Seven Favorite Gifts for Preschoolers

The gift-giving season can be challenging for grandmas.  Today I want to share some of my favorite gifts for the little ones in my life with the hope it will help you choose gifts for your grandkids. I've included links to my Amazon affiliate account for your shopping convenience.

This teepee has been a big hit with my granddaughters.  Their mom decorated it as a Christmas tree this year, making it new and fun for them. It has withstood approximately five years of fun and games with these sweet girls.

These mesh bags are perfect for collecting treasures on the beach, in the park, or in the woods.  If you are a grandma who likes to go on scavenger hunts with your grandkids, you'll want each of them to have a bag of their own. I keep them handy at my house, but moms and dads will appreciate them at their homes, too.

There is a bag full of beach treasure in the back seat of my car today!

These walkie-talkies are fun for sibling grandkids and Super Mario Brothers is popular with kids again.  Give them as a gift, or keep them at your home for fun during visits.

This robot dog is fun for the technically advanced preschooler.  If you have a grandchild, like I do, who is curious about how things work and loves buttons and tablets, this is a fun option.

These Mega blocks are always a good option for encouraging children to practice their STEAM skills in many ways. Whether sorting colors, making patterns, or building towers to knock down, this set of 150 blocks can provide hours of good fun. Even though this makes a great gift, I like to keep a set of these at my house, too.

Toddlers, preschoolers, and young school-age children alike gravitate toward this Fisher Price Doctor Kit. I still have the one my sons played with over thirty years ago and it's the toy my grandchildren always head for first. I wish it still had the hard case it came with long ago.

I can't say enough good things about this Montessori book.  

It is well-designed and well-thought-out with 14 pages to practice the concepts of Alphabet, Numbers, Colors, Shapes, Farm Animals & Pets, Sea Animals, Healthy Food, Transportation, Emotions, Opposites, Weather, Days of the Week, Months of the Year and the Human Body. It uses Velcro-secured images that children love removing and replacing in the book.

Each of these items is in stock as I publish this post.  I hope you find these ideas helpful.  Please share other fun ideas for the three-five-year-old preschooler in the comments.

Gift Giving Tips for Today's Grandmas

Are you thinking about gifts for your grandkids, with birthdays around the corner or the holiday season approaching? 

Gift-giving can be both joyful and challenging for grandmas. Let's see if we can make it a little less challenging and a little more fun with some helpful tips.

Today, let’s explore the world of thoughtful gift-giving, where your love shines through every present you give. But we're also going to talk about something equally important – boundaries. Finding the perfect gift is not just about making your grandkids smile; it's also about showing respect for the boundaries set by their parents.

Three Fun Outdoor Activities to do with Grandkids: Ages 5-11

As grandmothers, we cherish the moments spent with our grandkids, and what better way to create lasting memories than by embarking on outdoor adventures together? A nature walk offers a picturesque setting for a day of exploration and connection with nature.

Today I’m sharing three fun outdoor activities designed to engage and entertain your 5-11-year-old grandkids while discovering the wonders of nature in a local park or nature preserve. Your backyard could be a substitute location, too. 

Fall Outdoor Fun with Grandkids 

(This post contains paid links.)

From the art of bark rubbing to exciting nature scavenger hunts and the beauty of leaf and flower pressing, these outdoor activities promise both fun and educational experiences for both you and your grandkids.

Fall Books for Grandkids

Reading to grandkids is such a special time. As a former teacher, I know what a difference you can make in a child's life by reading aloud to them regularly.

Don't you love being snuggled up in a chair with your little ones and a book?

Fall Books to Read and Activities to Do with Grandkids 

Today I'm sharing some fun fall books to read paired with related activities your grandkids will love.

Fall Book Suggestions 

Here are a couple of fall-themed books that will be fun to read aloud and also spur some fun follow-up activities.

(This post contains paid links.)

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak for your 2-6-year-old grandkids, is a lovely book focused on the changes in nature we can see as we transition to fall. The pictures provide ample opportunities to identify things and expand vocabulary. Children in this age group are beginning to learn about seasons, weather, and changes in their environment. This book will help with those concepts.

You can also follow up your reading time with age-appropriate activities like:

1. Go for a walk in your neighborhood or a park looking for animals who may be preparing for winter.
2. Identify and gather fall flowers and colorful leaves. Talk about things that are similar and different about your finds.
3. Talk about how the weather changes from summer to fall and what that means in the clothing you wear. Give your child a warm hat in preparation for colder weather. (Extra points if you knit the hat)

 


Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White for the 4-8 year-olds in your life. This book tells the story of a woman faced with too many pumpkins growing in her yard and the challenge of what to do with them.

