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2009/03/30

How Many Easter Baskets?

It’s always been our family’s tradition for both grandparents and parents to each give Easter baskets to the grandchildren. The Easter Bunny leaves an Easter basket for each child in their home filled with surprises and also leaves an Easter basket for each grandchild at their grandparents’ home, filled with good treats and small gifts.

HAPPY EASTER from Nana's Corner!

A few months ago, a young mother emailed me asking leaving more than one basket is done by other people, too. She said she never heard of it. I know that my friends and I all do this, but I can’t speak for others elsewhere. The young mother thought that the Easter Bunny should leave baskets only at her home for her children to make it a special tradition for the parents to give to their children.

Apparently, her father and his girlfriend wanted to have Easter baskets for the grandchildren, too. She had asked her father and his girlfriend to honor her request of having the Easter Bunny leave baskets at only her home. They told her they were going to give Easter baskets, too, and implied they would give higher priced gifts than the mother usually included.

I believe the grandparents are wrong for going against her wishes. My advice is to try to find a compromise, allowing the grandparents to participate in some way with the grandchildren.  Perhaps the Easter Bunny can leave Easter baskets at the children’s home as the mother wishes and the grandparents can give them the gift of a (not too expensive) fun experience creating memories to share for years to come. It may eliminate the feeling of competition for which I felt was an underlying force.

What advice do have for this young mother? What advice do you have for the grandparents?

2009/03/29

Spring Poems for Children


photo by Nana

In our Springtime Garden

What a lovely time of year, time of year, time of year
What a lovely time of year, in our springtime garden
See the flowers swing and sway, swing and sway, swing and sway
See the flowers swing and sway, in our springtime garden.

~ Author Unknown ~

Season Song

It is springtime, it is springtime
Winter’s gone, winter’s gone
Summer time is coming, summer time is coming
It won’t be long, it won’t be long.

~ Author Unknown ~

Signs of Spring

Do you see a sign of spring,
A sign of spring, a sign of spring?
Do you see a sign of spring?
Tell us what you see.

~ Author Unknown ~

Spring

Open the windows and open the door
And let the fresh breezes blow in, blow in.
Jack Frost has gone to his home in the north
And all of a sudden it’s Spring!

~ Author Unknown ~

Spring

I love spring
Spring is new
It’s new blades of grass
It’s rain on a lass
It’s violets and rain
It’s a wood-scented lane
It’s a new bird song
It’s days growing long
It’s a tree in bud and puddles of mud
It’s birds in a tree and buzz from a bee
It’s kites in the sky
It’s spring. That’s why
I love spring.

~ Author Unknown ~

Spring is Coming

Spring is coming, spring is coming.
How do you think I know?
I see a flower blooming,
I know it must be so.
Spring is coming, spring is coming,
How do you think I know?
I see a blossom on the tree,
I know it must be so.

~ Author Unknown ~

Spring is Here

Spring is here! Spring is here!
Winter is gone and two flowers appear.
Three little robins begin to sing.
Four bicycle bells begin to ring.
Five children come out and jump the rope.
Spring is here now! I hope, I hope!

~ Author Unknown ~

Spring Morning

This is the way the bunny hops, bunny hops, bunny hops
This is the way the bunny hops, on a spring time morning.
This is the way the robin flies…
This is the way the little chick walks…
This is the way the little duck swims…
This is the way the little lamb runs…
This is the way the children play…

~ Author Unknown ~

Spring Song

Frogs croak
Rains soak
Chicks peep
Crickets leap
Bees hum
Robins come
Birds sing
It’s spring!

~ Author Unknown ~

Spring Song

I see robins, I see birds’ nests
Butterflies too, flowers too
Everything is growing
The wind is gently blowing
Spring is here, spring is here.

~ Author Unknown ~

Springtime

Springtime, springtime, how do you do
Springtime, springtime, how do you do
Springtime, springtime, how do you do
Flowers, sunshine are part of you.
Springtime colors are everywhere…
Bright and cheerful colors too.
Springtime animals everywhere…
Birds, bees, and butterflies too.
Blossoms, buds, and greenery too…
Springtime, springtime, glad to see you.

~ Author Unknown ~

Springtime

My eyes can see it’s springtime, it’s springtime, it’s springtime
My eyes can see it’s springtime, the grass is so green
The green grass, the flowers, the sunshine and showers
My eyes can see it’s springtime, and I am so glad.
My ears can hear it’s springtime, it’s springtime, it’s springtime
My ears can hear it’s springtime, the birds sweetly sing
The birds sing, the lambs bleat, the frogs croak, the bees buzz
My ears can hear it’s springtime, and I am so glad.
My body feels it’s springtime, it’s springtime, it’s springtime,
My body feels it’s springtime, the air is so warm.
The warm air, the breezes, no frost and no freezes
My body can feel it’s springtime, and I am so glad.

~ Author Unknown ~

Spring

And Suddenly Spring
The winds of March were sleeping.
I hardly felt a thing.
The trees were standing quietly.
It didn’t seem like spring.
Then suddenly the winds awoke
They raced across the sky.
They bumped right into April.

~ Author Unknown ~

April

Rain has such fun in April, it patters through the trees
Talking to all the leaf buds and robins that it sees
It splashes through the puddles and skips along the walks
Goes coasting down the grass blades and dandelion stalks
It dips in all the flowers and when the clouds blow by
It paints with flower colors a rainbow in the sky.

~ Author Unknown ~

April

April is made of such wonderful things
Sunbeams and tulips and butterfly wings.

~ Author Unknown ~

April Poem

In April fleecy clouds float by
Like cotton candy in the sky
April is tip-toeing into the land
Touching each leaf with her delicate hand.

