Thanks to all who generously supported the Howard County Diaper Project on Giving Tuesday, December 3. If you missed it, you can still help by contributing diapers, wipes or money to the Diaper Project. Every dollar donated will go toward purchasing diapers to distribute to Howard County families in need, because no family should have to choose between paying for food or clean diapers for their children. Help keep babies dry and healthy - donate today.

Holiday Activities for Howard County Families

2024 Holiday Lights Map

The 2024 “HoCo Holiday Lights” map is live. Throughout the holiday season, each listing includes an address, photos, description of the display, display dates and hours, and any special instructions for that location. Visitors can access a personalized map of holiday lights through Howard County and/or search for holiday displays by city, zip code or key word. Add your home, business, or community holiday lights display on the map. For questions or issues about registering your holiday display, email HoCoHolidayLights@howardcountymd.gov.

Holiday Train Gardens

• The Gary J. Arthur Community Center holiday train garden features four continuously operating trains traveling through an 80 by eight-foot scenic garden. Open now through January 5.
• Visit the Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum's festive train models throughout the museum, including a year-round exhibit in the Freight House. Open now through January 5.

Festive Friday Family Fun at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront

On Fridays in December, 5:30 to 8 p.m., see ice sculptures, capture a memory at the holiday-themed photobooth, listen to live choral music and enjoy arts and activities at the craft tent. Entry is free, with snacks, drinks and s’mores kits available for purchase. For more information, visit the Columbia Association events calendar.

Frozen Fest

Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia 21044

December 14 and December 15, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10 (click on a date to purchase)

Delight in a winter walk through the woods and investigate with frozen experiments. Learn about winter constellations in the planetarium, create tracks in the snow and see an outdoor puppet show. Warm up by the fire with a roasted marshmallow and enjoy other winter-friendly fun.

How Children Learn to Communicate

Babies learn language skills from the moment they are born, paying attention to all your sounds and expressions as you interact with them. Here are some ways to connect with your children, recommended by thebasics.org:

1. Talk to your Child - As you go about your day, talk to your child about the steps involved. For example, when starting up a bath, say “first we turn on the warm water. Then we’ll add some cold water until it feels just right.”

2. Sing to Them - According to NAEYC, singing helps you bond with your baby as well as help to teach them language and expand their vocabulary. Try signing special songs for special parts of your routine, such as bath time or bedtime.

3. Ask and Answer Questions - Engage your child by asking and answering questions about things that interest them, like “Which one is big and which one is small?” Wait to see how they respond, and if needed, provide the answer, “That one is big, and that one is small.”

These strategies help teach children about the world around them. Talk to your child in a loving tone of voice and take turns going back and forth, responding to their sounds with your words and facial expressions. For more information watch How Children Learn to Communicate or register for the free virtual Basics workshop December 16, 7 p.m.

For more Basics Insights based on your child’s developmental stage, sign up for free weekly text messages (in English or Spanish, for children birth to age five).