Welcome Winter! Solstice-Inspired Learning

The winter solstice will occur on Sunday, December 21, 2025. It marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, a turning point that has inspired celebrations across cultures for centuries. It may be chilly outside, but winter is a time we fill with light, warmth, and traditions that bring families together. Make this season of light magical for kids by discovering the traditions of holidays like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and exploring winter traditions from Alaska.

Celebrating Winter and Holiday Traditions with PBS KIDS 

Nature Cat

Credit: Image courtesy of PBS KIDS

Curious how to explain the winter solstice to your child in an easily-understandable way? In the "Nature Cat" episode “Winter Dance Party", Daisy and her friends celebrate the shortest day of the year with a festive dance party to welcome the longer days ahead. The friends learn about seasonal changes and what causes the solstice before they race to prepare decorations and catch the setting sun. 

Arthur

Credit: Image courtesy of PBS KIDS

Francine and her family celebrate Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights. This eight-day holiday is filled with meaningful traditions, such as lighting candles in a special menorah, spinning the dreidel, and enjoying tasty treats like latkes. To bring this celebration to life for your child try creating a safe-to-touch cardboard menorah together! This hands-on activity is a wonderful way to introduce young learners to the symbols and customs of Hanukkah while encouraging creativity and fine motor skills. 

The Brain and his family celebrate Kwanzaa by decorating their home and learning about their culture, history, and community. This seven-day holiday honors seven guiding principles, each represented by a candle. These candles are placed in a special holder called a kinara, and one candle is lit each day to reflect values like unity, creativity, and faith. Help your child explore the meaning behind this beautiful tradition by making a paper kinara together! It’s a fun way to explore the tradition of Kwanzaa while expanding cognitive development and fostering creativity.

Do you have younger children who prefer to color? Here's a coloring sheet of Brain lighting the kinara!

Molly of Denali 

In the "Molly of Denali" winter solstice episode, “The Shortest Birthday,” Molly and Tooey plan a special surprise for their friend Trini, whose birthday falls on the shortest day of the year. As they embark on a journey to a prime bird-watching spot with limited daylight, they learn about the winter solstice, the low angle of the sun, and the challenges of traveling in winter.

In Alaska, families prepare for the cold months ahead by preserving foods and sharing resources, a practice rooted in resilience and and a strong sense of community. In the PBS KIDS game Molly’s Winter Kitchen, players explore these traditions by helping Molly and her mom prepare and preserve Alaskan foods like moose stew, blueberry jam, and birch syrup. As players collect ingredients and follow preservation steps, they learn about Alaska Native culture and the importance of sharing during winter.

Sharing food is a wonderful way for family and friends to show they care. Cooking together can also help children build confidence and learn important skills such as measuring and following directions. This simple spiced oatmeal muffin activity is perfect for introducing children to the joy of baking. When the muffins are ready, enjoy the best part: sharing your homemade muffins with loved ones!

Winter invites us to discover how people around the world live closely with the land by adapting to snow, ice, and cold through traditions that emphasize teamwork and respect for the environment. In the PBS KIDS game Sled Dog Dash, players help Molly and Tooey deliver a GPS to Grandpa Nat by caring for their sled dog team and traveling across the Alaskan wilderness. Along the way, they explore informational text skills like reading diagrams, captions, and menus to learn about feeding dogs, resting the sled team, and gear, as well as habitats and Alaska Native culture.

Pinkalicious and Peterrific

Credit: Image courtesy of PBS KIDS

The holidays are the perfect time to get creative and make meaningful connections with your child. Just like Pinkalicious and Peter, who love building and decorating gingerbread houses, you and your child can design your own festive gingerbread village using recycled cardboard! This hands-on activity encourages creativity, storytelling, and shared time together during the winter season.

Looking for another cozy family holiday activity? Gather a few simple supplies from around the house and outdoors to make cheerful snow people that brighten up your home. Watch this clip from "Pinkalicious & Peterrific" to learn a fun way to add light and joy to your winter celebrations! It’s an imaginative way to encourage sensory exploration and decorate your home together!

Discover more adventures and winter traditions on GPB and PBS KIDS!