If you are here for the Home and Family Friday linky party, keep scrolling down to link up.
Hands down, my favorite activity to do with my kids over the Holidays would have to be our Gingerbread Day. Serena, over at the Farm Chicks blog is hosting a Holiday party and book signing. So, if you’re wondering why I have a Christmas post so early in November, now you know.
Before I tell you about the day itself, I need to share a little history. Fifteen years ago, when I was doing my student teaching, my cooperating teacher coordinated a gingerbread day for the first graders. They each brought in a candy item to share with the group. She made the house bases in advance and the kids had a ball decorating the houses with all the candy they had collected. It was the perfect fun and festive day for the kids, without being too Christmas-like for public schools. When I finished my student teaching, my cooperating teacher gave me a packet filled with everything I’d need to coordinate my own Gingerbread Day when I had my own classroom.
image from funroom.com
So, at my new school, I became the Gingerbread Queen. Not only did I coordinate Gingerbread Day for my class, I was the coordinator for our entire primary staff. It was such a terrific day! Every class from kindergarten through third grade participated on the same day and we had a walk through tour at the end of the day. Each year the houses became harder and harder to build. By third grade, the teachers had the kids “purchasing” their candy items after writing a detailed plan for building.
Fast forward a few years, and now I’m back teaching at that original school. It’s still a first grade tradition at this school, so we don’t get to do Gingerbread Day in kindergarten. But, I still get to be the Gingerbread Queen. You see, when my son was 2 (7 years ago) I started hosting a gingerbread party for my kids’ friends and cousins.
I ask every family to bring a candy item to share.
When the kids were little, I prepared the house bases ahead of time. Now we just build and create! Sometimes the candy houses turn into candy fortresses.
I hope, when my kids are grown, they’ll look back and remember this as a special day. My goal as a mom, is to create wonderful memories for my kids. I’m hoping this is one of them.
Check out these parties I like to link up to.
The Comments
Sarah
So much fun! 🙂
HoosierHomemade
What fun! We tried houses last year and they flopped, maybe this year will be better.
Thanks for the inspiration!
~Liz
Diane Sweeney
Hi Becca,
Any advice about how to make the bases? I want to try this but have some little ones so better to be prepared. 🙂
ohiomommy
You just inspired me to do this in my own home with my girls, our neighborhood girls, and cousins ( girls of course ). I'm now looking forward to coordinating a fun afternoon of 'gingerbread' house constructing.
Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden
When my kids were in kindergarten, they made these, but used a lunch-sized milk carton to support the graham crackers.
Very sweet!
Thanks for hosting today!
~Heather
My girls (10 & 12) and their friends did this on Friday night – but made spooky haunted houses instead!. Great way to keep them entertained, and it isn't just for little kids 🙂 I used purple food coloring in the frosting "glue", then dyed some coconut green for grass, combine that with some black licorice, candy corn, purple kisses and black necco's – we had some pretty scary houses!
Cozy Home Scenes
I would have loved to have been in your class. I love gingerbread houses, but my mom never wanted to go to the trouble to make one. I would have loved to have done this in school, but the only holiday crafts I remember involved construction paper and crayons.
Missy
Those are the cutest. I'm gonna have to try this with my kids. Can you share the icing recipe?
Denise
so cute and so fun! I just love it. I need to pick this one up again in our holiday traditions. My 9 yr old always did them in school, but no more. You are a great mommy.
Sarah @ Modern Country Style
Those little houses are adorable.
I'd love to do that with my children this year…..I can't wait for Christmas!!
Thank you for hosting.
Sarahx
thefarmchicks
HI Gingerbread Queen! So glad you've joined in the party! Love, Serena & friends
Ann @ makethebestofthings
Love the gingerbread houses, so lovely! Your blog is full of interesting things, thanks for posting so much!
Becca
Wow! So many nice comments and it's only 10am! I'll post all of the "how to's" on gingerbread house making next week, with recipes and how to make the house bases.
Becca
April@gingerbreadgirl
this is pretty great!!! SO MUCH FUN!!!
TidyMom
These are too cute!!
LivingABonafideLife
I love this idea! I really want to make a gingerbread house this year, even though its just me and my husband right now! 🙂
Living A Bona Fide Life
Teresa
Oooh, I wonder if I can't talk my grown up boys into making these houses this year? For their mama? No? I need grandchildren!
Home Hinges
I love all the creative ideas here. Thanks for the invitation. I'm really flattered. Now I'm going to look at all the other fun things on your site.
Best wishes.
April @ HomeHinges.com
Vanessa
Hi Becca! These are so cute! They really are much easier for little kids to do and I just love that you are getting in the Holiday spirit already. I can't believe I didn't know that you have a party each week! How on earth did I miss that? I've started hosting one too and it is so fun to see all the creativity out there. I've linked up our Playroom to yours. Thanks for hosting!
Vanessa
Sue
What a great tradition! I'm sure your children will treasure the memory:)
One year, when my son was in second grade, another mom and I put together 60 houses(two classes), and the kids got to do all the decorating! 🙂
Patty
Thanks for inviting me to your linky party 🙂
I am going to explore your blog now 🙂
Kim @ Second Time Furniture
Becca,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and inviting me to your party! I am for sure doing the gingerbread house party at our house for the neighborhood kids! Thanks for the fab idea!
Kim 🙂
Maggie
kewl gingerbread 🙂
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com
Emily @ LaForce Be With You
I love this idea, we are going to do this! What is your recipe for the icing glue?