This is a wordy book, so you'll want to test it out to see if your grandchild is ready to sit and listen. If not, the pictures are detailed and you can adapt the story to meet your grandchild's attention span.

You'll find this book to be a terrific launching pad for a number of fall-themed activities to do with your 4-8-year-old grandchild.

1. Bake together. Pumpkin-flavored muffins, quick bread, or pie
2. Talk about the value of sharing. How was sharing important in the book? How can sharing be something we do in our own lives?
3. Carve or decorate pumpkins together. If you carve the pumpkins, save the seeds for planting in the spring.

Some Tips for Reading Aloud

1. Choose books appropriate for your grandchild's age and attention span.
2. Choose a cozy space for reading. Your grandchild will come to associate reading time with snuggles from grandma.
3. Board books are best for grandkids less than two years old.
4. Books with colorful pictures enhance the story.
5. Be an animated reader. Make silly sounds when appropriate. This is a time for you to be dramatic.
6. Feel free to adapt the story in whatever way you want. Make it fun.

Tips for Distance Grandmas

It sure can be challenging to be a distance grandma but there are ways to get around the challenge of miles.
1. Video yourself reading the book aloud. You can read the book on a video call with your grandchild and send the book to them afterward.
2. Bake muffins or quick bread and send it to your grandchild.
3. Create a scavenger hunt for fall and challenge your grandchild to find the signs of fall. You can find my fall scavenger hunt here.

Plan now for fall activities with your grandkids so you'll be ready.  There's no time like the present to get prepared.

Five Tips for Rocking Painting with Grandkids to Build Memories

About a year ago I was inspired by a glorious picture of colorfully painted rocks in a garden.  It got me thinking about how fun it would be to have a multitude of colorful rocks in my own garden painted by my granddaughters.

I had already made an outdoor tic-tac-toe game for my granddaughter and nephews. It became a huge hit with the kids.  My granddaughter, who was just three at the time, actually loved hiding and finding the ladybugs and bumblebees in the garden each time she visited.  

My nephews, who are older, enjoyed playing tic-tac-toe with them.

Searching for rocks and painting them has become a favorite activity for my granddaughter and me. We go rock hunting and paint a rock or two every time she visits for and overnight. 

Some of the rocks stay with me and some go home with her to her own garden.  She loves the ladybugs and bumblebees from the tic-tac-toe game so much that she frequently wants to paint more of them herself. She also likes to paint rocks for her mom and dad.

What started as a simple, fun activity has turned into a "thing" with us.  It makes this grandma very happy.  We are building memories together. Our rock hunting time together is fun and she now talks about her rock collection.

Our rock painting sessions are fun, too.  

Here are my suggestions for fun, successful rock painting sessions with toddlers:

1. Plan ahead.  Gather the materials you will use in advance.

2. Keep it simple.  Use no more than three colors of acrylic paint at a time.  Use a different paintbrush for each color.

3. Manage the mess.  Cover your painting surface with paper.  I like to save and use the large sheets of newsprint I get with my TJMaxx or HomeGoods purchases. 

Use a smock to cover your grandchild's clothing. 

Use paper plates for the paints.  

Buy cheap paintbrushes that can be tossed out, if necessary. Check your local dollar store

4. Manage time.  Toddler attention spans are short.  Keep the painting sessions short.

5. Encourage creativity.  Don't try to control the outcome.  Just let your toddler paint and have fun.

"Repetition" is the word to remember if you are a grandma wanting to build lasting memories with your grandchildren. Choose activities to do over and over again that can become your thing to do with grandchildren.  

Activities like rock painting are fabulous because: 

-you can do them together, 

-they are not age-dependent

-your grandchild has a physical object to help remember the activity.

In my case, I'm hoping to have a large collection of colorful rocks in my garden that we can admire together for a very long time.

Track the Cicadas with Your Grandkids

 

Cool Grandma Alert!

Do you have a grandchild who loves bugs?

If you live in an area of the country that will experience the once in 17 years emergence of the Brood X cicadas you have a big opportunity to create a memory with your budding entomologist.

This is a very nice cicada map showing where and when cicadas will emerge by year. Use this as a guide to determine if your grandchild's state will see emerging cicadas.

