When children join Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care in Anchorage, AK, they are nurtured and educated in ways that are developmentally appropriate. The teachers at this fantastic learning center use a hands-on learning approach that encourages creative expression and experiential learning.

In addition to being a great way to express themselves, arts and crafts are a big part of teaching children concepts such as colors, shapes, counting, and fine motor skills. With the holidays almost here, gift-making is a great way to encourage early childhood learning.

Check out these three kids' activities for making simple gifts and crafts for the holidays, courtesy of Mashable:

• 52 Reasons Why I Love You Deck of Cards: This is a simple activity that involves writing and decorating. Children come up with 52 reasons why they love their grandma or big sister, and then write them on a deck of playing cards. Not only does this activity involve creativity, it also teaches children how to re-purpose an old item into something new!
• Felt Cup Cozies: Instead of Dad or Auntie using the paper cup sleeves at their favorite coffee place, kids can make reusable ones out of felt. For younger kids, instead of sewing, they can glue beads, sequins, and buttons onto the felt to make a cute design. The teachers at Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care recommend using this craft as a chance to talk about environmental conservation and how we can choose reusable items over disposable ones.
• Popsicle Stick Photo Frames: Kids can easily decorate Popsicle sticks with beautiful designs using paint, markers, stamps, or colored pens. Next, glue them together on the thin side so you have a flat surface on which to glue a photo. Finally, you can turn them into magnets by attaching a strip of magnetic tape to the back.

These are just a few simple kids' holiday crafts that promote early childhood learning while having fun and doing something nice for someone else. These are also examples of some of the kids' activities that children engage in at Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care. If you're looking for an active learning center for your child, visit Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care online and call (907) 274-2040 to schedule a tour of their safe and enriching facility.