Holiday Learning at Home: December Activities to Support Preschool Growth and Kindergarten Readiness

Engaging ideas from Imagine Nation Learning Center to support early childhood learning all season long.

The December holiday season is the perfect time for families to slow down, reconnect, and support meaningful learning at home. At Imagine Nation Learning Center, a leading early childhood education center in Texas, we know that parents are always looking for simple, fun ways to support their child’s development outside the classroom.

Whether your child is enrolled in our infant care program, toddler program, preschool program, or our full-day Pre-K program, these activities help strengthen school readiness skills, boost creativity, and reinforce the high-quality learning experiences your child receives at our early learning center.

 1. Build Early Literacy Skills With a Holiday Story Corner

Parents searching for ways to support early literacy development at home can make a cozy December “story corner.” Reading together is one of the most powerful tools for boosting vocabulary, language skills, and kindergarten readiness.

This supports:

• Preschool literacy foundations

• Creative Curriculum language goals

• Strong home and school connection

  
  

Try rotating winter-themed books each week. Ask questions like:

• “Who are the characters?”

• “What do you think happens next?”

• “How do the pictures help tell the story?”

These strategies mirror the same early learning methods used in our preschool classrooms at Imagine Nation Learning Center located in Arlington, Mansfield, and Waxahachie.

2. Turn Holiday Traditions Into Early Math Activities

Parents often search for “easy math activities for preschoolers” or “hands-on learning for toddlers.” December is full of natural opportunities for this.

Try integrating math into your holiday routine:

• Count ornaments while decorating

• Sort bows, ribbons, or wrapping paper

• Compare sizes of stockings

• Measure ingredients while baking

  
  

These activities help children practice numeracy, sorting, classification, and measurement! These are the core components of high-quality early childhood education and essential for school readiness as used in our Imagine Nation Learning Centers located in Arlington, Mansfield, and Waxahachie.

3. Use the Holiday Spirit to Build Social & Emotional Learning

Many parents want to help their children strengthen their social & emotional skills, emotional regulation, and empathy skills as emphasized in our toddler and preschool programs.

Create a “Kindness Countdown” leading up to the holiday:

• Donate a toy

• Make a card for a family member

• Help set the table

• Say something kind to a friend

  
  

These small acts help children build confidence, emotional awareness, and positive behavior as reflected in our curriculum as the key for kindergarten readiness.

4. Winter Sensory Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Parents frequently search for “sensory activities for toddlers,” “winter sensory bins,” or “preschool fine-motor activities.” Sensory play is foundational in early childhood learning and supports skills that lead to later academic success.

Try these December-themed ideas:

• Playdough with peppermint, cinnamon, or vanilla

• Baking-soda “snow” for scooping and molding

• Ice excavation with small toys

• Painting pinecones or natural materials

  
  

These activities strengthen fine-motor development, problem-solving, and creativity! These are skills we emphasize daily in our early learning center classrooms.

5. Keep a Predictable Routine During the Holiday Break

A consistent routine is essential for children in infant care, toddler care, and preschool programs. Predictability supports emotional security, better sleep, and smoother transitions; this is especially important when the holiday schedule becomes busy.

Maintaining structure at home helps your child return to Imagine Nation Learning Center feeling confident and ready to learn, supporting growth in:

• Self-regulation

• Behavior and focus

• Cognitive development

• Classroom readiness

  
  

6. Celebrate Your Family Traditions to Strengthen Identity and Learning

December is a wonderful time to share family customs, cultural traditions, and holiday celebrations. Whether your family celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or enjoys winter fun, these traditions enrich your child’s early learning experience.

Talking about traditions supports:

• Language development

• Cultural awareness

• Emotional bonding

• Curiosity and confidence

  
  

At Imagine Nation Learning Center, we honor family diversity and incorporate classroom activities that help every child feel included and seen.

Why Holiday Learning Matters for Preschoolers

The December season offers countless opportunities to reinforce the same skills children build in high-quality childcare programs, preschool classrooms, and Pre-K programs. With simple at-home activities, parents can support:

• Early literacy and language

• Preschool math and problem-solving

• Social–emotional development

• Early science exploration

• Fine-motor and sensory development

• Kindergarten readiness

  
  

These experiences blend perfectly with what children learn each day at Imagine Nation Learning Center, a trusted early learning center for families seeking nurturing, play-based, and academically enriching childcare.

Looking for Quality Childcare or Preschool in Texas?

Imagine Nation Learning Center proudly serves families seeking:

• infant care near me

• toddler programs near me

• preschool programs near me

• private Pre-K programs in Texas

• early learning centers in Arlington, Mansfield, and Waxahachie

  
  

We offer safe classrooms, passionate teachers, small group learning, and a curriculum designed to support every stage of development!