Holiday-at-Home Kit Youth (13 – 16)

Craft: Pony Bead (13 – 16 years old)

Supplies Needed:  2 yards cord of choice  1 lanyard hook or keyring (optional)  31 green pony beads  4 red pony beads  1 yellow pony bead

Instructions: 1. Cut about 3 feet of cord and fold it in half. 2. Tie a knot down a bit to leave a loop to hang as decoration. 3. The top of the is the star, so string a yellow bead on the right side cord. 4. Go to the left strand of cord through the left side of the bead. Pull both strands to bring yellow bead to the top. 5. Switch sides as you go with the next set being green and so on. 6. Once you reach the bottom, knot both laces and cut remaining lace off.

*Adapted from Artists Helping Children: https://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/kidscraftsactivitiesblog/2011/12/how-to-make-a-pony- bead-christmas-tree-ornament/

Craft: 3D Paper Snowflake (13 – 16 years old)

Supplies Needed:  6 paper squares (white, blue or silver)  Scissors  Glue or tape  Pencil  String for hanging

Instructions: 1. Fold the square in half 2. Fold in half again 3. Cut 3 slits from the folded side of your triangle, evenly spaced and not quite all the way to the other side 4. Unfold the paper 5. Tape the inner flaps together 6. Flip the paper over. Tape the second pair of flaps together 7. Flip again and tape the third pair of flaps (attach flaps at their tips) 8. Flip over and glue the outer flaps together by the tips 9. Repeat for all squares 10. Tape or staple all snowflake pieces together 11. Attach your string and hang in the window!

*Adapted from First Palette: https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/3d-paper-snowflake.html

Craft: Yarn Ornaments (13 – 16 years old)

Supplies Needed:  Cookie cutters  6-8 ft Cotton yarn  White glue  Paper plate  20 Sewing pins or tacks

Instructions: 1. Place the cookie cutters on top of a paper plate and trace around the edges with a mechanical pencil. 2. Poke sewing pins through the paper to mark out your shape. 3. Cut out your yarn into manageable lengths about 2 ft long with 3-4 pieces of yarn 4. Put one of the pieces of yarn into the bowl of glue and stir it around until it’s completely covered. 5. Slide the yarn through the fork, then pull it up to remove the excess glue. 6. Wrap the glue soaked yarn around the outline of the shape. 7. Then start to wrap the yarn around the pins, from one side of the shape to the other. Try to wrap the yarn around all of the pins at least once if you can. 8. When you reach the end of your first piece of yarn, add another piece of yarn to the bowl of glue and continue wrapping randomly across the shape around the pins. 9. When you’re happy with the amount of yarn within your shape, try to tuck the end of the yarn somewhere inconspicuous. Then use your finger nail to push the yarn down on each of the pins. You want to make sure all the layers of yarn are touching each other so they stick together well when they dry. 10. The more the yarn pieces are touching, the stronger your ornament will be. 11. Allow the yarn ornaments to dry overnight. 12. When the yarn is completely dry and stiff to the touch, start removing the pins. 13. The pins are going to be glued to the yarn, so you have to loosen the grip before they’ll come out. Try twisting the pins or even pushing them down through the paper. 14. Once the grip of the glue breaks, make sure you use your fingernail to hold the yarn down as you pull out each of the pins. 15. Once all of the pins have been removed, loosen the ornaments from the paper. 16. Tie on some ribbon or string to turn them into Christmas ornaments

*Adapted from One Little Project: https://onelittleproject.com/how-to-make-wrapped-yarn-ornaments/

Activity: Name the Holiday Tune (13 – 16 years old)

Supplies Needed:  Music player  Christmas related songs playlist

Instructions: 1. Gather the teens in a room. 2. Play a few notes of the song and tell the teens to guess the tune. 3. Give points for each correct answer. 4. To up the ante, ask the teens to name the musician or artist as well.

Holiday Playlist:   Deck the Halls  Silent Night   White Christmas  is Coming to Town

*Adapted from Mom Junction: https://www.momjunction.com/articles/christmas-party-games-for-teens_00379087/

Activity: Merry Bingo (13 – 16 years old)

Supplies & Instructions:  Print out all the game cards and call sheets and game markers  Use the several copies of the markers sheet  Cut out each game piece from the call sheet and marker game pieces  Give the call pieces to the caller  Give each player one card and 25 markers

Line Bingo: 1. Mark each square with a bingo marker that matches the image the caller draws. 2. When all squares are marked in a straight line, vertically, horizontally or diagonally you have a BINGO! 3. Say ‘Merry!’ loudly enough for the caller to hear you. Bingo: 1. Mark each square with a bingo marker that matches the image the caller draws. 2. When all the squares around the outside edge of the card are marked you have a BINGO! 3. Say ‘Merry!’ loudly enough for the caller to hear you. T’s Bingo: 1. Mark each square with a bingo marker that matches the image the caller draws. 2. When you have a ‘T’ in any direction you have a BINGO! 3. Say ‘Merry!’ loudly enough for the caller to hear you.

U Bingo: 1. Mark each square with a bingo marker that matches the image the caller draws. 2. When you have a ‘U’ in any direction you have a BINGO! 3. Say ‘Merry!’ loudly enough for the caller to hear you

Blackout Bingo: 1. Mark each square with a bingo marker that matches the image the caller draws. 2. When you have all the squares on the card marked you have a BINGO! 3. Say ‘Merry!’ loudly enough for the caller to hear you.

