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Mapping Their World

1/27/2021

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​A Secret Weapon for Connection with Your Grandkids
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Did you read about my grandparenting vision statement? One of my core beliefs is that my purpose is to teach my grandchildren to explore the world. This can be hard as a long-distance grandparent, especially during a pandemic. I’d love to regularly take them on trips around their town—or mine (or anyone’s really!). I’d like to point out the constellations, show them the difference between a lake and an ocean, and tell them about all the places we’ve lived. I wish we could sit down with maps and make plans for where to explore next. Unfortunately, that’s not something that can happen as regularly as I’d like.

So recently, I sent a box full of ways for them to plan and explore the world from their house. How will this foster connection? Knowing where you are in the world, and where the people you love are, helps make sense of the universe. It creates a framework for conversations, and a springboard for future plans. Plus, it shows them that I value exploration, while giving them something new to learn and do!
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Here’s what I included:
Reminder: ​As an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for helping to keep this site ad-free. 
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Of course, there were books! Follow That Map!: A First Book of Mapping Skills seems to be intermittently available, but it's a great book if you can find a copy!

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Me on the Map shows children how to find where they live and how they fit in to the larger world. Another great option is Where  Do I Live.

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I also sent maps: this set of United States, world and solar system maps, and a local street map of their city so they could find where they lived. They were a big hit, as was this compass!

And finally, I sent materials to make their own maps: some graph paper and colored pencils. My grandson worked hard on his map of his house and yard, but you'll have to follow me on Instagram to see the exciting backyard he designed!

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Must Have Books for Babies

11/25/2020

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Why reading to babies is so important
Babies love books. They love the chance to snuggle in your arms and hear your voice as you read. What’s more, reading helps them learn language—and more. ​
Grandparents reading a colorful book to baby girls
​Babies are hungry for the information in the pictures, and the sound of the words. While their language and communication skills are growing and they are learning about the world, you are strengthening your bond with them. Everyone wins, especially if the books are chosen carefully.

Not every board book is a quality book for babies. It takes more than printing a children's book on thick cardboard to be appropriate for these new learners. The words and pictures need to be geared towards their developmental stage. Language should be composed of simple words and concepts: Rhymes, repetition and short sentences all capture a baby’s attention. Bright, colorful pictures will capture their gaze. They love both familiar subjects, like the babies in Gyo Fujikawa’s Babies,  and ones they haven’t yet met—like the zoo animals in Goodnight Gorilla.

It’s also important for it to be a book that adults like to read, because babies prefer to hear the same story over, and over, and over again. Choose wisely! Here are some both babies and adults we know have enjoyed. If you aren't familiar with them all, check them out and let us know which ones you'll be adding to your grandbaby's collection!
As an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for helping to keep this site ad-free. 
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Connecting with Grandchildren through Reading

11/18/2020

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Books are a powerful way to build bonds, but there's more to it than just sharing your favorites.
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​Reading is one of the main ways I connect with my grandchildren. They sit enthralled through as many stories as I’m willing to read. As someone who loves books unreservedly, I’m usually good for at least three or four a day via FaceTime, or more if we are together. We’ve got a pretty extensive library at home, which keeps things fresh. (Not that it matters—I could read the same book 10 times over and the two-year-old would still say, “Read it again!” when I was through.) 
Lately, I’ve been choosing the books more thoughtfully. Instead of just choosing a few favorites, I find three or four with a common element, and ask the four-year-old to guess what that element is. One day I read Big Dog and Little Dog Going for a Walk followed by McDuff and the Baby.  My grandson quickly guessed that the theme of the day was dogs. I pushed him a little further by asking him what he thought I might read next. He thought a moment and then shouted “Go Dog Go!”  He was right. Another day it was Green Eggs and Ham followed by I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie.  This was a little more abstract, but he still guessed correctly that we were reading books about eating. We followed up with The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza.

I love this opportunity to use books to help them develop early critical thinking skills and to learn to make connections. As they get older, books will be a bridge for far more. Through the books we read, we can share our values, teach them about the culture of their ancestors and introduce them to new interests. By engaging our grandchildren through reading, we can spark their curiosity and learn more about each other. Along the way, we are deepening the bonds we have with them. Reading is a powerful way to connect.

If you believe in that power, I’m excited to share a new resource with you, Reading for Connection. This inexpensive eBook will be filled with ideas for how to engage children of all ages through reading, activities for both in-person and virtual story dates, recommended book lists and so much more. It will be available soon in collaboration with The Long Distance Grandparent, and we can’t wait to get it in your hands! Join the waiting list now so you’ll know as soon as it is published.
As an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Every penny helps keep this site ad-free. Thank you for your support!
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A Virtual Field Trip to the Zoo

10/28/2020

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A roaring good time for your grandchildren
For parents with small children, Covid-19 has made life both harder and easier. Gone are the pressures of playdates and scheduling naps around outings. But for many, those have been replaced by long, lonely days at home. Mom and Dad are frazzled, the kids have cabin fever, and everyone is in need of a break from the monotony.

