It's just not fair. You've spent days getting ready. You've spent weeks planning meals and stocking the freezer. Your closets are filled to the top with brightly wrapped gifts. And your family is now home, just as you dreamed, but after two days of catching up, the grandkids are climbing the walls (via the couch and end table); your children, now adults, are passive blobs glued to the television set; and you're working your derriere off to just keep some semblance of order in the house. Or maybe you're blessed with go-getter children who love to help, but in the process rearrange your cupboards and create an impenetrable offensive line in front of the stove.

Perhaps it's time to resurrect the Job Chart, that dreaded chore list that your children had thought was safely buried somewhere in the basement. But this time it doesn't have to carry the weight that it did when your children were young — just take up the old idea and instead give it a new, lighter approach.

Make a list of everything that needs to be done so that the grandparents can share fully in the quality family time. Call a family meeting of your couch potatoes — or a huddle of your offensive line — and let them know that you need each and everyone's help. You can even help the young grandchildren choose from among the manageable jobs and leave the rest for the adults to either assign or just remember and do as needed. You'll be amazed at how easy it can be, and how proud your little ones are to help, especially when you tell them how "grown up" they are to be able to do so many important things for Grandma and Grandpa.

As J. W. from Ramsey, New Jersey, wrote, it's "important to tell stories about family history--particularly about people granchildren will never know." Think back to what made your family holidays special. The smells of gingerbread and the jingle of bells on stockings at Christmas; the warm glow of candlelight and happy songs of Hanukkah; Uncle Ed's incredible appetite at Thanksgiving and the clink of dishes being washed afterward; the light giggles of bewitching little merrymakers at Halloween.

It's the camaraderie of good friends and family and the reassuring familiarity of common rituals that make a holiday special, and these are elements that you can help recreate for your grandchildren as well.

Grandloving Activity Idea: Bubble Wrap Prints

When you send those packages, be sure to include some bubble wrap with these instructions for an easy project your little artists will love!

Ages: Eighteen months to four years

You'll Need:
* Tempera or washable fingerpaints
* Smocks or Grandpa's old shirt as a coverup
* Newspapers to protect the table
* Plastic bubble wrap

Here's How:
* Paint the bubble wrap.
* Place a piece of paper over it, and remove.
* The result is a gorgeous "modern art" design.

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Grandloving Activity Idea: Create a Winter Wonderland

Save the chiseling for the pros--your grandchildren will create ice sculptures unlike any you've seen.

Ages: Three to five years

You'll Need:
* Freezing weather
* A variety of containers: plastic food containers in all sizes and shapes work well

Here's How:
* Fill the containers with water.
* Set outside to freeze in the cold.
* Unmold and with the help of a small cup of water as "cement" stack one shape onto another until the masterpiece is complete.
* Hold a family ice sculpture contest to see who can make the smallest, the funniest, the scariest, etc.

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Grandloving Activity Idea: The Gift Wrap Rap

Don't be surprised if your grandchildren want to make this a holiday tradition!

Ages: Two to five years

You'll Need:
* Your family seated around the dinner table
* A gift appropriate for any age such as homemade cookies, a simple game, or puzzle
* To wrap the one gift in at least as many layers of different paper as there are people at the table.

Here's How:
* Send the gift around the table, having each person in turn remove one layer of paper.
* The person who removes the last wrapping can open the gift for the family to share.

 

Special Babyproofing Concerns for the Holidays

Your home will certainly be warm and inviting during the holidays for both adults and children, and you'll want to make sure that everything within reach of your grandchildren is safe. The most poisonous holiday decorations are mistletoe and jerusalem cherry, which are highly toxic; but other plants such as holly, poinsettia, evergreen trees (if your grandchild has an allergy), and stray pine needles can also cause problems if eaten. Be careful not to use a tree preservative that contains nitrates, which if ingested can cause a blood disorder.

See to it that tree lights are the new coolburning kind and are never near your grandchild's mouth — esp. the small blinking ones, which contain a chemical that is dangerous to consume. Also beware of common decorations such as angel hair, tinsel, glass or small plastic ornaments, which are choking hazards and can wreak havoc with your child's stomach if eaten.

Be conscientious during the busy gift-giving season about batteries, colognes, ribbons, and wrappings, which pose special dangers to babies. And watch any alcoholic drinks so that they aren't accidentally consumed by your grandchildren. As a special precaution, post your local poison control center's number near your phone and be sure that you or someone in your family is familiar with first aid and CPR techniques for children.

Compiled and adapted from: What to Expect the First Year, 2d ed., by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and Sandee E. Hathaway.

(One of our kids, Nick, gets in the act with a special dot-to-dot puzzle for grandchildren and grandparents to print and share!)

Hi! I'm Nick, and I have two Grandmas and two Grandpas who live far away, and I like to send them fun things to do. You can print and send copies of my ideas, or try your own. I love to get e-mail, too. If you want, you can send me your ideas or questions by clicking on my name.

I'm just getting started, but you can try the dot-to-dot heart this time! I'll add more soon.

Nick

(Click here to open Nick's dot-to-dot puzzle. You can save it to your computer and later attach it to an e-mail if you'd like to send it to someone.)

Just in time for the holidays — some new print and send activities to keep the generations close! Just click on the title of the activity that interests you and print the document that appears.

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Grandloving Print and Send Idea: A Hands-On Favorite Turkey

Remember tracing your hand in elementary school to make Thanksgiving turkeys? Trace your own or use ours to have some holiday fun!

Age: Three to five years

Your Grandchild Will Need:
* A tracing of your hand, or our model (click on hotlink in activity title, and print in the color you wish).

Here's How:
* Send a copy of your handprint to your grandchild, along with an invitation to decorate your hand tracing like a turkey and to make one to send to you!
* If your grandchild really enjoys this activity, you might have her make enough to decorate placemats (or to make name cards) for Thanksgiving dinner!

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Grandloving Print and Send Idea: Coupons of Caring (Back by Popular Demand!)

We're sure you've seen something like this in stores, but these you can personalize with a special photo of yourself!

Age: Two to six years

You'll Need:
* The coupon (click on hotlink in activity title)
* A small photo of yourself

Here's How:
*Attach a photo of yourself, or one of yourself and your grandchild, to the coupon, and fill in the "good for" line. Perhaps the coupon could be redeemable for a special do-together activity during your next visit. * Send the coupon to your grandchild, and enjoy hearing your delighted little one talk about it during your next call!

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Grandloving Print and Send Idea: A Festive Stocking Maze

A Christmas activity that's sure to be a hit!

Age: Four to six years

Your Grandchild Will Need:
* The stocking maze (click on hotlink in activity title, and print in the color you wish). Try red for a holiday mood!

Here's How:
* Send a copy of the maze to your grandchild.
* Enjoy talking about how fun it was during your next call. You might even challenge an older grandchild to make a maze for you!

Click here to print or save our Coupons of Love. They're back by popular demand!

Looking for a super catalog for children's clothing? Searching for a great resource for new moms? On the lookout for some super classic toys for little ones? Our Web Resources section provides some links to other resources that might interest you. Let us know your favorites, too!