jpeschel1

Week Two – Plan

Well, this activity reminded me of just how long it takes to develop plans for a week. It is now nearly 4:00 and I have been working on this all day. Now I did totally get into it, I have to admit but it’s not easy to pull together connected activities even for little ones.

I pushed myself to think in terms of multiple intelligences, laying out each day with little activities focused on each intelligence. The activities are intended to be short and flexible and fun. Seriously, if something turns out to be stressful, stop. It’s not worth it.

Now I’m going to test this blog for how well it will allow me to link my plan to you.

Week Two Lesson Plan – https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A7df99e7e-6152-4962-8e27-7ec3951de8c1

Monday Activities and Links

Any book that you have about spring will work fine. I chose The Rainy Day because it is available read out loud on YouTube so you do not need to actually own the book.

Other book ideas are listed on Pinterest. In fact, I have saved other ideas for this weeks activities on this site as well.

Ideas for books
3 D Rain drop project
Rain cloud Activity

I have also developed a few simple to print off sheets for you to use.

Other items needed for Monday

Umbrella, clear jar, shaving cream, blue food coloring, somethings to toss into umbrella ( I actually like the idea of using those orphan socks rolled up)

Tuesday Activities and Links

Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Over In the Meadow – Barefoot Books

Songs can be downloaded on Apple Music or Amazon Prime. Here are links to each of them as videos.

The Garden Song – Sung my Peter, Paul and Mary

Walk Outside – Sung by Raffi

Baby Beluga – Sung by Raffi

Rockin’ Robin – Sung by Bobby Day

Other items needed for Tuesday

Old coloring books, glue or glue sticks, potting soil, peat pots or ice cream cones, and seeds.

Wednesday – Activities and Links

Moon Dough recipe

Thursday – Activities and Links

Kite Day by Will Hillenbrand

Make the kite by precutting a diamond from drawing paper. Let them see you cut it and divide it into 4 sections. Let them count the sections. Then give the free choice for how to color it. They could even choose from paint, markers, or crayons whatever you have available.

Make the tail but having colored construction paper cut into small squares with a hole punched in each color.

String the squares on a pipe cleaner that way each piece will stay instead of falling back to the bottom.

Glue the tail onto the finished kite when it is dry.

Add a string at the top of the kite to make it match a completed kite.

(This project may have to be done over the course of the day or even over two days. Little ones don’t have the attention span to to this all at once)

Other items needed for Thursday

Scarves or other items that could be pretend kites

Friday – Activities and Links

Nothing new today. Everything is an option for your child to choose to do again.

In Closing

This is, hopefully, everything you need for a week of fun activities. As I stated earlier, be flexible. Use other books if you have them or other links if you’d like. The idea is really simply to organize thoughts so that there is a repetition of vocabulary and concepts while varying the activities to meet different learning styles. Little ones have likes and dislikes already. I’m seeing that every day. So if I have varied ideas planned then if one isn’t a hit maybe the next one will be. And always, when possible give choices within the activity.

Remember to keep it:

S -imple

M -ake it fun

I -llustrate but…

E -njoy the time with them

S.M.I.L.E.

What To Do…Week Two

We are entering week two of the Coronavirus Isolation. Many moms and dads are trying to work from home and take care of their children. For older children, the schools have identified ways to stay connected on-line to help keep the kids learning. However, daycares also closed. These little ones are home now with parents who are stressed. Some are out of work, some are trying to maintain a paycheck by working from home. No one has the time to figure out how to make each day happy for all concerned. That’s where I maybe can help.

Retired Teacher – Grandma

My previous working life was spent with children. I know a few tricks for playing with little ones but this has even tested me. I am dusting off my previous learning and trying to pull together balanced activities for two grandchildren that I watch three days a week. I have the good fortune of living right next door.

So, first I started with a plan to connect some like activities (see previous post). It was pretty simple and involved lots of painting, a little play dough, one book, and a walk outside. As I am sitting here, in my quiet, though I thought I can do better than that. I know some things about learning.

I tend to go to what I enjoy…art projects. And that does not always satisfy a child’s needs.
I know there there are multiple ways for children to learn and a good/balanced day will include these multiple approaches.
I also know that it’s fun to plan everything around a theme. It helps to control my short attention span…and their’s.
And, above all else, I know that the best laid plans won’t always work.

S-imple is better
M-ake it fun
I-llustrate but…
L-et them lead
E-njoy this time with them
S.M.I.L.E

First I Dusted Off My Memory of Multiple Intelligences

There are several great sites online to simply google but this one from Scholastic actually gave a list of ideas. My grandchildren are young so I have to improvise but I always had to do that in my career, so this is just a good creative activity for me. From the list I think the following with work well with my 2 and 3 year old.

