December is a really inspiring time, though it can also be one of the most stressful months of the year. We love the spirit of this season, the peppermint mochas and yes, even the snow. It’s also a time of reflection, giving back and gratitude. Obviously this hasn’t been an easy year for anyone and the holidays, whichever one you’re celebrating, can be a source of anxiety and pain rather than love and happiness.
We spent a lot of time researching this month’s box and decided an awesome theme of winter sports would be perfect. There are a lot of other options for holiday-specific boxes and we wanted to be as inclusive as possible by not focusing on any particular event.
Are you ready to have December’s Kidspire Crate box spoiled? If so, read ahead!
December’s SHEro is Canadian Hockey Icon Hayley Wickenheiser! What better way to celebrate the changing seasons than by sharing a SHEro in the world of winter sports!
Hayley grew up in a small town in Saskatchewan and started playing outdoor ice hockey at the age of 5. At 13, she helped Alberta win the gold medal at the Canada Winter Games and, at 15, joined the Women’s National Team. She was a member of Team Canada when women’s hockey was added as an Olympic sport in 1998. She subsequently won four golds and one silver medal over the next 24 years.
Every Kidspire Crate includes an age-appropriate book featuring the month’s SHEro and this month, kids will love reading “Hayley’s Journey” by Sarah Howden. Ideal for young hockey fans and future stars, this level-2 I Can Read book is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.
To go with this month’s Kidspire Crate theme, our members will receive their very own hockey puck to inspire them to icy greatness and a mini table-top hockey game to practice their skills indoors. Pretend to be Hayley scoring the winning goal! While they’re sharpening their hockey skills, kids can wear their new Olympic gold medal just like the ones Hayley won many times over playing for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics. They can build (or pretend to build) a makeshift podium and make-believe what it’s like to win a gold medal.
Without a doubt, one of our favourite items this month is the one that’s both creative and practical for the days you’re spending outside in the cold.
How cool is this?? Get a few minutes of quiet time while the kids are busy being their creative little selves with their new travel mug. They could do a fun design, a winter wonderland scene or perhaps they’re longing for sunnier days and design a day at the beach! Whatever their desires, the mug is theirs to design.
Of course, we always include at least a couple extra items to make each box truly special! This month, we’ve expanded our activity workbook to 12 pages of puzzles, facts and fun. The little ones in your life can dive right in and learn some interesting things about Hayley, the Winter Olympics and Canada without having to wait to read the whole book.
We also include a custom-made Hayley backpack pin (long-time subscribers love having the whole set of SHEro pins) and a monthly letter to the parents sharing a bit more about why we chose Hayley and how to engage the little ones in discussion.
The December Kidspire Crate is bursting at the seams but we just couldn’t help ourselves this month. Wintertime is a special time of year, especially for us Canadians, and we were finally able to share some Canadian spirit with all our members. We’re almost sold out so be sure to pick up your subscription as soon as possible and of course, if you have any questions about our crates, we would love to hear from you.
-Kidspire Crate