It doesn't matter whether you live near or far from your grandchild. This is an opportunity for you to share an interest with your grandchild for a once in seventeen years experience.

Photo Source: pixabay.com (PROD83)

This is an ideal outdoors activity to do with your bug-loving grandchild who is between the ages of 8 and 12. Does the thought of thousands of bugs emerging from the ground creep you out? Just remember they are harmless to humans and pets.

You and your grandchild can research cicadas together. Create a journal with pictures, information, and tracking data for your grandchild's neighborhood.

Your Cicada Tracking Game Plan

Step One: Use this link to Print and review the Cicadas Fact Sheet.

Step Two: Use this link to print and color the picture of the cicada.

Step Three: Download the Cicada Safari app from your phone's app store and help the Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio track this once in seventeen years event. This is an opportunity for you to encourage your curious grandchild to embrace science and record this infrequent event. Your grandchild can take a picture of a cicada that will become part of the research to map and track the Brood X cicadas.

Step Four: Track the number of cicadas you can see at the same time each day. For example, go outside and count the number of cicadas you can find in one minute at noon each day.

Step 5: Take pictures with your phone of the cicadas in your yard.

It’s time to create a memory. This won’t happen again until 2038.

10 Tips for Painting with Kids

Do You Paint with Your Grandkids?

I love art activities with kids because creative activities seem to encourage children to share their thoughts. Sometimes those thoughts can be deep and sometimes nonsensical, but always fun.

You might be reluctant to paint with your grandkids for fear of the mess that could happen. Just a little preparation on your part will make it easier to control the mess.

10 Tips for Painting with Grandkids

1. Use age-appropriate art supplies. Don't offer too much choice for little ones. They can get overwhelmed by too many options. With a paint set, only offer a few of the colors.  Too many paints just ask for trouble. Check out art supplies for kids
2. Prepare your space. I like to tape newsprint down on the painting surface. I save the paper I get from TJMaxx and Home Goods for this purpose. Waxed paper is another good option. You can get cheap rolls at the $Store.
3. Choose your location wisely. Opt for outdoors when the weather permits.  Inside, choose the room with the most hard surfaces.
4. Use paper plates as pallets for acrylic paint. I like to use tubes so I can squeeze a limited amount onto the paper plate. Another option is to save lids from jars and containers to separate paint colors.
5. Dress your grandchild appropriately. I have an old T-shirt I use as a paint shirt with my granddaughter (4 years old). Make sure the arms are not long enough to get in the way.
6. When you start painting young you can teach children to clean as they go, to screw lids back on, and to contain the mess.
7. Keep the length and difficulty of the project age-appropriate. 
8. Timing is important.  Don't start a painting project when a child is tired.  Cranky children and paint do not mix.
9. Give your grandchild creative freedom. You may have planned to paint a tree with green leaves and a brown trunk but your grandchild may think a tree with purple leaves and an orange trunk is better.  It's okay.
10. Bring your patience.  There is bound to be some spillage or mess.  If you have prepared, it will be minimal.  You want this to be enjoyable for your grandchild.

Painting with grandchildren can be fun for both of you.  Painting sessions are an opportunity to let your imagination run wild. 

Try mixing colors.  If you are a bit rusty on mixing colors, look up the color wheel on the internet and go from there. Get a color wheel from Amazon.

Use different types of brushes and different widths of brushes to see different results. There are many Value Packs of Brushes available on Amazon.

Use different surfaces to paint on, like paper, canvas, construction paper, rocks, boards, and glass.

Save your grandchild's paper art projects in a portfolio.  I like this one.

Make painting with your grandkids a regular activity and you will both look back on those times with fondness.  You may even be able to get them to put down their electronics.

15 Ways to Connect with Teen Grandchildren

Do you find yourself at a loss when trying to connect with your teen grandchildren?  It may be harder to connect as your grandchildren get older, busier, and more independent.

Today we are sharing fifteen ideas for grandmas of teens to add to their bag of tricks.

How to Connect with Teen Grandchildren

1. Connect with regular text messages. Set reminders in your phone or calendar to send an encouraging text to your teen grandchildren at some regular interval. Start with once a week.  Be aware of your grandchild's schedule.  Time the text for early morning, before school, or later in the day.  Don't send a text during school time, sports practice, or a dance class. Keep your message short, sweet, and positive. Don't expect a reply.

2. Use snail mail.  Your teen does not expect to get snail mail.  Do the unexpected and send a note or a card through the US Post Office.  You don't need a reason so choose a schedule that works for you. 

