Gingerbread Houses

A fun thing the Orca class does every year is build "gingerbread" houses. We really use graham crackers, "glued" with royal frosting to a milk carton, and then decorated gloriously.

Each child brings in some candy decorations to share. We discuss as a group how much candy we should eat, and it is always surprising how much the children self-limit. This year we decided on 5 pieces, and each child (some with a little more help than others) counted out their five choices and placed them in a little cup. They knew they could eat them all at once, or throughout the day, or even save them until they were through. This is very hard for impetuous young children, and they really have to use their self-regulation to resist putting lots of candy in their mouths.

It's amazing how art work reflects a child's personality. Some children are detail oriented and spend lots of time, while others want it done quickly. Some take the time to pattern their candy choices, while others believe in the "more is better" approach.

We do talk about how the forsting is made with eggs, and how eating it could give you a tummy ache. This does not seem to bother most of them. I am not sure what happens when these masterpieces get home. I wonder if some families dole out nibbles of the houses in much the same way Halloween candy is doled out, or if some parents opt for the "let's get it out of the way" eat-it-all-at-once choice. Needless to say, it's loads of fun!