Grandparents' Day comes at a wonderful time of year — just as most schools in the United States are welcoming students back after summer vacation. As your fresh-faced young grandchildren begin another exciting year of learning and growing, you can join in the fun. Pop a new-school-year good luck charm in the mail to calm those first-day butterflies; assemble a collection of old photos of you when you were attending school or doing school-related activities to copy and send to your grandchild; and consider the following terrific ideas to add a rich multigenerational, family-oriented dimension to your grandchild's next "show and tell" experience — whether or not you can join your grandchild that day to help present the activity.
This is an important time of year in the lives of all children — hooray for grandparents as they support and nurture their little ones' love for learning!
What in the World Is That?
Here's an intergenerational game that will make everyone laugh!
Ages: Three to five years
You'll Need to Send:
* Go on a hunt in your attic, basement, or garage hunt and unearth "treasures" from yesteryear such as a girdle, darning ball, old spectacles, thimble holder, etc.
Here's How:
* Toss them in a box or bag with a note of explanation attached to each, and have your grandchild ask his or her classmates what these unusual items were used for! Get ready for some silly answers, and to add your fun tales of the past.
Sitting for Silhouettes
Profile the family in silhouettes and perhaps inspire a new classroom activity — or even a lively discussion about shadows and light.
Ages: Two to five years
You'll Need:
* A large piece of white paper for each silhouette
* A lamp
Here's How:
* Tape the paper to the wall.
* Have your grandchildren sit, one at a time, in front of the paper.
* Adjust the lamp so it creates their shadow on the paper behind them. Move your grandchild as close to the wall as possible for a sharp image.
* When a good sharp profile can be seen, your grandchild will have to endure the hardest part of all — sitting still for a few minutes while you trace the shadow on the paper with a pencil or pen.
* Cut out the silhouette and mount on black paper.
* Send the silhouettes to school with your proud grandchild.
Memory Movies
This Grandparents' Day, you might try out these questions as a way of encouraging yourself or other family members to share their history. After seeing your creative movie or audiotape, your grandchild's teacher might become inspired to ask other families to do the same!
*What do you remember most about family members during your childhood? Your Mother? Father? Brothers and sisters?
*Where did you live as a child?
*What was scary to you as a child? What did you like to do best?
*How did you feel about school? What were your favorite subjects?
*What was your most embarrassing moment as a child? As an adult?
*What was the loneliest time you experienced?
*Describe popular entertainment during your teenage years. Who was your favorite movie star? What were the fashions? What was your hairstyle?
*When did you move away from home?
*What were some of your early jobs? Early loves?
*Describe the hobbies that have been the most meaningful to you.
*What have been some of the more positive changes in the world during your lifetime? Negative?
*Did you raise your children as you were raised?
*What do you hope your children and grandchildren have learned from you?
*What have been the greatest pleasures in your life? What has caused the greatest pain?
*How do you feel about being a grandparent?
*What qualities of your personality have been the most useful to you over the years?
*How do you hope you will be remembered?
*What is your earliest memory?
Your grandchild will be especially eager to learn:
*How did you feel when I was born?
*How did you feel when my parents got married?
*What is the biggest change you have seen in your lifetime?
*Who had the most positive influence on your life?
*What are your hopes for the future?
*Do you have any advice for me?
