Time with grandchildren is the most precious gift grandparents can receive. I just spent a week with my grandchildren at the shore. It was fun doing activities together while talking about whatever topic came up. My granddaughters asked many questions about my childhood…what my friends and I liked to do, what school was like, what toys I played with, and are amazed at what I didn’t have…video games, ipods, cell phones, DVDs, calculators, computers, Internet, etc. They were equally interested hearing that I had similar personal experiences in my childhood…bad dreams, feeling left out sometimes, crushes, not getting along with my older sister, and more. They, in turn, opened up and shared similar stories and interests. I call this sharing me time.
I enjoyed sharing with them stories about my grandparents, including humorous stories such as how my grandmother would drive me to ballet classes in her baby blue 1933 Nash Coupe at a very slow 25 miles an hour. Of course, there was always a line of cars held up behind her on the winding two lane route. Every week I was so embarrassingly late!
Bonding with Grandchildren
When grandparents are not able to visit as often as they’d like, attempts at becoming closer to their grandchildren are sometimes awkward. Combining an activity, such as cooking or a craft, with sharing me time helps to create a relaxed environment making it easier to build a closer relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.
ABC Family Photo Album Activity
Recently, I’ve been going through family photos looking for those to use in an ABC Family Photo Album. The album will have photos of past and present family members. Captions will include alliteration for the letter of the alphabet highlighted for that page. Include colors, shapes, prepositions, actions, emotions, too. Most importantly, make it fun to read. Two examples are shown here:
G
S
Great-Grandmother Irene is glamorous in her sun glasses at ninety-years-old
Nana at seven-years-old sitting on Santa’s lap (asking for a new girdle for her mother)
There are a couple of ways an ABC Family Photo Album project can be accomplished by grandparents with the help of grandchildren.
When grandchildren are visiting, go through some of your family photos with them. Ask them to tell you what they see as a starting point: beach, blue sky, hat, beads, sun glasses, sand, people, clouds…Together find words starting with the same letter and create an original caption (silliness welcome!) A caption for the photo on the left above could state for the letter B : Great-Grandmother Irene is at the beach under the blue sky wearing beads.
If grandchildren are not able to visit, use a web cam. Hold up photos one at a time and do the same as in number 1. Using a web cam helps in building a close relationship…and keeping it close until you are able to visit in person; you won’t have to work through that awkward stage again.
While you’re looking through the photos, take advantage of the time together to get to know each other better. This activity for grandparents and grandchildren together is a wonderful way to celebrate Grandparents Day for the day was originally created by its originator, Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade in 1970, to bring the older and younger generations closer together by sharing me time.
Grandparents Day has been celebrated the first Sunday after Labor Day since 1978. The purpose of Grandparents Day has been two fold: to bring attention to the lonely elderly in nursing homes and to encourage grandchildren to share in activities to learn more about their grandparents heritage. But for many grandparents and grandchildren, for various reasons, that Sunday isn’t always convenient for visiting and sharing. There are activities that can be shared together or at a distance. Grandparents Day can be any day that grandparents and grandchildren come together to celebrate their relationship whether it be in person or via a web cam or telephone.
Grandparents Day Craft Ideas
Whenever grandparents and grandchildren choose to celebrate Grandparents Day, it should be a day when memories and hopes are shared…a day when memories are also created to be shared for lifetimes to come. We grandparents love to receive handmade gifts from our grandchildren, especially those that include original artwork. Grandchildren equally love to show off their creative artwork, so sharing this type of craft activity is a win-win happening. Memories are gifts that are not only priceless, but keep on giving as long as the memory remains.
Family Peace Sign T-Shirts
Recently, while my grandkids and I were browsing through a discount store, we found Petra Boase’s Terrifyingly Terrific T-Shirts. Together Kaitlin and I discussed what we might be able to do together in designing a terrific t-shirt. She suggested we tie-dye the shirts and add a peace sign which is very popular, again. I suggested we add a few butterflies. She asked me why. My explanation was this…
Butterfly Effect Towards Peace
“Have you heard of the ‘Butterfly Effect’?” “No,” Kaitlin answered.