~ Author Unknown ~

Big Round Sun

The big round sun in the springtime sky
Winked at a cloud that was passing by
The little cloud laughed as it scattered rain
Then out came the big round sun again.

Days of Spring

The days of spring are here
Warm sunny days are near
Birds in trees, flowers and bees
The days of spring are here.

~ Author Unknown ~

Good-Bye Winter

Good-bye winter, we wish you’d go away.
Good-bye snow, good-bye slush.
Good-bye puddles, good-bye snowsuits.
Good-bye cold wind!
Come back springtime, we wish you’d come to stay.
Come back grass! Come back flowers!
Come back birds! Come back swimsuits.
Come back warm sun!

~ Author Unknown ~

I Love the Flowers

I love the flowers.
I love the budding trees.
I love the chirping birds.
I love the buzzing bees.
I love the Springtime,
When the sun is warm and bright.

~ Author Unknown ~

It is Springtime

Leaves are growing on the trees, on the trees, on the trees
Leaves are growing on the trees, it is springtime
All the grass is turning green…
See the birds build their nests…
Watch the flowers start to grow…

~ Author Unknown ~

2009/03/28

Help with Debt Problems

With the economy in the condition it is, so many people are experiencing more debt related stress in their lives than they are accustomed to. Increase in debt results in late mortgage and rent payments. Foreclosures are in process, evictions are locking people out.

When credit card balances aren’t paid on time, interest accumulates making it impossible to pay the debt off. Here’s what happened to a relative of mine…

Recently, a niece of mine called. She has a serious problem with her debt management. She’s gotten to the point where she’s now too far behind in her credit card payments making the payments seem endless…she’s made some late payments which caused her interest rate to increase and late fees added on top of that. She’s been paying on them, but isn’t getting closer to paying her debts. Her credit card debt has affected her payments for other obligations and when she started getting behind in her secured debts (mortgage and car), she was about at the end of her rope.

I suggested my niece contact a debt counseling agency for credit card debt help. A teacher I work with was in the same situation. She used a debt counseling company for help in paying off her credit card debt. The debt counseling company asked her to bring in her credit card bills. After reviewing her debts, they contacted the companies and negotiated a settlement amount…often eliminating the extra interest and late fees. They consolidated her debts and divided the total into a single monthly payment that would fit her budget that they helped her create. Debt management help really helped her.

From then on, until the debts were paid, my friend paid the debt counseling agency one monthly payment and they disbursed the payments to each creditor. It took her about three years, but it was a relief. The credit counseling also took a lot of stress off – no more creditors calling her and with her new budget, she was able to manage her money. She was able to catch up with her other bills and have some left over.

If you are overwhelmed with your credit card debt and need help, contact a reputable debt counseling agency. They should be non-profit, you shouldn’t have to pay a fee. Debt counselors receive their fees from the creditors. Do your research before you agree to get help with your credit card debt.

2009/03/27

Fun Learning Videos for Children

rocknlearn

I recently shared with you the reaction  my daughter’s nursery school students had when they watched Rock N Learn’s Alphabet Exercise video. It kept the kids active and their attention for the entire video! The other teachers thought the kids’ exercise video was great, too. Now I have more to tell you about!

With Emily just 3 years old and a new baby brother soon to be arriving, I also gave them Rock N Learn’s Nursery Rhymes DVD. I watched it with my granddaughters last Saturday in the car while doing some shopping for my son’s fiance’s bridal shower. It is adorable! There are many nursery rhymes, all animated and presented in song. I enjoyed singing along with Mother Goose, too. The Rock N Learn Nursery Rhymes brought back memories of when my children were small.

Here’s another great review from my daughter on Rock N Learn’s animated educational videos: Nursery Rhymes.  

Text  Message #1:

“Just so you know, K and Em have been watching nursery rhymes DVD non stop. They love it! And they sing them when not watching too lol. K said please get solar system one asap because that’s what they are doing in school and she wants it before the test lol”

Text Message #2:

“Also beginning fractions and decimals DVD too. That’s what she just started in math.”

If you are looking for something entertaining and educational for your grandchildren of all learning stages, check out Rock N Learn’s video samples and order one. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!

2009/03/23

Children's Gardening Poem with Children's Gardening Tips Directory

If you are looking for an ongoing activity to do with grandchildren, why not plan a kid friendly garden! Spring is here so that means it’s time to save empty yogurt containers for reuse to plant seeds, visit a garden center to choose kid friendly seeds to plant, and prepare an organic garden bed in hope that we won’t be surprised again with snowflakes from above.

Poppy and I will soon be planning a healthy organic garden with our granddaughters to give them a special project to be involved in as the birth of their new brother approaches. They’ll plant and nurture their garden, watching it grow as they learn to help nurture their baby brother, watching him grow, too.

My Spring Garden

Here is my little garden,
Some seeds I’m going to sow.
Here is my rake to rake the ground,
Here is my handy hoe.

Here is the big, round yellow sun;
The sun warms everything.
Here are the rain clouds in the sky;
The birds will start to sing.

Little plants will wake up soon,
And lift their sleepy heads;
Little plants will grow and grow
In their little, warm earth beds.

~ Author Unknown ~

Kaitlin is in second grade and very interested in science. Before we begin their children’s garden, we will do some researching on the Children’s Gardening Tips websites listed below and visit the library for kids’ gardening books to help us learn what to plant and how to be environmentally friendly gardeners.

If you are distance grandparents, you can plan your gardens together, discussing what to plant, how to plant it, and share pictures you take as your garden grows. Surprise your grandchild by sending packets of seeds, and if you can – add children’s gardening tools, gloves, and a gardening tips written on your grandchild’s reading level.  On the children’s gardening sites below, you’ll find additional tips and ideas for kids’ gardens.

Children’s Gardening Tips Directory:

Happy gardening with your grandchidren!

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