3.  This a good time to dig out old pictures or videos of you and your grandchildren.  You can use a picture as a topic of your text messages.  Just attach the picture to your message.  Remind your grandchild of the events taking place around the picture.

4.  Make a photo book from pictures taken when your grandchild was younger.  Write comments on the pages of the book.

5. Link events in your grandchild's life to your life.  When your grandchild starts a job, tell him/her a story about your first job.  When they learn to drive tell them about your early driving experience or your first car. Focus on elements of the experience that transcend time.  

6. Send favorite snacks through the mail. This is especially great for college students.

7. Surprise your grandchild with a gift card for video gaming, a coffee shop, or gas when they least expect it.

8. Never forget a birthday.  Birthdays are the perfect time to remind your grandchildren how much they mean to you.

9. Talk to your grandchild through periodic phone or video calls.  This can be a challenge with teenagers.  Don't give up.  Let them know you are there for them. Tell them you love them.  Tell them you are proud of them.

10. Make the most of face-to-face visits when you have them.  Car rides are always good ways to get your teen grandchild's attention.  

11.  Cook with your teen.  This is a great time to teach a life skill to your teen grandchild.  Have your teen choose a favorite recipe.  Schedule a date to cook together.  You can even do this from a distance through a video call.  Cooking with your teen grandchild in preparation for a holiday is a wonderful way to share a holiday tradition.

12.  Schedule a date with your teen.  Take your teen grandchild to a favorite breakfast or lunch spot. Be prepared with stories about them from when they were little.  They will love to laugh with you about the cute things they did as a child.  Weave some questions into the conversation about what is going on in their life today.  Just don't make it an inquisition.

13. Ask for help.  Give your teen grandchild an opportunity to be useful.  Perhaps you could use some help with preparing your garden or climbing a ladder to reach high windows when washing them.  Make this an activity you can do together so you have an opportunity to chat.

14. Share a skill.  Invite your teen to learn to do something you love.  Do you refinish furniture?  Invite your teen grandchild to refinish a table or a dresser for his/her room.  Do you paint?  Invite your teen to a paint-with-me session.  Do you garden?  Invite your teen to plant some flowers or vegetables in a section of your garden.

15. Listen.  Leave judgment aside and listen carefully to your teen grandchild.  Pay attention to their feelings and challenges.  Teen years are full of change.  It may be hard to keep up.  Show your support by demonstrating you are always there for them.

Six Fun Winter Outdoor Activities to do with Grandkids

Winter has been pummeling the United States and I as write this, a majority of the country has snow cover.  Brrrr.

As the frigid temperatures rise you may want to get outside with your grandkids to explore the environment, release energy, and get the cobwebs out.

Six Outdoor Winter Activities to do With Grandkids

Today I want to share six fun ideas for activities to do with grandkids outside in winter.

1. Be winter seasonal detectives.  

Take a walk and search for all that you can find that is unique to the winter season. This is an opportunity to compare winter to the other seasons of the year in your community.

2.  Search for animal tracks.  

This is particularly fun after a new snowfall when the snow has been undisturbed by humans.  Take pictures of the tracks you find with your smartphone.  When you return home, draw the tracks on pieces of paper and research the animals that made the tracks.

3.  Gather natural elements for an art project. 

Leaves, sticks, stones, and seed pods all make interesting additions to art projects. Use what you gather to make landscapes or animal drawings when you get back inside.

4.  Snow Art.  

Fill squirt bottles with colored water. Use the squirt bottles to make colorful designs in the snow. Choose primary colors of food coloring so your grandkids can have fun mixing colors in the snow. Spray bottles filled with colored water will be fun, too.

5.  Make natural windchimes.  

Gather some sticks and stones you can secure to string for natural windchimes.  Your grandkids can then choose treas in your yard to hang the chimes from. Check out this rainbow-colored windchime made with sticks.

6. Make a snowman. 

You can make your snowman unique by dressing him using only natural elements you can find nearby.  Be sure to take pictures.

After the Outdoor Fun

1. Hot Chocolate 

Of course, once you come inside you'll want to have some hot chocolate.  Be sure you have all the ingredients for yummy hot chocolate embellishments on hand, too.  You can never have too many marshmallows.

2.  Make Salt Snowflakes

Salt snowflakes are a fun art project for any age.  

Read the Salt Snowflakes blog post. 

Watch the How to Make Salt Snowflakes video.