I asked her, “If a butterfly flaps its wings causing a very small breeze leading to changes in the atmosphere, would it be capable of changing a weather pattern?” “I don’t know,” she replied.
“Starting with just a little effort, it is possible that change could happen eventually even though we may never know. With just one act of kindness, perhaps each one of us could make a change so all children could live in peace. Our butterflies would represent acts of kindness moving towards world peace.”
Kaitlin asked what could she do to start her Butterfly Effect. “Being kind to everyone, especially those who make it more of a challenge may have an effect that you may never know. Hopefully, your act of kindness would one day make a difference in someone’s life.”
How to Make Your Family T-Shirt
To celebrate our Grandparents Day, our grandchildren will help us make t-shirts for family and friends. As we present the t-shirts, we will share the significance of our butterflies… maybe we will begin our own “Butterfly Effect.”
Note:
If you can’t be together on Grandparents Day, you can still design family t-shirts together. Separately, grandchildren can create their interpretation of the family t-shirt for their grandparents and the grandparents can do the same for their grandchildren. Send them to each other in time for Grandparents Day – take photos and post them on Facebook, a family blog, or a photo sharing website.
If you’d rather not use our suggestion, include in your design symbols that are special to your family that represent peace, kindness, love…events, memories or a special story of your own.
While you are interacting, exchange childhood memories…even young ones have them, too.
Revisit your Grandparents Day memories and others you have of moments together to keep them alive.
Other suggestions for this Grandparents Day craft project are door knob hangers, sun visors, tote bags…make it a surprise!
For the t-shirts, you can use iron decals…or you can also paint designs instead of tie dying. T-shirts and supplies can be found at craft stores.
Suggestions for materials you might choose from for your t-shirt design are:
For tie-dying…
Rubber bands for tie-dying t-shirts
protective gloves
colored fabric paints
plastic covering for workspace
Allow at least 3 days for drying
How to Tie Dye a Peace Sign T-Shirt Video
Supplies For Other T-Shirt Project Designs…
Stiff Cardboard – place inside t-shirt to protect other side or to make stencils
Tracing paper – sold at stationery stores
Fabric Chalk – used for drawing outlines
Fabric Glue – for applying fabric pieces together, use special brush
Fabric Marker – designed for use on fabric
Fabric Paint – will not wash out, follow directions
Fluorescent Fabric Paint – glows
Glitter Paint or Glitter – attach with Fabric Glue
Puffy Fabric Paint – hair dryer to dry
Pearl Fabric Paint – dries with a sheen
Newspaper – protect work surface
Paintbrushes – varying sizes
Sequins – attach with fabric glue
Sponge – used to paint or stencil
Share Your Projects
If you do this craft project, please share photos. I’d love to post them. Happy Grandparents Day!
About.com’s Guide to Grandparents Blog Carnival
This post is part of a blog carnival hosted by Susan Adcox, About.com’s Guide to Grandparents.
Here’s a gift idea for grandkids who love to listen to the latest hits…Kidz BopCDs, the most popular kid friendly entertaining and safe CD music series. Each one features the latest hits at the time they were published. There’s nothing inappropriate in the lyrics. Kidz Bop songs are sung by kids for kids. Grandparents and parents can give any one of the Kidz Bop CDs to their kids without worrying about what they might hear. They are a favorite of my nine-year-old granddaughter!
Kidz Bop 18 Summer Release
Last month, I received the newest CD in the series, Kidz Bop 18, to review. I gave it to Kaitlin for her opinion. She was so excited! All 16 of the hits are favorites of hers. Some of the songs are California Gurls (Katy Perry), Whataya Want From Me (Adam Lambert), Baby (Justin Bieber), and Hey, Soul Sister (Train). There are some that her younger sister, Emily, has fun listening to, such as Single Ladies (Beyonce’). Even they were originally recorded by top artists, the songs on the Kidz Bop CDs are sung by the Kidz Bop Kids. Kidz Bop 18 was the only music Kaitlin played during her birthday pool party two weeks ago. Whenever she’s in her room, she puts it on and sings along to her favorite songs.
Kidz Bop 18 Free Giveaway!
Three Lucky Winners can receive a free KidzBop 18 CD:
After reading this post, leave a comment below by September 1, 2010.
