“Walk a little slower, Granddad,”
said the child so small.
“I’m following in your footsteps
and I don’t want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
sometimes they’re hard to see.
So walk a little slower, Granddad,
for you are leading me.

Someday when I’m all grown up,
you’re what I want to be.
Then I will have a little child
Who’ll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
and know that I was true.
So walk a little slower, Granddad,
for I must follow you.”

~ Author Unknown ~

Note: I took the liberty of changing Dad to Granddad because many granddads are helping to raise their grandchildren, too.  As you can see in Emily’s gift to her dad, the poem has Daddy. Any title or name can replace the original one to make it a more personal gift.

The following handprint gifts can be easily made by grandchildren as gifts for Grandfather, Grandad, Grandpa, Poppy or any special person to give on Father’s Day. Add one of the 10 Handprint Poems or other special poems for grandfathers found in Nana’s Corner Poem Directory to complete the gift.

Grandchild’s Salt Dough Hand Print

What You Need:

• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup water
• wax paper
• large bowl
• rolling pin

Directions:

1. Mix 1/2 cup salt, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and 1/4 cup water in a large bowl.
2. When mixed, add 1 cup white flour and knead well.
3. Form dough into a softball-sized shape and roll out with a rolling pin.
4. Press your child’s hand into the clay (with fingers spread).
5. Bake at 250 degrees F. for several hours.
6. After it’s cooled, your grandchild can paint her handprint using acrylic paint.
7. Label the handprint with your grandchild’s name, age, year the handprint was created, etc.

You can also etch into the clay before baking something like “Hands down best Granddad”, “Handy Granddad”, etc.

(more…)

Father’s Day is coming. Don’t forget the granddads! With so many grandparents helping to raise their grandchildren, grandfathers need to be honored on Father’s Day, too. Grandfathers are often the foundation that holds the families together, sharing the responsibilities alongside the grandmothers, giving their strength and love to those that need it the most…their grandchildren. Here are three poems grandchildren can use to honor the grandfathers in their lives:

Walk a Little Slower, Granddad

“Walk a little slower, Granddad,” said the child so small.
“I’m following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they’re hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Granddad,
For you are leading me.
Someday when I’m all grown up,
You’re what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who’ll want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So walk a little slower, Granddad,
For I must follow you.”

~ Author Unknown ~ (more…)