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Dear Friends of Ready Ready,
As the end of 2021 draws near, we still have much to celebrate in December. This newsletter contains some great family-friendly ideas and activities for the many holidays happening this month.
Did you know December 1 is Rosa Parks Day? Parks invigorated the movement for racial equality when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. Although she passed away at age 92 in 2005, we have memories of the civil rights icon visiting Greensboro in 1995. As the first recipient of the Alston-Jones International Civil and Human Rights award, Parks’ visit helped fund the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. Guilford County’s inspirational role in civil rights and the sit-in movement helped create population-level change. The 1960 lunch counter sit-ins led by the North Carolina A&T Four directly desegregated the Woolworths, where they took place and influenced similar acts of civil disobedience across the South.
Population-level change. It’s still a movement in Guilford County, and now Ready Ready is seeing support from North Carolina. Late last month, the General Assembly and Governor Roy Cooper agreed on a state budget that provides $1.2 million in funding for early childhood development to Ready Ready. Our mission to build a connected, innovative system of care for Guilford County’s youngest children and their families received a significant boost.
With our funders, board members, community partners, volunteers, and staff, we want to ensure Guilford County’s youngest children have the resources and support they need to develop, even before they start kindergarten. Every child deserves a great start in life.
Thank you for supporting our mission.
Sincerely,
Charrise Hart
CEO
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Ready for School, Ready for Life (Ready Ready) promotes equity, justice, diversity, and inclusion, which are woven through our mission, values, and principles. We stand against racism in all of its forms. Ready Ready will work with our community to address the structural inequities that drive disparate child and family outcomes and work towards an environment where equity, justice, diversity, and inclusion are core values. When we are working to address these structural inequities, Ready Ready will be bold in our actions.
When Guilford County Black and Indigenous children and families of color (BIPOC) feel welcomed, heard, respected, safe, supported, and valued, all of our community and our society benefit.
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So much to celebrate in December!
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Hanukkah
 Hanukkah ends its eight-night celebration on December 6. You may also see it spelled Chanukah, the Hebrew word for dedication. It’s also known as the festival of lights celebrated with nightly menorah lightings, special prayers, and fried foods.
Bodhi Day
 Buddhists celebrate enlightenment on December 8, known as Bodhi Day. The holiday celebrates Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, who achieved enlightenment through 49 days of meditation. As you might imagine, it’s generally observed as a quiet day of reflection.
Las Posadas
 Our Latinx friends celebrate Las Posadas December 16-24 with parties held at different people’s homes. Guests form a procession to mark Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn for Jesus’s birth before the party begins each night. Las Posadas means “The Inns” in Spanish, and there is evidence the holiday began near Mexico City in 1586.
Christmas
 Many Guilford County families celebrate Christmas on December 25. The day marks the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and is celebrated with church services, presents under the Christmas tree, and big family dinners.
Kwanzaa
 Kwanzaa begins the very next day on December 26, and lasts until January 1, 2022. This annual celebration of family, community, and culture started in African-American communities in 1966. Participants celebrate with feasts, music, dance, poetry, and reflection.
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We asked our Guilford Parent Leader Network (GPLN) to share some of their thoughts around the holidays in December. With mentions of Christmas Day, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve, parent leaders hold family traditions and memories close to their hearts.
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Would you like to join the GPLN? Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these meetings are being held via Zoom. When meetings resume in person, child care is provided to alleviate barriers to participation.
For more information, please contact Heather Adams, Director of Engagement and Literacy Initiatives, at (336) 579-2977 ext. 2004 or heathera@getreadyguilford.org.
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Click on the photo to see a video tour of Sunset Hills as shown on WGHP-TV.
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- The Greensboro Festival of Lights is on December 3 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. Live entertainment leads up to the community tree lighting at 6:56 p.m. Need a downloadable festival map?
- The Greensboro Holiday Parade launches rain or shine on December 4 from noon until 2:00 p.m. This year, a downtown holiday tradition for more than 40 years, the balloons, marching bands, and floats are back! This year’s grand marshals are 1ACHORD - semi-finalists of this year’s America’s Got Talent, and Randolph Ross, Jr., an Olympic gold medalist in track who is also an N.C. A&T Aggie. Also, look for The Basics Guilford float!
- The Sunset Hills neighborhood in Greensboro is known for its festive display of lighted balls to celebrate the season. Many families drive or walk through the community at night to enjoy the view. There is no admission, but nonperishable food is collected to share with local food banks in several places. Here’s how to get there.
- The 12th Annual Uptowne High Point Holiday Stroll is Saturday, December 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Check out The Basics Guilford tree at Tinsel Town at LeBauer Park from December 3-31. While you’re there -- vote for our tree with the handy QR code and your smartphone!
- The Black Luxe Holiday Mixer is on December 4 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. in High Point on South Main Street. More than 20 local Black-owned businesses will be on hand for your shopping fun, plus there is music, games, and more. Entry is free.
- Looking for a holiday selfie? You’ll want to walk down Peppermint Alley in Greensboro on Lewis Street from December 3-31. More free, festive, family-friendly holiday decorations abound.
- The High Point Museum will hold its 49th Annual Open House on December 5 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Santa will be there from 1:00-2:30 p.m.
- Celebrate a Celtic holiday with Scottish Faire in the Historical Park at the High Point Museum on December 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You’ll enjoy festive Scot’s traditions for New Year’s Eve, which they call Hogmanay, and the Yule season. There’s dancing, music, poetry, and more!
- Need more lights? The High Point University Christmas Drive is open to the public from December 19 - January 1 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. nightly. Enjoy the more than 100,000 lights, 138 nutcrackers, and many other holiday decorations.
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The Basics Guilford: Maximize Love, Manage Stress
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Infants and toddlers thrive when their world feels loving, safe, and predictable. Children know they can count on you when you express love and respond to their needs. The holidays can be a busy and stressful time, and children are perceptive. They are affected by your emotions, both good and bad. Finding strategies that help you cope with stress also benefit your child.
Tips for infants:
- Hold them. Kiss, cuddle, and hold your infant! Do not worry about spoiling them. Share your love.
- Comfort them. Infants have a hard time calming down on their own. They depend on you to help manage their emotions.
- Manage household stress. Stress is normal, but too much stress is bad for a baby’s brain. Things that can cause stress for an infant are loud noises, adults who seem upset, or adults who do not respond to their needs. Talk to friends, family, or your doctor about ways to deal with stress.
Tips for toddlers:
- Cuddle them. Regularly hug and cuddle your toddler to help them feel safe and loved.
- Talk about feelings. Teach your toddler to name their feelings. This will help them understand and express emotions.
- Involve them. Find simple ways to involve your toddler in chores or other activities around the house.
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Want more tips? Got 30 seconds? Watch this video.
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The Basics are five fun, science-based parenting and caregiving concepts that anyone can do. Learn more about them at www.guilfordbasics.org.
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Sign up for training in The Basics!
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As we share information about the Basics across Guilford County, we need your help. We’re offering virtual training on the Basics for teams of three or more at organizations that interact with young children. Each session lasts 30-45 minutes. To schedule a training session or learn more about Ready Ready and the Basics Guilford, please contact Literacy Coordinator Megan LeFaivre at meganl@getreadyguilford.org.
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Partner Spotlight: Celebrating our community
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As we close out 2021, we’re looking back at community partners we’ve featured in our newsletter and on our website. Our monthly partner spotlight shares how we’re working with many organizations in our community to create a collaborative, innovative system of care for Guilford County’s youngest children and our families.
Follow the links to learn more about each organization.
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