Grandparents can start planning for quality visits
As I write this, my weather app tells me it is 93 degrees outside today. The warm weather reminds me summertime is near and it is time for grandparents to prepare for visits from grandchildren.
A good thing to do now is begin watching for activities published in the local newspaper — lessons of all kinds, camps, classes, and more. Go online and find free outdoor music festivals or concerts. Visit your local library where you may find opportunities for storytelling, puppet shows, and arts and crafts activities.
If you have an interest in geography, teach them what makes your town special. Take them for a walk around your neighborhood and look at what makes it unique. Read about your state bird and state flower, and if possible, take a trip to a nearby park to find them.
Ask the children for a wish list of places they would like to visit, look them up on a map and plan trips there — real or pretend.
Go to a museum to view hands-onexhibits, or suggest they start a “collection” and build their own museum. They can collect natural materials, such as acorns and leaves from a local park or seashells from the beach.
At night, they can collect fireflies in jars, or, depending on their age, camp out in a tent in the backyard. Of course, if there is only one child, you have to be prepared to join them!
People are resources too — collectors, painters, backyard naturalists may live in your neighborhood, eager to share their knowledge with children.
Since summertime often brings thunderclouds and heavy rains that will make outdoor activities impossible, you can share family history and photos. Most kids like looking at pictures of their parents as children, and of themselves when they were younger, so pull out the photo albums and videotapes of past family gatherings and events. However, if it is just a nice summer shower, a walk in the rain can be a glorious and fun experience all on its own.
Whatever the activity, with a little forethought and planning, children can enjoy their visit with you in ways that are both educational and fun for all involved.