3. Make Cotton Swab Snowflakes

Snowflakes made with cotton swabs are quick easy.

Read about how to make cotton swab snowflakes.

Watch the Cotton Swabs Snowflakes video.

Have fun, grandmas!

A YES Day with Grandma

Have you heard about "YES" Days?

A Yes Day is one day a year when children can fill their day with hearing "yes" to requests instead of "no". Doesn't this sound like a perfect opportunity for grandmas?

Yes Days have caught on since the publishing of an adorable book called Yes Day, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.  In March 2021, you can find it on Netflix.

You can get a preview of the book in this YouTube video.

If you are like me you will fall in love with the idea of Yes Days but will want some limits placed around the day.  I love the Yes Day idea because it can be customized to any age.  That makes it a wonderful annual event. The activities of the day can change annually to reflect the age and preferences of your grandchildren.

You'll want to check to see if Yes Days are already being scheduled in your grandchildren's homes.  If not, this will be an opportunity to start a new annual tradition with your grandchild.  If it is being implemented at home, you can give it your "grandma" special treatment.

Getting Started with Grandma Yes Days

Here are some steps to get started but I encourage you to make Grandma Yes Days your own.

1.  Buy the Yes Day book.

2.  Read the book with your grandchild well in advance of when you will schedule the Yes Day.  I recommend you hold one-on-one Yes Days if you have multiple grandchildren.  That way each grandchild will get a day that is all his/her own. This may not be a practical suggestion for some of you, so you can adapt this plan for multiple grandchildren.

3.  Make a list with each grandchild of the things they would love to do or have on a Yes Day.  Be sure to generate lots of fun and special ideas. You could start by talking about whether any of the ideas from the book would be fun. This is an opportunity to talk with your grandchild about why each request is special for them.  If the idea is impractical for a Yes Day you could start a separate list of "special wishes".  Be sure to discuss why the idea isn't practical for a Yes Day.

3. Record each of the Yes Day requests on a separate slip of paper to be placed in a Yes Day jar or box. You may want to color-code the slips of paper to aid in the selection process on Yes Day.  For example, all food requests go on blue paper, all outdoor activities go on red paper, all arts and crafts activities go on yellow paper, all screen-time activities go on white paper, etc.  Label the container with the child's name and allow the child to decorate it.  Place the container in a safe place and tell the child that one day in the future your will surprise him/her with a Yes Day.

4. Schedule a Yes Day.  You can tell your grandchild in advance or surprise them on the day. Let the child draw a certain number of requests from the container for the day.  This is where the color coding will help.  You may want to limit the requests to one of each color, for example. If you will have multiple grandchildren sharing the Yes Day, each should have a chance to choose the same number of requests from their containers.

5. Be sure to have your camera ready.  This is a perfect opportunity to record the day in videos and photos. 

Make Every Visit with Grandma a Yes Day

You can change this idea by making every visit with Grandma a Yes Day.  Here's how.

1.Follow steps 1 through 3, above.  

2. For every visit with Grandma, allow your grandchild to choose one or two request strips from the container.  You can add limits by guiding your grandchild to choose one of the blue strips.  If you have multiple grandchildren visiting at the same time, one could choose a blue request and one could choose a red request, etc.

3. Once the child's container is empty, refill with a new set of requests.

Yes Day Ideas

Some ideas to get you started:

• Have breakfast for dinner
• Do face painting
• Wear pajamas all day
• Watch a movie
• Have an indoor picnic
• Play a board game
• Read a book
• Make personal pizzas
• Bake cookies
• Stay up a 1/2 hour past bedtime
• Make icecream

Yes Days are a way to build anticipation and excitement into visits with Grandma and create lasting memories. Use them as an opportunity to engage with your grandchildren.  Most of all, have fun!

How to Make a Woven Danish Heart for Valentine's Day

You can make a fun heart craft with grandkids for Valentine's Day.  You may remember making these woven Danish hearts when you were in school.  I sure do.

Woven Danish Paper Hearts

Watch the Woven Danish Heart Tutorial

This is an easy paper heart you can customize based on age and capabilities. This project as demonstrated in the tutorial video will be perfect for grandchildren ages 5-10.  To make it more complex, search the Internet for more complicated templates.  There are many free ones available.