Verbal-Linguistic (Word Smart)

Words, Words, Words, Words, Words!
Talk to them about everything.
Label everything.
Read book after book after book and talk about the pictures.
Repeat rhymes over and over again.
Let them make up stories.

Logical-Mathematical (Number Smart)

Count everything (How many steps it takes to get upstairs, how many books did we read)
Show patterns
Make repeating patterns
Ask questions like “What will happen if we put this color with this color?” “What might happen if we drop oil into the water?” “What will come next?”

Spacial-Intelligence (Picture Smart)

Little ones learn so much about the world from story books: the pictures represent some form of reality. Then, if a child can replicate pictures, characters, settings with common objects is thrilling.

Break out the puzzle ideas. Make some related to the theme. Cut up pictures into the number of pieces that your child can successfully put back together
Break out the play dough and the cookie cutters. Make samples of the things that you’ve been talking about
Draw pictures of the characters, the weather…anything that links to your theme
Build structures with legos to keep the stories going.

Musical Intelligence (Music Smart)

I can’t speak for all children but I know that my grandchildren love rhythm and music. There is something about music that soothes the soul.

Listen to all kinds of music. Whether there in car seats or running around the house, music sets a tone. So if you want things to quiet down, play quiet music. If you want them to get up and get moving, play quick music. ETC.
Children’s music, nursery rhymes, and simple songs are so great to encourage little ones to sing along. Playing the same music over and over again helps them succeed.
Make up songs. I have been known to turn most everything into some kind of song. It doesn’t fail to put a smile on their faces. In time, I’ll ask them to make up a song.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence (Body Smart)

It’s a no brainer that little kids need to move but letting little kids just race around and jump off furniture is not safe. And, Grandma has more anxiety about bumps and bruises than when I was younger so…I encourage control.

Role playing is fantastic. Crawling like a caterpillar, flying like a butterfly, leaping like a frog, jumping like a kangeroo are all controlled movements.
Find fun movement videos that get kids moving. Here is one called Super Simple Songs
Take the cushions off the couch and let them climb and jump from a safe height.

Interpersonal Intelligence (People Smart)

Little ones move through developmental stages. In the beginning they play alone, then slowly move into a side by side and then cooperative. Being able to negotiate the changes as they happen is so important. Right now my 2 and 3 year old struggle with sharing. That makes it more important than ever to give them opportunities to practice.

Almost all activities we do have a component of taking a turn. Talk them through it. Don’t expect it to be learned easily or quickly. Praise them for their patience and willingness to share.
Encourage play that helps each child play their part. The 3 year old, right now is into playing a Disney character. She usually dictates what role her sister plays but for right now it’s working and they play successfully this way.
This is a good time, also, to practice good manners – Saying “Please” and “Thank-you” and “Can I take a turn?”

Intra-personal Intelligence (Self-Smart)

Little ones are developmentally self absorbed so this one is easy.

Identify body parts – simple point and name games
Touch your head…touch your toes
Find things that are their favorites…favorite book, favorite song, favorite toy and name it as such. This is C’s favorite toy, This is N’s favorite song.
This is a good time to have them answer question like “which one do you like?” This gives them the power of a choice.

Naturalistic-Intelligence (Nature Smarts)

Whenever the weather is nice, we go for a walk. Even during this time of isolation, we can still be outside. So, weather permitting we…

Go in search of…one day it was finding all the RED cars, one day it was listening for birds, the latest was looking for signs of spring (flowers popping up out of the ground, squirrels running around, birds singing),
Find nature objects to collect and bring back to use as a paint brush, nearly everything works. Don’t forget to bring along a bag. They will find a lot.
Plant seeds, start your own garden.
Walk in a woods to find a greater variety of leaves, plants, animals.

Now It’s Time To Plan

Going through this activity alone has refreshed me on how important it is to vary a child’s play. I am going to print this list off and keep it next to me as I plan this next week. I have been guilty of falling back on what is comfortable for me. I need to push myself out of my comfort zone to make sure that I let my littles practice every way of learning. I am going to develop next weeks theme and I will share it here.

Stay tuned.

What To Do With Little Ones Now That The Daycares Are Closed

Here I am, trying to come up with ideas of things to do with my grandchildren while their parents work from home and the preschool is closed. I want to help but I need to have a plan. Just sitting on the floor and playing with them works for a good deal of time but they enjoyed being out of the house with with other little friends too and now that’s not possible. So, this grandma works to bring something new and fun in my bag. I’ve been hitting up Pinterest hot and heavy these days. So, I decided that now might be a good time to try to share my ideas to help other people who might be looking for something different to fill the child’s day.

