Kids and Christmas are an irresistible combination, and there are many ways to enjoy the experience and feel a little bit more like a child at Christmas yourself.
In the next coming weeks, there are a few extra-special ways to make Christmas meaningful for the young people in your life.
Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control is hosting “Deck the Howls” on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m.-noon. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to stop by in their jammies and enjoy making dog treats in Santa’s Barkery, creating toys for the dogs and cats in the Elf Workshop, and decorating the shelter to get the dogs, cats, and small animals in the holiday spirit.
There will be some treats available, but perhaps the biggest treat of all will come when the kids read holiday stories to the shelter animals.
As demonstrated by the Paws to Read program, a nationwide initiative that the Allen County Library has been offering for years, reading to pets provides great reinforcement for childhood literacy. It may be that kids are a bit less self-conscious and more open to sharing a story with a dog. The shelter animals also benefit from the effort.
The cost for Deck the Howls is only $10 per child, and registration at cityoffortwayne.org/education/deck-the-howls is encouraged.
Christmas Caroling at Lutheran
For children and families facing medical challenges, Christmas can be a time of mixed emotions. Fortunately, the children at Lutheran Children’s Hospital and Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House will get to enjoy a little holiday magic on Thursday, Dec. 19, when visitors are invited to bring a flashlight from home and provide some Christmas caroling and a light display to provide cheer.
Head down to Lutheran’s Children’s Hospital at 6:30 p.m. for some refreshments then at 7 the singing and light show begins. Dubbed “Love Light Shine Bright,” the evening will bring a smile to the kids and parents inside but undoubtedly also to those providing the music and light from outside.
Honoring Mister Rogers
Fred Rogers is in everyone’s hearts and minds these days with the release of the new Tom Hanks biopic last weekend. His kindness and gentle spirit are well-remembered, and his legacy continues today with Daniel Tiger’s popularity and equally kind messages.
To honor Mister Rogers at this time of year, when the fun of the holidays is paralleled with the cooler temps and challenges for children who may not have adequate outerwear for the season, PBS 39 is launching a drive to collect clothing.
From now until Friday, Dec. 6, PBS39 —local home for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for much of his career — asks that you please drop off your new or gently used sweaters and/or sweatshirts during normal business hours to ACPL branch locations (including downtown, Georgetown, Tecumseh, New Haven, Grabill, Hessen Castle, Pontiac, Shawnee, and Aboite), Eckhart Public Library in Auburn, South Whitley Community Public Library in South Whitley, Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County, Angola, Wabash County Historical Museum in Wabash, and Whitley County Historical Museum in Columbia City.
Help keep children in our area safe and warm for the upcoming frigid weather.
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