Materials Needed

You need: 

Red/pink and white construction paper 

scissors 

Heart Template: The template image is below for your to print.

white glue, like Elmer's

To make it easier for grandchildren, under five years old, you will want to cut the pattern out for them and help them with the weaving.  Choose the simplest pattern, the one where all the legs are of equal size. Use a glue stick for gluing the ends in place.  Little ones can do that.  They will also have fun gluing the heart embellishments on one the hearts are woven,

Pin This on Pinterest

Other Options to Try:

1.  Cut the patterns out of red and white felt.  Little ones may find it easier to weave with the felt.

2.  Cut the patterns out of cloth in fun, complementary designs.  Make two, a top and a bottom.  Sew the two hearts together with a simple running stitch.  Leave a short portion of one side open, turn it right side out and fill the heart with polyfill for a heart pillow. Older children may like trying this version.  It is a wonderful opportunity to begin teaching some basic sewing skills.

Here is the heart template to print on 8 1/2" x 11" printer paper.

Have fun building memories!

Are you following the Grandmas Making Memories Facebook Page?

You can join our private Facebook Group and share your memory building ideas.

Two Snowflake Art Projects to Make with Grandkids

When you are deep into winter and stuck inside these snowflake art projects will be fun activities for You and your grandkids.

The great thing about both of these projects is that they are easily adapted to the age and capability of your grandchildren.  It is very important before starting a project to understand the various components of the project and whether they are age-appropriate for your grandchild. You want these activities to be fun, not frustrating, so please take the tie to understand every part of the project before getting started.

To Prepare:

1. Watch the video tutorial for the project.

2. Assemble the materials required.

3. Prepare parts of the project, as necessary, depending on your grandchild's capabilities.

Making a Salt and Watercolor Snowflake

Watch: Salt and Watercolor Snowflake Video

Materials Needed

Sturdy background paper like watercolor paper or cardstock.

Kosher salt

White glue, like Elmer's

Watercolor paints

paintbrush

Directions

1. Draw the shape of a snowflake on your background paper.  

2. Run a bead of glue along the lines you drew on the paper.

3. Sprinkle salt generously over the glue.  Let it dry.  It may take several hours for the glue to dry depending on the conditions in your home.

4. Carry the paper to your sink or trash can to shake off the excess glue.

5. Choose the colors of watercolor paint you want to use.  Add water. Wet your brush.  You don't want your brush to be dripping wet.  Put watercolor paint on your brush and touch the brush lightly to your snowflake.  Watch the color spread.

6.  Let the snowflake dry completely before moving.

Making a Cotton Swab Snowflake

Watch:  Cotton Swab Snowflake Video

Materials Needed

Blue construction paper for background

Cotton swabs (6-whole swabs, 12-1/2 swab pieces, 12-tips)

White glue, like Elmer's

Scissors for cutting the swabs

Directions

1. Draw the shape of a snowflake on your background paper. (I suggest you start with six main legs of the snowflake.)

2. Cut the swabs to size.

3. Dip each swab in glue and place on your outline. Remember snowflakes have symmetry.

4. Let your snowflake dry completely before moving.

Most of all, have fun!

Reading to grandkids on video can be fun for both Grandmas and grandkids.

We all know that reading to kids is essential on many levels.  It stimulates the child's imagination, introduces new words, creates a love for books, and helps develop creative thought.  It can also help build a bond between the reader and the child.

Tips for Reading to Grandkids on Video

When my boys were growing up, reading time was our favorite time of day.  They loved it and I loved it.  We never had any trouble getting them in bed because reading time was always part of the sleep time preparation.  Even as teenagers they were allowed reading time before lights out.

As a grandma, I was reading time to be a special bonding time with my granddaughters.  When I'm with them I usually find an opportunity to read a book.  I can't always be with them and some of you may be separated by thousands of miles.  Thankfully we have video.

Here are some winter-themed books you will have fun reading to your grandkids.

You can make reading time on videos a fun time for everyone.  Here are some tips.

Preparing to Read on Video

Reading on video is really no different than reading in person.  I do like to prepare in advance.

1. Choose a book with colorful, easy to see pictures.
2. Read through the story in advance so you know what you want to point out in the pictures and any lessons you want to reinforce.
3. Be sure to pause before turning the page to give your grandchild enough time to look at and enjoy the picture.
4. Use sound effects as appropriate.
5. Laugh and show emotion as appropriate.

Have fun!

Using Your Windows 10 Laptop

You can record a video from your Windows 10 laptop.  Here's how you get started.

1. Launch the Camera app from your start menu. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of your screen to launch your apps list.  Find the "camera app" in the list and click on it. Another way is to type "camera" in the search bar found at the bottom left of your screen. Click on the "Camera App" button.

