Just in time for Christmas, sisters, best friends and founders of LitWits Workshops, Becky Kimball and Jenny Walicek, have provided a list of the GREAT books they've "Litwitted" for children. When two lifetime readers have spent their adult years bringing great literature alive for children --reading, teaching, dramatizing, illustrating, writing, sewing, cooking, breathing, immersing themselves in the lives and times of their characters-- you take advantage of their talents and presence! Over the past year they have expanded, taking their literature kits to a national level, yet they are still "ours" --continuing to offer their workshops locally. Many local parents and teachers are taking advantage of our local literary treasure, LitWits! I hope you will too.

If you have read some of the classics a long time ago, read them again. You could be in for a surprise! On a recent road trip, I listened to the audio of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. It captured my attention as if I had never read it.  I remembered the great love story, but had little recollection of the adversity Jane overcame or that Charlotte Bronte, who lived and wrote between 1816-1855, was such a powerful feminist, as well as a great story teller.

The calendar is FULL with events, so many we cannot list them all in this newsletter. Be sure to keep checking it as more events are added every day!

Please recommend our newsletter to new friends so they won't miss a few tidbits of wisdom from our author contributors, and as always the many fun events! Check the online calendar.

Enjoy the event filled weekend with family!  Parmalee

"Each Hanukkah, families gather together for an eight-day celebration to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem.

While not the most important religious holiday on the calendar, Hanukkah has come to be one of the most well-known Jewish holidays, thanks to its traditional fried foods, games and the ever-present menorah.

Discover eight interesting facts about the Festival of Lights." Read more>>>History Stories

Statue of Liberty Menorah handcrafted by Manfred Anson, Holocaust Survivor

While Kwanzaa has been around since its inception in 1966, my fellow teachers and I were unaware of it when we were teaching in a mostly black school in a large eastern city.  In fact the first I heard of it was in the mid 90's in Santa Cruz. Today it has spread into a worldwide celebration of a shared cultural heritage by millions with origins in western Africa.

"Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966. After the Watts riots in Los Angeles, Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community. He founded US, a cultural organization, and started to research African "first fruit" (harvest) celebrations. Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa."

Kwanzaa is celebrated December 26 through January 1. Read more at history.com where you can learn about Kwanzaa's Seven Candles, their symbolizism and how Kwanzaa is celebrated.  In fact, get some of these children's books to learn more about this evolving social holiday. 

Annual Audubon Bird Count

You can add to a century of citizen science data by signing up for a count near you.

Audubon's 118th Christmas Bird Count will be conducted between  Thursday, December 14, 2017 through Friday, January 5, 2018.

A map view of the circles expected to be included in the completed 118th CBC can be found here. If you're interested in participating this season, check out the map to find a count near you. Please  contact compilers by email using the information from the pop-ups on the map.

Since the Christmas Bird Count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteers like you. Please keep reading to learn more about the Christmas Bird Count.

If your home is within the boundaries of a CBC circle, then you can stay at home and report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you have made prior arrangement with the count compiler. Check out the sign-up link above during the sign-up season for information on how to contact the compiler.

by Nicole M. Young, MSW

I live five minutes away from the beach, and yet I often go months without stepping foot in the sand. Sometimes, the closest I get to the ocean is when I take the back roads instead of the highway to get to or from meetings. It's ridiculous, especially when I know that many people dream of living near the ocean or travel for hours to spend a day at the beach. And yet every time I get a glimpse of the ocean - or actually make it to the beach - I automatically take a deep breath, say a silent "thank you," and feel a sense of peace and contentment that had been absent only moments before. It's little moments like these that remind me how grateful I am for the life I live.

This monthly column provides tips for anyone who is helping raise children or teens, based on the world-renowned Triple P - Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, please email me at triplep@first5scc.org.

Dear Nicole,

I have great kids (9 and 11) who are polite, get along with each other, and don't have any behavior issues (yet). I'd like some ideas, though, about how to teach them to be grateful for what they have, instead of always wanting or feeling entitled to have more things. Do you have any tips for me? - Desiree

Dear Desiree, What a great question! continue reading>>>

It's common for children - and many adults - to behave in ways that appear self-centered, materialistic, or constantly dissatisfied. It might seem like these behaviors are part of human nature or our society that we have to accept, but they are actually learned behaviors that can be reduced or replaced with gratitude. In fact, research shows that having an attitude of gratitude changes the structure of the human brain, making people feel happier, healthier, and more peaceful. Here are some tips to try:

Set a good example. Take time to notice the things you are grateful for, even if it's something that seems trivial. Talk to your children about the peace, satisfaction, or happiness that you feel when you watch the sunset, smell your favorite food, read a good book, get their help with chores, or put on your sweatpants and slippers at the end of a long day. Avoid complaining or criticizing other people or things, especially in front of your children. Remember they are constantly watching, listening, and learning from you - even when it seems like they are ignoring you.

Make gratitude a daily habit. Ask your children to identify one thing they are grateful or thankful for each day. Younger children might enjoy drawing pictures of the things that make them feel content and peaceful. Older children can also draw, write in a journal or take pictures. Have conversations about the things they appreciate during mealtimes, bedtime, or as you're going about your daily activities. These simple steps can teach children to notice and find joy in the everyday moments of their lives.

Give them responsibilities at home. Running a household and raising children is hard work! Give children age-appropriate chores and responsibilities to teach them that family life runs more smoothly when everyone pitches in. Give descriptive praise and positive attention to show your appreciation when they help with laundry, dishes, cleaning, feeding pets, or doing yardwork. This will encourage them to continue being helpful, as well as increase the likelihood that they'll be grateful - instead of taking it for granted - when other people do things for them.

Encourage children to help and care for others. Receiving gratitude from other people gives children the chance to feel good about being kind, helpful, and generous. Try to find an activity your whole family can help with - provide baked goods for a school fundraiser, serve meals at a shelter, pick up trash in your community, or visit seniors who live alone without family close by. Involve your children in picking the activity and talk about how it will be helpful. Acknowledge their helpfulness during the activity, then talk to them afterwards about how they felt. Encourage your children to continue helping others without expecting anything in return, so that they learn to receive gratitude throughout the year.

Final Thoughts: Take a few moments each day to notice the people and experiences that make you happy, content and peaceful. Express your appreciation and gratitude, and teach your children to do the same. Make this a daily habit, and you'll find that gratitude becomes contagious.

Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 14 and 17, who also manages Santa Cruz County's Triple P - Positive Parenting Program. To find a Triple P parenting class visit http://triplep.first5scc.org,  or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at (831) 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org.