Include your email in the form (remains private)
Three winners will be randomly chosen.
Winners will be notified…CD will be sent from Kidz Bop.
If you aren’t one of the three winners, you can find Kidz Bop 18 on iTunes, Kidz Bop Shop, or wherever CDs are sold. I’ve bought other CDs in the series at Target and Walmart.
Kidz Bop Star USA Talent Show
In addition to the 18 CDs, Kidz Bop has created a safe, entertaining social environment on their website KidzBop.com. Kids can socialize and be creative in many ways (with parents’ permission only). Is your child talented? Check out the Kidz Bop Star USA Talent Show. Any member of the website born after August 1, 1994 can enter by August 31, 2010. For the details, visit their website.
Note: My review policy is simple – I don’t post reviews on anything I don’t like or approve of, no matter what it is. I always take into consideration the opinions of family and friends, too.
And The Winners Are…
Pam, Susan, and Lori! Congratulations to all 3 winners!
(I have a plug-in on my blog that randomly chooses the winners for me.)
Baby showers are always fun to attend. I love seeing the cute, little baby clothes and other adorable gifts brought to help the soon-to-be parents prepare for their baby’s arrival. Last weekend, my daughter and I attended my niece’s baby shower. There were many guests attending, generously giving wonderful gifts for baby Abigail who will be making her debut next month.
Build-a-Bear Cuddly Hugs
One of the more unique baby shower presents given was an adorable pale pink baby bear from Build-a-Bear Workshop dressed in equally adorable baby clothes. A birth certificate with the baby’s name was added to complete the baby shower gift.
CD Boombox and Lullaby CDs
The gift my daughters I gave was a combination of a pink and white CD Boombox and lullaby CDs including Baby Einstein lullabys, Disney Princess Songs, Lullaby Classics, and Nursery Rhymes to help soothe baby to enjoy during play time and to soothe baby to sleep.
Radio Flyer Wagon and more…
A wonderful, practical gift for baby was a Radio Flyer Wagon. Inside was a child safety boat seat with a baby doll sitting in it complete with toddler life preserver and sun protection hat, “my first tackle box”, waterproof insulated tote bag…don’t forget baby’s sunscreen! On the side of the wagon was their last name painted in nautical flags. A wagon such as this is such a much appreciated gift – besides taking the child on fun rides on sunny day, so much of what needs to be taken along on an outing can be placed inside and the child carried!
More Baby Shower Gift Ideas
Here are a few more baby shower gift ideas that all babies would enjoy!
Handmade Baby Clothes Armoire
A very clever gift was made from a recycled carton. The carton was turned into a baby clothes closet. A large rectangular carton was covered inside and out with pink floral gift wrap. It was then turned upright on one end. A knob was attached to each of the two flaps, making them the doors. A dowel was inserted from left to right side near the top. Baby cloths were hung on hangers on the dowel. If this was made from wood similar to the style of the doll armoire below, then it could be used for her dolls clothes later on.
The end of summer vacation is fast approaching which means for many it is time to start planning their next vacation. For our family, our next vacation may be a Disney World vacation in the spring. Poppy and I are also thinking about where we will want to spend our 40th wedding anniversary. The cost of available vacation rentals and the included amenities will be a big deciding factor in determining our destination.
Our son has suggested we look into renting a villa in Florida and wherever we celebrate our anniversary. A villa! Living in luxury, even for just one week, would certainly make a vacation special. But, oh the cost! I’m sure a hotel would cost much less. He assured me that staying at a villa would not be more expensive…in fact, a villa vacation rental would be the way to save money. I’m always the skeptic, so I got on my laptop and googledFlorida villas.
Here’s an example of what I found: 3 bedroom villa that sleeps 8 and is just 15 minutes from the theme parks rents for $668 a week. The villa includes everything you would need for the week – private covered pool included. The cost of a luxury villa in the Disney World Resort is over $300 per night! Really!
If you’re looking to save money on your next vacation, I’d recommend comparing the cost of staying at a villa to the cost of staying in a hotel.
So, now…about our 40th anniversary (2 years away)…where would I love to stay? I might want to choose from villas in France, Ireland, California, or stay close to home at the Jersey Shore.
