Children Learn what they See

Learning to Read

My nine year old granddaughter is a great reader. She is in fourth grade and is reading at a ninth grade level. She loves books. I am convinced that the time her parents took while she was just a baby and toddler to read to her was one of their greatest investments to her future. She reads a variety of books and I know she will always do well in school because of her love of reading. There are so many ways you can help your child learn to love books and reading. The pop-up books were always a hit with my grandchildren. Connecting words with pictures was a great learning tool at a very early age. Books with colorful pictures that depict the story are great. Reading to your child also can associate reading with comfort to them. Snuggling together and reading a book to your child can be very comforting. Years ago, with my youngest son, I spent a lot of time with him on the alphabet and reading to him. I believe that as a result of this time well spent, he became a good reader and did well in school.

Building Memories

One thing I want to do for my grandchildren is to build memories that will carry them throughout their lives. I expect that we will be spending some time this summer at the park or at some swimming pools. They love the park and love swimming.

Potty Mouths

I just read the most interesting article on how toddler's , at one time or another, come up with the word "poop" and think it is hilarious.  This is definitely the case with my three year old grandson.  He just thinks that word is so funny and should be used all the time.  I think he realizes what it means and really gets my attention when he uses it.  This article suggests that when a toddler is using the word, that you should tell him or her that bathroom talk like "poop" can only be used in the bathroom.  So,  send him or her to the bathroom and let them say "poop" all they want to.  This will give them an outlet and eventually they will get bored with the topic, since their only audience will be the toilet.  Sounds wacky, but I think I will give that a try when the word "poop" comes up again while I am taking care of him.   HAAAA!!

Teeth

My grandson and I had a very interesting conversation this morning.  Out of the blue he said "granny, my teeth are going to fall out".  I told him that he would grow new teeth.  His response to that was "ok, then let's put some water in my mouth so they can grow".  He then proceeded to tell me that we could go to the store and buy him some new teeth when his teeth fall out.  I think he was thinking of grandpa and the fact that grandpa has false teeth and we can take them out and put them back in.  I wonder at the way his thinking is so indepth and so comprehensive.  He is going to be fun to watch grow up.  I just hope I can stay around to see that, but you never know.  With my husband's illness we live one day at a time.

Wonders of Childhood

Wonders of Childhood - what a statement.  I am reminded of this on a daily basis with my grandchildren.  I am completely amazed all the time at what they discover and what they learn to do.  Especially Connell who is three and just an amazing child.  He is fun to be around and he cannot be left alone for any length of time or the house suffers.  He is adventurous, loving, totally cute with his red hair and blue eyes. 

Kids, Buttons and Dials

What is so fascinating to babies and toddlers about buttons.  My three year old grandson is fascinated with buttons.  Probably because pushing them results in either noise, lights, or something else.  He is equally fascinated with dials.  He likes to push the buttons on my car dashboard.  He points out to me that some are buttons and others are "turning around things" (dials).  I have a chair in my garage next to the door into the house.  He has learned to push that chair up to the wall that has the garage door opener on it.  Thank goodness it makes noise when it opens, otherwise, I wouldn't know that he has opened the garage door to get into the front yard.  I have handle guards on all the doors, but they are useless now because he has learned to get them off and open any door.  Good thing my hearing hasn't gone yet.  This happens when I am caring for my husband and can't pay attention to him for a few minutes.  Even though it gets hard sometimes to watch every move my grandson makes, it is still a joy to watch his llittle mind figure out how to do things at such a young age.

Learning to Sew

I had my three gandchildren today and it was quite a day.  It is amazing what kids can find to amuse themselves.  We have a stuffed koala bear that is a seat for kids.  This bear has been around since my first grandchild was a baby and has seen better times.  It was torn around the neck and the stuffing was coming out.  I found a needle and thread and started to sew the bear back together. My two granddaughters watched with interest and wanted to "help".  I showed them how to sew his neck up and then they proceeded to find every stuffed animal in our house, made cuts in them and then performed "surgery" to fix them.   It was so funny to watch them sew the stuffed animals back together.  They are very interested in learning to sew, at least for right now. 

Conell, my grandson thought that he could sew too.  He follows his sisters lead and thinks he can do anything they can do.

Rhiannon (my oldest granddaughter, nine) has become quite the cook.  Today she went into her cookbook she received for Christmas and found a recipe for grilled cheese sandwichs.  She made the sandwichs and cut them into strips and we all dipped them in salsa.  YUMMY!

