Day 2: Holiday Decorating Adventures - Your Christmas Tree is a Geometry Classroom
- Kelly Sutherland
- Nov 26, 2025
- 3 min read
Your Christmas Tree Is Teaching Math (And Your Kids Don't Even Know It)
Welcome to Day 2 of our 12 Days of Family Learning Adventures!
Yesterday we talked about bedtime stories. Today? We're turning holiday decorating into a sneaky-good STEM lesson.
I know what you might be thinking: "Kelly, it's just decorating. We're hanging ornaments."
But here's what I know as an educator with 25+ years in the classroom: Decorating isn't just about making things pretty. It's building spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and executive function skills.
Watch the video for Day 2
Why Spatial Reasoning Matters (More Than You Think)
Spatial reasoning is one of those foundational skills that shows up EVERYWHERE in learning:
In Math:
Understanding fractions and measurement
Geometry concepts
Number sense and place value
In Reading:
Letter orientation (b vs d, p vs q)
Tracking across the page
Visual discrimination of letters
In Writing:
Spacing between words
Alignment and organization
Letter formation
In Executive Function:
Planning and organizing
Problem-solving
Mental flexibility
And guess what builds all of this? Holiday decorating.
The Professional Knowledge You Need
Here's what happens in your child's brain when you ask them to help decorate:
When they choose where to place an ornament:
They're using spatial reasoning
They're planning visually
They're making aesthetic judgments
When you ask "Can you make a pattern?":
They're recognizing relationships
They're predicting what comes next
They're building mathematical thinking
When they have to balance decorations:
They're understanding symmetry
They're problem-solving
They're developing visual-spatial skills
All without a single worksheet.
The Simple Strategy: Let Them Lead
In today's video, I share the exact approach that makes decorating powerful:
Step 1: Set the Stage "I need your help decorating. You're in charge of the ornaments!"
Step 2: Ask Open-Ended Questions
"Where do you think this should go?"
"Can you make a pattern with these colors?"
"How could we make both sides match?"
"Which spot needs more decorations?"
Step 3: Let Them Problem-Solve Yes, even if they want to put all 47 ornaments on one branch. That's learning too. (Watch the video to find out why!)
Step 4: Notice and Name What They're Doing "Oh! You made a pattern—red, gold, red, gold!" "You're thinking about balance. That's spatial reasoning!"
What About When It "Goes Wrong"?
Real talk: Your child might not decorate the tree the way you would.
They might:
Cluster all the ornaments in one spot
Create "patterns" that don't actually repeat
Want the tree to look completely unbalanced
Take 3 hours to place 4 ornaments
All of this is GOOD.
Why? Because they're:
Making decisions
Problem-solving
Thinking spatially
Building confidence in their choices
You can always "adjust" the tree after bedtime if you need to. But during the process? Let them own it.
Tonight's Challenge: Decorate Together
Here's your assignment:
Give them 10-15 ornaments to place.
Ask just ONE question: "Can you make a pattern?"
Then watch what happens.
Download the free conversation starter cards from today's video for more ideas, but honestly? That one question might be all you need.
Watch Day 2 Now
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Coming Tomorrow
Day 3: Cookie Baking Adventures—where I'll show you the executive function skills and measurement concepts hiding in your holiday baking.
(Spoiler: Your kitchen is a better math classroom than most worksheets.)
See you tomorrow! 🍪
Kelly
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© Kelly Sutherland, 2025 | www.learninginadistractedworld.com
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