to gather as many pom poms as possible in 30 seconds.  (If your candy cane hits another player's, neither player gets that pom pom.)  The player with the most pom poms when the timer goes off wins!

Service Activities
Decorate a tree outside with wrapped candy canes for others to enjoy.  If the tree is in a public place, be sure to ask permission first. 

Snacks
Hot chocolate with candy cane stir sticks is a great warm way to enjoy a pepperminty treat.
Snack time could become science time too if you carefully observe and discuss what happens to candy canes in a hot liquid.  Be sure to check out Teach Mama's other candy cane science experiment ideas.

Songs

 
Books
I Spy a Candy Cane
The Twelve Days of Christmas Candy: A Counting Book
Peyton's Candy Cane Adventure