Conversation with 3 year old grandson

As I was taking my grandson home yesterday, he started a conversation about pigs.  "grandma, do pigs have teeth?"  "Grandma, how come pigs are pink?"  Nothing in particular started this conversation, he just started talking about everything and it was a conversation to behold.  "grandma, do pigs love me".  My response, "of course pigs love you, Conell, everyone loves you."  "Grandma, how come the sun is not up in the sky" (it was a cloudy day with no sunshine).  It was hard for him to comprehend that the sun was there, it was just hidden behind clouds.    I love my conversations with Conell, he is so perceptive and understands so much that he continually amazes me.  Is this grandma bias or what.  It is hard to discipline him because when I get upset with him, he is constantly trying to make faces thinking this will "make me happy".  He is such a joy.

The Tooth Fairy

Rhiannon

My granddaughter was spending the night with us and during the course of the evening one of her baby molars came out.  I didn't know this until I saw her go into the garage and come back with a wrench.  I asked her what she was doing and she told me that her tooth had come out and she was trying to clean it up in the bathroom sink.  She lost her grip and the tooth went down the drain.  The look on her face and the anguish of losing her tooth really touched me.  So with wrench in hand, I was able to loosen the trap and low and behold there was the tooth.  Her joy of having her tooth back was a thing to witness.  It was a reminder to me that sometimes little things do matter.  She is such a loving granddaughter.  She sees the sadness in me at times and she will just come up to me, hug me and tell me that she loves me.  This gives me more determination to keep things light for my grandchildren and to show them that I am OK.  babydiaperbagsgalore.com

Marshmellows

When I picked my grandson up today I had a bag of marshmellowsl in the floor of the car.  He got them and started stuffing handfuls into his mouth.  I told him he could not have any more marshmellows and his reply was "but grandma, the marshmellows will make my cough go away".  HA.  Kids do say the darndest things and always come up with answers about why they are doing certain things.  Very imaginative and sometimes very funny.  It's hard to get angry with Conell at times because when I do he does everything to "make me happy".  He will make faces and then come up to me and ask me "are we happy yet?"  I'm not sure where he learned that, but really touches my heart.

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What Inspires Granny

While living one day at a time, I reflect every day on what has inspired me for that particular day and realize that even the small things give hope and happiness.  Things like a baby's first roll-over, the first word, the first crawl, the first words.  The attention that others pay to your baby when you are out in public.

Even the times when they are constantly asking "are we there yet", can we go to McDonald's for lunch, can I play my games on the computer.  Although, at times, this can be irritating, it also inspires me that they are so open in everything they say and do.  It definitely teachs granny patience.

With my husband's brain injury it is when he remembers my name and doesn't call me "baloney", or a spark of recognition is in his eyes that keeps me going.

babydiaperbagsgalore.comMorgan reading to grandpa

Laughing - Good for your Health

Laugh a lot and keep yourself healthy.  My grandson keeps me laughing a lot.  He is three years old and so full of energy and "cuteness" that I can't help but smile a lot, and laugh a lot at some of the things he says.  When  he thinks I am upset, he comes up to me and makes faces at me, then he asks me "are you happy yet"?  He puts things in perspective for me a lot.  He has red hair and blue eyes and is quite a hit when I take him to the grocery store or anywhere else.

When I am feeling stressed while taking care of my husband, all I need around me are my grandchildren.  They are so loving and compassionate that I wonder at them all the time.  We never part without a "kiss and a hug".  They keep my spirits up and they keep me LAUGHING. 

Halloween 2009

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What my Grandchildren teach me

What I have learned from my grandchildren:
1.  How to make a cake out of rocks, dirt and water.
2.  Why butterflys have wings (it's their hands)
3.  How to make a fort out of pillows and the cushions off the couch.
4.  Why it's important that you have at least four smoothies a day ( to keep the blender working)
5.  I've learned that the sun and the moon are always following you wherever you go.
6.  Why it is important to wear your skates in the house (getting to the bathroom is quicker).

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Going to Granny's House

What I like about granny's house:

• It's one big cookie jar
• It's an ice cream shop
• It's a great place to play hide-n-seek
• I can re-decorate the walls (when granny is not looking)
• It's a great place for a sleep-over.  I can sleep on the floor, on the couch,or even in a tent in the back yard when the weather is good.
• The jetted tub is a great place to splash and pretend I am swimming
• The computer is a lot of fun, when I get to use it

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GREAT DIAPER BAGS

Finding a great diaper bag that carries everything for baby and also for mom can be a daunting task.  Eventually you will want to get out and about to show off your baby, so a great diaper bag is essential.

Diaper bags come in all shapes, sizes, colors and materials.  From cloth, to canvas, to leather.  There are many trendy, beautiful bags to choose from.  Finding a  diaper bag that has a lot of pockets and possibly an insulated pocket to keep baby's bottle warm can be quite a search.  

Many diaper bags can be used long after baby has outgrown them.  They can be used as gym bags, laptop carriers, to name a few. diaper bags