GRAMMY ON THE GO
Build a Bond
By Karen Shadrach
Tackling a project together, whether for just an afternoon or for a longer time, is a good way to build a fun-filled and meaningful relationship with grandkids. A project provides opportunities to talk one-on-one with your grandchild and often becomes a springboard to conversations that may not naturally occur in other situations. Winter is a perfect time to begin because children are back into their normal school routines after the holidays and the cold temperatures and short days tend to keep them indoors.
Here are a few ideas to get started:
Write a Book
Regardless of age, writing and illustrating a book with your grandchildren is not only fun, but it also creates something that they can enjoy years later. You can make up a story or write about your family history. If you are tech-savvy, use the online Shutterfly app to type in the story then import photos of people, pets or your grandchildren’s illustrations. With embellishments provided through the app, you create a hardcover book that they will love to read again and again while remembering the fun they had making it with you.
Young children enjoy doodling and drawing. Make a simple book with them by taking 2-5 pieces of white paper, folding them in fourths, placing 3 staples along the folded side, and cutting open the bottom folded area. Short on ideas? The books can be pictures of things they love (help them spell the names of the objects), a story about one of their pets, or a made-up story.
Older grandchildren may want to interview you, ask about traditions, record family stories and include photos of relatives.
Share a Family Recipe
A great one-day project is to cook or bake a favorite family recipe together. A bonus is that you all can eat your project when it is finished. Make a familiar recipe or explore options from online food subscription services that offer meals and snacks from around the world and information about the featured countries. Try Raddish Kids (raddishkids.com), Little Passports (littlepassports.com) and Universal Yums (universalyums.com).
Make your Own Game
Do your grandkids like board games? Invent your own. Put all those delivery boxes to use and cut a shape for your board. Create a theme and design squares and pictures with directions along the way for your tokens to travel from start to finish. Use coins, small toys, or buttons for markers. Better yet, make your own from more cardboard pieces. The one we made cost us nearly nothing, yet they love to play it.
Need something simpler? How about putting together a puzzle? For big puzzles use a puzzle roll-up mat to store and then finish at a later time. Save completed puzzles by coating them with 1-2 applications of Mod Podge, air drying, and then hanging them up in a playroom or bedroom.
Build Together
Build something with your grandchild, such as a model or a LEGO set. Models (cars, boats, planes, etc.) are available for a variety of abilities. Most have to be worked in stages to allow glue and paint to dry. The process can stretch over several days and has multiple components: assembling and building, applying designs and paint, and completing other details.
LEGO sets also come in various levels of difficulty. My grandsons, for example, were obsessed with the Titanic, so we assembled a Titanic that took us weeks to complete. We’ve since moved on to sports arenas and college buildings. The granddaughters enjoyed making Disney’s “Frozen” LEGO castle.
Whether it’s writing, building, cooking, creating a game or solving a puzzle, a project can lead to love- and laughter-filled memories with your grandchild this winter.
