Monthly Grandparenting Column
by Karen Robbins

We recently returned from a trip to England. When we left, the weather was cold and about to give us another coating of snow. Upon our return, we found green grass, multi-colored blooming tulips, white blossoming pear trees, and redbuds popping with pink flowerets. Soon school will be out and grandchildren will be visiting more often. I’d like to share with you some great activities to do with them that cost little to nothing.

• Get a dozen small objects, such as a button, paper clip, sugar packet, eraser, rubber band, or penny. Tell the child to turn around and then put one into his hand. See if he can identify what’s in his hand without looking. Another way to do this is to put the items in a bag, let the child rummage inside without looking and identify the item he is going to pull out.
• One of my favorite craft projects is to glue a variety of beans, rice, and/or noodles to a piece of cardboard or small piece of plywood to make a mosaic. Using carbon paper (or blackening the back of the paper with a soft lead pencil) you can transfer a simple picture from a coloring book onto the cardboard. If you wish, you can use yarn or cording to outline the picture and then let the child fill in the spaces with the different beans. White glue works best for this since it dries clear. Another suggestion: buy a bag of multi-bean soup. Just be sure to sift out the seasonings.
• Have your grandchild write himself a postcard. Then take a tour of the post office, buy a stamp, and mail the card. This can help a small child learn his address.
• One of the greatest days we had with our young granddaughter was when we went out on the driveway and traced hands and feet and even whole bodies with sidewalk chalk. She giggled every time Grandpa got down and she had to trace around him. (Just be sure someone’s around to help you back up).
• Make a simple map of your neighborhood and take a walk with your grandchild pointing out the spots on your map as you go along. With an older child, have him map out the route between your house and his on a regular map. Perhaps you can mark some favorite spots along the way—like McDonalds.
• Throw an un-birthday party. Bake or buy a cake, blow up balloons, plan a menu with your grandchild. If you are up to it, invite other children or just grab a few stuffed animals for guests.
• Plan a scavenger hunt at your local park or playground. Make a list of things you know your grandchild can find there or if your grandchild is too young to read, take pictures of those things and print them out on a sheet of paper. Give her a pencil and let her check off all those things she finds.

May you have a summer filled with lots of giggles, hugs, and kisses.