Grandma Ideas

I’m currently busy recuperating from our son’s wedding, recuperating from a long drive to visit with good friends from Canada who are in the states, and currently busily compiling the list of ‘good books to read’ to grandchildren. However, I do have an idea to share from Grandma Kathleen from Spanish Fork.

I asked her what were some of the fun things that she does with her grandchildren. She said that her grandchildren’s most favorite thing is the treasure chest. Originally, Grandma Kathleen had a box that looked like a treasure chest. She filled it with all sorts of treasures from the dollar store. Then, when her grandchildren come for a visit, they are allowed to select one item from the treasure chest.

What a fun idea!

She said that the treasure chest was rather flimsy and didn’t last very long. She now just has a basket. Regardless, her grandchildren still enjoy selecting a treasure from the basket.

I did a quick search on the Internet and found a plastic treasure chest that is 19 inches long, 13 inches wide, and 14 inches tall for $20 at Century Novelty. Here is a link to view the chest:

http://www.centurynovelty.com/detail_265_209-617.html

Argh, matey. Shiver me timbers . . . young buccaneers will enjoy getting loot from this chest. Ye might be thinkin’ of gettin’ one for ye own gran’children.

Ol’ Bluebeard herself,
Digi-Gram

Callling all grandmothers!!  (And any other miscellaneous readers . . .)

I would like to compile a list of  books that grandmothers can read to their grandchildren.  But, I need your help.

Please e-mail me the name of the books that you have read to your grandchildren that both you and they have enjoyed.  (There was one book I read to my children — Are You My Mother — that I didn’t care for but my children did!!)

Send your suggestions to:  grandma@grandmaideas.com

I would  like all of your suggestions by Aug. 13.  I will put them into a list and share it here.  Then, you will have at your fingertips a list of tried and true books that will be a hit when you read them to your grandchildren.

Thanks a bunch!
Digi-Gram

I would like to thank Grandma Kathy from Elk Ridge, Utah, for the basis of this idea!

Have you heard of or participated in a progressive dinner party? Where you go to one home for the hors d oeuvres, another home for the salad, another for the main course, and yet another for the dessert? This activity is similar in that you progress from one spot to another spot doing fun things at each place.

To prepare for this activity, collect boxes that have lids or that have flaps to fold to make it a sealed box. Gather the necessary equipment. Print the directions that go on the outside of the box and tape them to the boxes. Print up the inside of the box directions and put them inside each box along with the equipment. Put the lid on the box.

Write a number on the outside of the box. The numbering should be in the order in which you want to do the activity.

The object is to go to one destination and do an activity, go to another destination for another activity, and repeat until all of the activities have been completed – and of course to have lots of fun in the process!

Here are sample box ideas, the instructions to write on the outside of the box, the equpment that goes inside the box, and what to do at the destination.

Box #1 (destination: grandma’s driveway)
(Directions written on the outside of the box)

Go to where a car may drive
That’s hard and wide and gray.
Draw a picture with this chalk
Before you go away.

Instructions inside the box: Use the chalk to draw a picture on the sidewalk. When the pictures are completed, Grandma will think of a number between one and twenty. The grandchildren will say a number. The person who is the closest to that number will read the directions on box #2.

Equipment needed: sidewalk chalk

Box #2 (destination: a park)
(Directions written on the outside of the box)

Before it gets dark, quickly go to the park.
The swings you shall not ride.
Nor ride on the thing that goes ‘round and is merry
But hurry and go to the slide.

Instructions inside the box: Use masking tape to make a starting line about half way up the slide. Make a finish line near the end of the slide. Each grandchild chooses a matchbox car from the box. Pair grandchildren and have them race their cars down the slide. The winner of each pair will race against another winner until there is a champion. The grand finale winner reads the directions on box #3. (Grandchildren can keep their matchbox car.)

Equipment needed: masking tape, a matchbox car for each player

Box #3 (destination: another spot in the park)
(Directions written on the outside of the box)

Go someplace where there’s lots of room
And nothing’s in the way.
Where something through the air can zoom
And outside you must stay!

Instructions inside the box: Find a spot at the park that has lots of room. Place the target on the ground. Determine the distance that players have to stand away from the target. Each player has a water balloon and takes a turn trying to hit the target. The person who comes closest to the target gets to read the next box.

(If possible, have 2-3 balloons for each child. Or, you could have a beanbag for them to toss. If you have beanbags, you can spend more time on this activity by having the grandchildren move further and further away from the target, or toss the beanbag with their back turned to the target, or stand with their back to the target and toss the beanbag through their legs.)

Equipment needed: a piece of paper with a bull’s eye on it, water balloons or bean bags for the grandchildren to toss

Box #4 (destination: grocery store)
(Directions written on the outside of the box)

You can drive.
You can walk.
You can bike.
You can hop.
Now you go
To a grocery shop.

Instructions inside the box: buy bubble gum. Then, find an appropriate place to have a bubble blowing contest. The winner reads the next box.

Box #4 (Destination: local swimming pool – grandma has asked the grandkids in advance of this activity to bring their swimsuits)
(Directions written on the outside of the box)

You can splish.
You can splash.
When you’re set
You’ll get wet
In your suit!

Instructions in the box: go to the local swimming pool. Swim for one hour (or however long grandma decides). Once you are out, the youngest grandchild (who can read) will read the last box.

Box #5 (destination: someplace that sells ice cream cones)
(Directions written on the outside of the box)

There’s vanilla and chocolate and peppermint, too.
The colors might be yellow – or some might be blue.
Your tongue will go up, your treat will go down.
Find the coolest place in town.

Instructions in the box: go to a place that sells ice cream cones. Enjoy the cone, and thank grandma for a fun summer activity!

Now that you have the gist of this activity, you can personalize it. You do not have to use my examples. Adapt the destinations and activities according to your situation, the age of your grandchildren, and the destinations that are available to you. You can have as many or as few boxes as you would like or have time for.

Here’s to summer fun in a box!
Digi-Gram

There are books and then there are BOOKS. I just finished one of those BOOKS — a book that really made me stop and think. And think hard. And for my shallow intellect, that was an amazing feat.

The book was Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza. It is her story of surviving the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. In a bathroom that was 3 feet wide by 4 feet long. With 7 other women. For 91 days. It’s a story of how she was strengthened and supported by her faith in God. And in the end, that faith allowed her to personally visit the man who killed her mother and brother and to forgive him.

How strong would my faith be? Would I succumb to the darkness of fear and despair that Immaculee struggled to overcome? Could I maintain hope — and sanity? And could I do the ultimate — overcome feelings of hatred and a desire to kill those who were the killers of the my family and friends and find forgiveness in my heart?

I would highly recommend this book. But. Be forewarned. What the Hutus did to the Tutsis was horrific. The writing is such that you can see those details in your mind’s eye — yet the details are not explained in grim and gruesome living color as a movie show would display. While this may sound odd, the horror is tactfully and artistically written about.

60 minutes did a story about Immaculee. To get an small idea of what the genocide was like and to see her tell part of her story, go to http://www.immaculee.com. I highly recommend that you view this.

What chills my soul to the very core is this question: Why did the world, and especially the United States , do nothing to come to the aid and rescue of the Tutsis? While we may not have hefted a machete to mutilate and kill the Tutsis of Rwanda, we are no less guilty because of our lack of action.

May the Tutsis find forgiveness in their souls for us.