Singing Christmas Carols and Ideas For Having Holiday Family Fun

          Here are just a few ideas of family fun activities you and your family can do together this holiday season.  Be creative and just have fun spending time with your loved ones.  Your children will remember these activities and the time they spend with you doing them throughout the years. 

          Remember if you don't have much cash to spare then use things you have around the house or make a trip to your local library and borrow a few Christmas books to read. 

          Below are craft ideas, books and food items that you may enjoy making with your children.  If you have some things you have done with your family that you don't mind sharing, please add them in the comment section for myself and my viewers to see.   

Tori.

A good read

Everyone loves a gingerbread house, decorating it and eating it of course :^)

Craft items you may find right in your own backyard.

 

These are guaranteed to be a hit.  Yum Yum - and fun to decorate

 

 

These are more good Christmas books for your kids to read.

 

                                                 Popsicle sticks make for easy fun crafts.

 

 

                                              
 

You could print Christmas pictures off of the internet to color for free or buy a coloring book.

Cute, easy to make and a healthy colorful snack. Little Grinch Santa heads made with

a green grape, banana slice, strawberry, and a miniature marshmallow.

Easy to make ornaments

You can fill your ornament with anything you like.

 

                                      
                                 
                                       A gingerbread man can also be made into a snowman. 
                            So 3 different cookies from one cookie cutter.  Easy on the budget.

                                                 

A new book out in time for Christmas. 

                                           

Made from a paper plate.

 

Use your own kids' silhouette for this.  They will love it and so will your guests.

                                   

A couple of books you will recognize.

Rice Krispies are always a good treat.

 

Made from different sized cans and some white paint.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

HO! HO! HO!

JINGLE ALL THE WAY  

The Pressure of Christmas Gift Buying

          Christmas is such a wonderful time for family gatherings and gift giving.  Of course the traditional meal is always looked forward to.  So many parents spend a lot of money on toys in hopes of making Christmas special for their young children.  Then of course they spend the rest of the year complaining about how spoiled they are and how they don't appreciate what they have and they spend hours picking up the daily mess that is left behind at bedtime. 

          A possible solution is to purchase more items that will engage your child's time throughout the year.  Items that are entertaining and encourage family time as well and learning.  These items will not over-flow the toy box and are less likely to get broken within a few days.  Things like family board games, or educational online programs that use computer games to teach your kids, and for sure buy some books. 

          All kids want the latest toys and gadgets out there but do they really need it all at such a young age.  Buy one special toy not ten.  People feel pressured into buying at Christmas time and spending money that they don't have.  You can still have a wonderful, fantastic Christmas, spend less, enjoy the gifts longer, have ongoing family time or game nights, just by keeping it simple. 

          Reading books to your child at bedtime is a good habit that will keep their interest in reading growing throughout their lives.  Show them that there is an adventure to be found in every book.  Get books that not only entertain and encourage your child's imagination but how about books that give them knowledge in a fun way.  Books about family pets, sealife, wildlife, counting, colours, paper folding crafts, making puppets out of socks, activity books, books about trains and airplanes, and so much more...

          Years later what will kids remember?  Will they remember all the toys and gadgets they had or will they remember the time they spent with you during family time.  My grown children, who all have children of their own now, tell me how they want their kids to be a part of some of the things they remember from when they were little that remain important to them to this day.  We had very limited funds back then but I never let it interfere with Christmas.  We made homemade items to hang on our tree, they all helped to make the felt ornaments and stuff them and make the popcorn string for garland.  Anything they made at school and brought home was proudly hung.  Christmas is for the kids so let it be about your kids and get them involved.  Let them help make cookies and decorate them.  Go sledding.  There is so much more to Christmas than just the toys. 

          So what do you do about the people in your family that want to buy the kids gifts.  It is actually helpful for people if you give them a list of preferred gift items to choose from.  Do up a wish list.  Your friends and family will appreciate it and you will not end up with stuff you don't want your kids to have.