2. To record a video, Switch to Video Mode by clicking the video camera icon. Click again to begin recording. You'll see the time stamp in the bottom middle of the screen start to time your video

3. Record the Video. To stop recording click the red box.  You can also pause the video at any point using the pause icon. When you are reading a book it will look to you as if the video is recording backward.  When you play the video back, you will see it recorded the words are as they should be,

4. Save the video to share.

Using Your Smart Phone

I prefer to use my Android cell phone when making my videos because the camera quality on my phone is better than on my laptop. I purchased a stand to hold the phone while I read the book.  The steps will be the same on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Place the phone is the stand to record the video over your shoulder while you read the book.  In this position, the video will be as if your grandchild is sitting next to you. Here is a shot that shows you the angle set up I like best.

2. Record the video.

3.  Use the editing app as needed and save your video to share.

How to Share Your Video

My recommendation is to share your videos to an account where you can share links to the video.

1. If you have a Google account set up a Google Photos album to house all the videos.  Share the album with family members to access the videos as desired.

2.  Dropbox is also an easy to use storage option.  It is easy to links with family members there as well.

For both of these recommendations, you need to be aware of the "free" storage limits.  Google just announced they will be charging for exceeding storage limits in June 2021.  Dropbox has a paid level of storage as well.

It's time to get reading, Grandmas!

10 Fun Christmas Questions to Get Grandkids Talking

Do you sometimes have trouble getting your grandkids to engage when talking to them by video or the telephone?

You are not alone.

We've talked before about your Grandma's Bag of Tricks.  Well, one of the things you want to have stashed away in your bag of tricks is pages and pages of questions you can use as conversation starters.

Here are ten fun questions for the Christmas holiday season.

Ten Conversation Starters for Christmas 

Print Ten Fun Christmas Conversation Starters for Grandkids

Think of your favorite Christmas food. Don't tell me. Let's see if I can guess what it is.
-What is one word to describe how it looks?
-What is one word to describe how it smells?
-What is one word to describe how it tastes?



What is your favorite Christmas Christmas decoration in your house? Describe it to see if I can guess what it is.

-(If on video) Will you show it to me?


What are the colors that make you think about Christmas?


Did you make any Christmas decorations this year?
-What did you make them with?
-Where are they displayed?


What Christmas gift can you give that doesn’t cost money?

-Who would you give that gift to?


What is your favorite Christmas song? Will you sing it for me?

-Would you like to hear me sing my favorite Christmas song?


Do you think it is better to get a gift in a big box or a little box? 

 -What would be some good gifts to get in that box?

What does your favorite Christmas tree ornament look like?

-(When on video) Will you show it to me?


What is your favorite Christmas dessert?

-What do you like about it?


What are some things that should be in a Christmas picture?

-Will you draw me a picture with those things in it?

Ideas for Coping with Separation from Grandkids

If you are like me you have struggled as a grandma this year thanks to the pandemic. Every day has been hard but this holiday season is the hardest.

I am a grandma to three granddaughters, two born this year during the pandemic.  It has been hard.  The joy of having two new babies to love has been squashed by my fear of contracting or spreading the coronavirus.  My contacts with new granddaughters have been minimal, and this was not at all how I wanted to spend my first year with them.

The impact on their parents has been unfortunate as well.  I haven't been as available as I would have liked to ease the challenge of welcoming new babies into their homes.  Overnight visits from my three-year-old granddaughter were reduced and recently, eliminated. I have been reluctant to babysit or even visit in-person with family.  It pains me.

I know some of you don't share my fears.  I know some of you are refusing to let a virus curb your interactions with family. I know some of you traveled for Thanksgiving and plan to do the same for Christmas. This post is not for you.

For those of you feeling the struggle, it may help to know you are not alone. "Luckily, first reports on loneliness during the pandemic show that older adults have been resilient to loneliness, with an increase during first stages of social distancing, but leveling through stricter stay-at-home orders." source

How To Stay Connected

Technology

We have embraced technology in a big way.  Video visits have become a daily activity.  In general, our visits have been unscheduled and at the convenience of my children.  Rather than referring to them as calls, I would characterize them as invitations from my kids to spend time in their homes.  The video is on and real-life continues.  There is no pressure to have a meaningful conversation.  We chat, we watch dinner being made, and we catch special moments with our granddaughters.  I look forward to these visits.