*Adapted from Love to Know: https://cf.ltkcdn.net/party/files/413-Merry-Christmas-Bingo-Game.pdf Snack: Snowman Pancakes (13 – 16 years old)

Supplies Needed:  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour  3 1/2 tsp baking powder  1 tsp vanilla extract  1 egg  1 1/4 cups milk  3 tbsp. melted butter  1 small bag chocolate chips  2-3 cups icing sugar  1 pint/container of strawberries or blueberries  1 bottle maple syrup  1 bottle whip cream  Large mixing bowl  Small pan for melting butter  Measuring cups

Instructions: 1. Sift the flour and baking powder – it’s important for nice fluffy pancakes. 2. Make a well, and crack an egg into it. 3. Melt the butter in the microwave (make sure it doesn’t burn). Put in microwave for 20- 30 seconds but check often. 4. Add the milk and the vanilla extract to the melted butter and stir to combine. Heat a skillet or cast iron pan, and add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil. When it is almost smoking hot, pour in approximately 1/4 cup of the batter and coax into a round shape. 5. Turn when you see it start bubbling (when underside is golden brown).

Time to assemble your pancake snowmen! 1. Each snowman requires 2-3 small pancakes 2. Sprinkle icing sugar on them to cover them to make that snow effect! 3. Decorate them by putting chocolate chips as their eyes and mouths and berries for their noses and buttons! 4. Then put whip cream as their scarves! 5. Drizzle maple syrup and there you have them – time to eat them up!

*Adapted from A Kailo Chic Life: https://akailochiclife.com/2013/12/snowman-pancakes.html

Snack: Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies (13 – 16 years old)

Supplies Needed:  3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature  3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar  1/4 cup granulated sugar  1 large egg, at room temperature  2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract  2 cups all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)  2 teaspoons cornstarch  1 teaspoon baking soda  1/2 teaspoon salt  3/4 cup white chocolate chips  3/4 cup dried cranberries

Instructions: 1. In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer, beat the butter for 1 minute on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy. 2. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and mix on medium high speed until fluffy and light in color. 3. Beat in egg & vanilla on high speed. 4. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt together until combined. 5. On low speed, slowly mix into the wet ingredients until combined. 6. Add the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. 7. Cover dough tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. Chilling is mandatory for this cookie dough. 8. Remove cookie dough from the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes– if the cookie dough chilled longer than 2 hours, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. This makes the cookie dough easier to scoop and roll. 9. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. 10. Once chilled, the dough will be slightly crumbly, but will come together if you work the dough with your hands as you roll into individual balls. 11. Scoop and roll balls of dough, about 1 heaping Tablespoon of dough each, into balls. Place 10-12 on each baking sheet. 12. Bake in batches for 10-11 minutes, until barely golden brown around the edges. 13. Allow to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet. If the cookies are too puffy, try gently pressing down on them with the back of a spoon. 14. They will slightly deflate as you let them cool. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

*Adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/soft-baked-white-chocolate-chip-cranberry-cookies/

Snack: Pizza Stockings (13 – 16 years old)

Supplies Needed:  Boot or triangle cookie cutter (either Santa boot or Santa hat)  1 can Pillsbury refrigerated Crescent Dough Sheet  ¼ cup pizza sauce  ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese  1 bag mini pepperoni sticks

Instructions: 1. Heat oven to 350°F. Unroll dough on work surface. Press into 13x8-inch rectangle. Using 2 1/2- to 3-inch stocking-shaped cookie cutter, cut 12 stockings from dough. Transfer to ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 minutes. 2. Top with sauce, leaving 1/4-inch border. Sprinkle mozzarella at top of each stocking. 3. Bake 4 to 6 minutes longer or until cheese melts. 3. Optional: decorate with mini-pepperoni sticks.

*Adapted from Pillsbury: https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/crescent-pizza-stockings/c83b8470-4cec-46d7-bc57- 6b9c3d09c6f8

Family Activity: Christmas Charades

Supplies Needed:  Christmas Charade action cards  2+ players

Instructions: 1. Divide into 2 teams or if there’s only 2 people, you will not have teams and will just be playing with 1 person guessing and 1 person acting. 2. Each team gets a set of Christmas Charade action cards. 3. Have one person from each team act and have the other team members guess what they are acting without making any sounds. 4. Once one team guesses correctly, that team gets the point. 5. The team with the most points win!

Making Christmas Cookies Christmas Caroling

Making a snow angel Drinking hot chocolate

Building a house Rocking around the

Going on a sleigh ride Opening presents

Mailing packages Catching a snowflake on your tongue

Cutting down a Christmas tree Listening to

Holiday Shopping Elves making toys

Writing Christmas cards Peeking at a present

Wrapping presents Building a snowman

The stealing presents Putting on a snow suit

Decorating the Christmas tree Hanging

Building a snow fort Listening to Christmas music

Going to a Christmas party Putting the star on top of a tree

Eating Santa’s cookies and milk Putting up the Christmas tree

Having a snowball fight Building a fire in the fireplace