          I just did a book sale/signing and found people were happy to buy my books for their kids or grandkids as Christmas gifts for this year.  When I spoke with them they also shared some of the other books they love for their families.  I can tell you the most popular author's name that came up  (other than mine of course)  was Robert Munsch.  I'm sure you have all seen some of his books. 

          I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all the best in the New Year.  Happy Reading and I hope you will check-out my website for Tori-Books at:  www.Tori-Books.com  Kids are never too young to start a book collection.

         Tori.

Setting up for a book sale/signing

          Be creative.  Make your table stand-out.  Be approachable and friendly.  Smile.  Have a draw for a free copy of your book.  People like giveaways.  Always have your business cards handy and out in view.  Encourage people to take one and let them know if your website is listed on it or if it tells them where they can purchase more of your books.  Good business cards will have this info.

          I wrote in my books prior to the start of the sale to make it quicker and easier, so when people bought a book all I had to do was write the Child's name and sign my name.  Even though it is close to Christmas don't assume people want to give the book as a Christmas gift, always ask first.  If it is a Christmas gift then you can sign, Merry Christmas, if not you can sign as you like.  I sign with "Smiles, Tori".   Also, you should purchase pens to sign with that have acid free ink and that are smudge proof.  They come in many colors.  When signing the book I do not advise you to use your actual signature as somewhere down the road it will most likely end up on the internet.  I sign with my nick name Tori rather than my legal name, just safer.

          While selling my books and talking to people, I let them know that I have another book coming out in January and that I have an upcoming book reading happening and where.  Advertise, but at the same time listen to people and ask them about what other books they enjoy and buy for their kids.

           At the end of the day if you sold some books and made a few people happy then you should feel proud of yourself and your accomplishments.  Keep in mind, word of mouth is often the best seller of all. 

Patches the Giraffe & His Best Friend

    
     Check out www.Tori-Books.com website to see my new updates online. New book coming out in January. Also, available in 2014 - Patches' Best Friend a cute and cuddly plush stuffed giraffe. Watch my site for more details. Happy Friday Everyone!

        Tori-Books Mascot is Patches the Giraffe
He is in my book "The Bedtime Story" coming out in January, 2014. 

                  Check out my website to see Patches' new best friend that will available for purchase in 2014.  Kids will love this plush cuddly stuffed Giraffe.

 

Book Reading

Enriching Children’s Lives Through Reading

And Imagination

 

Join local Author, Victoria Phillips of Tori-Books, at the
Bompas Elementary School on November 28, 2013. 
This is a great opportunity for the children in Kindergarten,
Grades 1 & 2 along with their parents to meet an
Author in person and have some fun.

 

“PARENTS ARE INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND”

 

Schedule for November 28th

Class 2 - Grade one 9 am – 9:45 am

Class 1 - Kindergarten – 10:30 am – 11:15 am 

Class 3 - Grade two/three – 11:20 – 12 noon

Each student will have his/her name entered into a draw for a chance to win a free Tori-Books T-Shirt.  The draw will take place at the school just after 2 pm.  The winner will have his/her photo taken with the Author and the photo will be posted on the Tori-Books website.  Good Luck!!

 

 

Reading & Family Time Go Hand-in-Hand.

 

 

Kids Love Reading.  Encourage The Habit!

 

The picture says it all

I got permission from the family to share this photo with you.  It is priceless. 
Mom says:  "Of all the toys and treasures in the store, the books are her daughter's absolute favourite!!!"
Just goes to show that Reading and Family Time go Hand-in-Hand no matter where you are.  There is always an adventure to be found in every book, and on every page.  Read for the fun of it.

So for all you Children's Book Authors out there - Keep Writing, your work is appreciated. 

How do I do a newspaper interview?

          Part of Marketing and Promotions is to do Newspaper interviews.  Here is my first one below.  Remember to set up a good webpage, a blog, join google +, twitter, pinterest, etc.  Send out emails to let people know your new book is out and tell them where they can purchase it.  I write young Children's books so I have approached elementary schools to arrange a book reading.  I have also  got a table at the Christmas Bazaar.  More plans in the works for the New Year.  At the same time I am working on book #3.  It is important to keep writing.  Until next time, Tori.