One of the ways I’ve tried to make things a little easier for my family is with “virtual field trips”. The trip to the art museum and the virtual summer vacation were both a big hit, so this time I sent them on a virtual trip to the zoo.
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Once again, I looked for items that would do more than provide a few moments of fun and then add to the clutter. Here’s what I included:
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Kids in gray shirts that say zookeeper on them
They both got Zookeeper shirts, which quickly became a favorite piece of clothing. I got these, but there are other fun styles available.  


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Why You Should Read to Your Grandchildren

10/21/2020

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How Reading Helps Children’s Development
​Among the many, many children’s books in my house, there are several that have an inscription from my grandparents and a sticker from Vroman’s, the bookstore where they shopped their entire lives. There is no doubt in my mind that these gifts from my grandparents contributed to my love of reading. 
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My grandparents were not unique in sharing their love of books with their grandchildren: many of us do the same. And with good reason—books are an easy and meaningful way to connect generations. Whether they are asking us to read their favorite story, or we are sharing a book that their mother loved as a child, we are weaving connections to one another.
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But do you know just how much sharing books with your grandchildren helps them? Reading boosts children’s development in a multitude of ways. 

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Three Ways to Celebrate Halloween Without Trick-or-Treating

10/14/2020

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​Grandparents Can Be the Superheroes This Halloween
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What will Halloween look like for your grandchildren this year? Because of Covid, Halloween parties are out, and trick-or-treating is being discouraged in many communities. There are a lot of little ghosts and goblins that are going to be disappointed this year—unless someone comes to the rescue!
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Grandparents, here’s your chance! Why not start a new family Halloween tradition with one of the following ideas?

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The 7 Best Books for Active Toddlers

9/23/2020

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Interactive stories to make even virtual storytime a hit
Reading with small children helps them learn the building blocks of language. It also introduces them to stories, which are a rich, vital part of human life. Books can ignite their imagination and curiosity, and the right books can entertain them for long stretches. And for grandparents, it’s a lovely way to share time together, even if it’s only over video chat.
man reading with toddler girl
But how do you keep the attention of a squirrely two-year-old, or a three-year-old with better things to do? The secret to picking books for your grandchildren is finding ones that demand their attention: books that ask them questions, encourage them to jump around, or are filled with silliness. These interactive stories will keep toddlers and preschoolers tuned in.

The following books all have a collaborative element that goes beyond lifting the flap, and are fun for the reader as well as the child. Click on any book cover to learn more about it and order it from Amazon!
Can You Make a Scary Face book cover
Don't Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus book cover
It's a Tiger! book cover
Press Here book cover
Crunch the Shy Dinosaur book cover
The Book With No Pictures book cover
The Monster at the end of this Book book cover
As an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Every penny helps keep this site ad-free. Thank you for your support!
What book does your toddler grandchild love best? Please share in the comments!
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Art Museum in a Box

8/12/2020

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As an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Every penny helps cover the costs of running this site, so thank you for your support!
It’s time for a virtual field trip!
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Have you ever taken your grandchildren to an art museum? Even babies respond to being in a place with new things to look at, and exposing young children to a wide variety of great art introduces them to the idea of diversity in our world. Plus, between the ages of 2 and 5, creativity explodes. If we nurture it, it is likely to become a life-long characteristic.

Of course, many of us aren’t able to take our grandchildren anywhere right now. So why not send the art museum to them? That’s what I just did, and it was a big hit. What did it include?
Museum ABC Book Cover
​Museum ABC, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a beautiful introduction to both fine art and the alphabet. 
The Story of Paintings Book Cover
If you have older grandkids, you can send The Story of Paintings: A History of Art for Children 
Art Making With MOMA book cover
You’ll want to include a book about making art. Art Making with MoMA: 20 Activities for Kids Inspired by Artists at The Museum of Modern Art is a great one. Although some of the activities are more advanced, most of them can be adapted based on children’s ages.  

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This Faber-Castell watercolor set has everything needed for beginning artists. 

And since gluing things together is a thrill when you are a small child (and helps with crucial small motor development), look for something with lots of pieces. The ALEX Toys Little Hands My Collage Farm is perfect.

Children playing with collage set
After the serious business of creating, they had such fun playing with the animals they made!
And to keep them from ruining their clothes, you’ll want to throw in an art smock for each child. I ordered this two pack.

Go put together a virtual field trip to the art museum for your grandkids, then tag me on Instagram or Facebook with a photo of their masterpieces!
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    • 7 Things New Grandparents Need
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