We all know about Rudolph and his luminous red nose, but the 1964 TV special (now a favorite Christmas movie) brings the story to life. Whether it’s the stop-motion animation or the festive songs, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has become a holiday classic for generations of children. Plus, you can catch one of its many airings annually during the month of December.
Rudolph and his dentist-aspiring pal, Hermey, run away after being bullied by others at the North Pole. On their journey, there’s a lot of lessons to point out to your kids.
- Value each other’s differences. Both Hermey and Rudolph are constantly reminded of being “misfits.” But really, it’s what makes them one-of-a-kind. Explain how you shouldn’t judge others based on their differences and instead, we should value and appreciate on what makes them different. After all, without Rudolph’s red nose, he wouldn’t be able to save Christmas.
- Face your problems. When Hermey and Rudolph run away, it seems like an easy solution to their troubles. Soon, they realize that escaping your problem does not equal happiness. Rudolph decides to go back home and it’s a great lesson to pass along to stand up to bullies.
- Follow your dreams. Hermey is an elf with a dream: He wants to be a dentist. And while others don’t understand why he doesn’t want to make toys like the other elves, he still has a passion for dentistry. This character teaches kids not to give up on their dreams, especially when it involves something you love.
Movie-Inspired Activities
Now that you’ve watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, try out these screen-free activities at home.
- Eat reindeer treats. You can satisfy your sweet tooth by recreating these chocolate-covered Rudolph Oreos by A Sparkle of Genius.
- Mix silver and gold slime. Inspired by the song “Silver and Gold” about arctic prospector, Yukon Cornelius, create your own metallic slime at home with this tutorial from Little Bins for Little Hands.
- Find a misfit toy. Is there an old doll or stuffed animal sitting in your child’s toy bin? Ask your kids to look for a toy they haven’t played with for a while and rediscover why they loved the toy in the first place.
- Keep track of dentist hygiene. Thanks to Hermey, this is a great opportunity to revisit good dental hygiene with kids. Mouth Healthy releases a yearly brushing calendar to help them keep track of brushing and flossing.
- Make a fluffy Bumble pillow. Perfect for your older kids, follow along these instructions from Crafty Lumberjacks to make an easy holiday decoration for your couch.
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