I'm grateful that through these video visits I have been able to see the new babies grow, to see them work on rolling over and eventually make that first rollover.  I've watched them become aware of their hands and feet and then be able to grab and hold their toys.  I've watched them eat their first mouthful of rice cereal and banana.

I'm grateful to have watched my three-year-old granddaughter tell me jokes, sing me songs, tell me stories about dinosaurs, show me her new, pink bedroom and her dance of the day.

When not visiting by video, pictures and video clips have brought many smiles.  I'm grateful my kids have been good about sending frequent pictures and videos.

Read: Grandparents struggle with not seeing grandchildren during pandemic

Outdoor Visits

Until recently, we have managed to visit in-person, weather permitting.  Thankfully, I've been able to hold my new granddaughters a few times during those outdoor visits. Thanksgiving was a washout so PaPa and I were alone with our 21-pound turkey.  

Life in New England doesn't permit much outdoor visiting from December through March but I'm certain there will be opportunities.  If you are lucky to live within a drivable distance to your grandkids you'll want to keep your eyes on the weather outlook so you can seize on opportunities for a quick outdoor visit.  

Coping Tactics

Keeping Busy

One tactic that has helped me cope with limiting my natural grandparenting instincts is keeping busy.  I have been learning to paint with watercolors and how to use art journals for self-growth. I found a company online that offers art kits and online tutorials that are engaging. I've painted pictures for my granddaughters' bedrooms and created a book of watercolor illustrations with original poems for my three-year-old granddaughter.

I've also expanded my art into art journaling with the help of Quirky Journalers Art Club. There are no rules or limits in art journaling so it really encourages personal creativity.

Knitting and Crocheting

This might be a good time to dust off your knitting or crocheting needles.  I do both.  Making something special for your grandkids may help you manage your disappointment in not seeing them as frequently as usual.

In my family, we have a tradition of using hand-knitted Christmas stockings. My mom started this tradition and I have taken on the responsibility of knitting the stockings.  This year I had two to knit for my granddaughters. They both got a Rudolph stocking.

Hats and mittens for your grandkids will be needed this year.  Here is a free, quick pattern for a cute hat I recently crocheted for my baby granddaughters.

Baking

If you love cooking you know Grandma's treats are always welcome.  Why not bake some cookies for delivery, either by a surprise drop off or mail? I recently made these two favorites for delivery to my family.  

These yummy gingersnaps are a family favorite. Get the gingersnaps recipe.

The oreo truffle balls look festive and are loved by adults and kids. Get the Oreo Truffles recipe.

Do you have ideas to share?  I'd love to hear.

Thanksgiving Fun for Grandkids

 Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to share with children.  Here are some suggestions for fun stuff to do with grandkids for Thanksgiving.

2020 has been a year of challenges for all.  Humor is one way to shift our focus away from those challenges.  To help you insert a little silliness into Thanksgiving for your grandchildren I have gathered a few jokes you can share.

You can print a PDF with these Thanksgiving jokes here.

How to Share Thanksgiving Jokes

1.  Print the jokes.  Staple them together into a little keepsake booklet.  Cover the booklet with construction paper.  Give the booklets to your grandkids to read out loud at Thanksgiving.

2.  Print the jokes.  Send them through the US mail to your grandkids.  They will love receiving snail mail.  Ask them to tell you the jokes on your next video call.

Make Butter for Thanksgiving Dinner

Making butter is easy to do and great fun for kids.

You will need a pint container of heavy cream and a quart jar with a secure lid, like a mason jar.

Chill the cream and the container.

When you are ready to make butter, pour the chilled cream into the chilled container.  Secure the lid and shake, shake, shake.  As the cream is shaken it will thicken and separate into butter and liquid.  

Pass the container around to give everyone a turn to shake.

Once the butter has formed, pour off the liquid and chill the butter.  Use the fresh butter at your Thanksgiving dinner. Imagine how yummy it will be with warm Thanksgiving dinner rolls.

Send a Thanksgiving Themed Book to You Grandkids

For those of us who won't be with our grandkids this Thanksgiving sending a surprise gift is one way to say you are thinking of them.  Books are always welcome no matter what the age.  

Here are a few favorite Thanksgiving books you can send today. (affiliate link)

Get More Ideas on Pinterest

I've been collecting lots of great activity ideas for Thanksgiving on my Thanksgiving Activities for Kids Pinterest Board. Just click the link to save yourself time searching the internet for good, fun things to do on Thanksgiving.