Believe it or not it’s spring!!!

Now that my grand babies are 2 and 3 years old, I don’t have to worry about things going into their mouth so much but activities can’t be too involved because they lose interest really fast. So this idea is a combination of art, literacy, and fresh air. It was great at spreading out our conversation about spring over most of the morning.

First Project

Water color paints (just yellow at first, then green added later) were set up at a covered table along with watercolor paper which is a bit heavier and paint brushes that were a bit wide.

First add a few black dots on the paper. This helps a child follow the direction to fill the paper with yellow.

Next, give them a cup with just the color yellow. Deep cups keep it from spilling out all over the place. Then tell and show them how to paint “a straight line”. Keep repeating straight line and focus them on each black dot.

Don’t worry if the straight lines are not straight. Just let them enjoy the paint. If you keep pointing to the black dots, that will help them fill the paper with color instead of painting in one wet circle.

When they tire of the yellow, then wash out the brush and offer them green. Again, demonstrate drawing “straight lines”. Tell them that they are now drawing the stems of the flowers. Don’t worry if the lines are not straight or look nothing like stems. It’s all ok. When they finish this, it’s time to let them dry, go play for awhile.

This is a good time to go for a walk

Here where we live, there are no flowers blooming yet but we walked and looked and listened for signs of spring. We heard 1) birds singing, 2) a machine chopping up downed branches. There were few people (as expected right now). Then we saw 3) sprouts coming out of the grown that are sure to be flowers soon, 4) one bird up in the tree, 5) several squirrels busy running away from us.

And on this day, we also went by business doors and found the sign the said either “OPEN” or “CLOSED. The best part was that this is something we have never done and it allowed us to actually talk about the businesses more. For instance, there was an “OPEN” sign on a shoe store. My grand daughter asked, “What’s a shoe store?” I never would have thought to talk to her about this store. Another one that was “OPEN” was a Vet’s Clinic. We talked about how good it was that there was a place for sick pets to go.

Back Home And Ready For Part Two

Now the painting is dry and now is the perfect time to let them do part two.

Now it’s time for play dough. The direction was to 1) make a ball, 2) then poke a hole in the center

Then place a ball on each black dot. and celebrate the beauty of the daffodil. It won’t be long. The flowers will bloom even if we are still isolated in our homes. The flowers will bloom.

Time for lunch and curling up with a good book

After they played as long as they wanted with the play dough, we washed up and had lunch. Then it was time to just quiet down and share a good book. I chose this one:

This book is about the seasons of the year. It’s done in rhyme which is my favorite. The pictures were so detailed and allowed us to compare what we saw on our walk with the spring pages. And then we dreamed awhile about all the fun we are going to have when we can be outside every day playing.

And just like that the morning was over and it was bedtime. So many things went well with this activity.

The activities were just as long as they wanted them to be, no longer
No one was frustrated, left out, or exhausted
Prep for this project didn’t take hours
We didn’t watch TV

Trick Or Treat?

It started out as an idea from Pinterest, as simple as simple can be.

Grandma said, “Do you want to help me?”

The three year old, still thinking pumpkin goop, just said, “No”.

But Grandma said this would be different and so she gave it a go.

Your little sister had some fun, as babies like to do.

For sure she wanted to be involved. She likes to do things too.

She kept herself busy, trying on hat after hat.

But then she gave a signal. She’d had enough of that.

So she got an early start on the stuffing that belonged inside.

Grandma got the plate in front of her right before she cried.

That left the heavy lifting all up to the one who is three.

She lifted that spoon so perfectly and with a look of total glee.

Now some of the mixture made it into the exact right place.

But more found it’s way into this cute little face!

In the end, as these stories often go,

Grandma stuffed the peppers and the kids…

were happily full!

So was this a trick or was it a treat?

It didn’t really matter. The fun was hard to beat.

I Want Them To Know Me!

It’s My Goal

I Want Them To Know Me

They live far away. I can’t see them every day.

Still I want them to know me.

In between visits, we chat on the phone but I can’t see how much they’ve grown.

I want them to know me.

So visits are as frequent as they can be and when we’re together I can actually see…

They really do know me!

And So I Travel Back And Forth

When I leave home, my mind is preoccupied with all the things I’ve left undone. My home needs my attention. My other grand-babies count on me. There’s always a little melancholy as I pack to leave. Still, I pack that bag and hit the airport early so there is no chance I will miss that flight. And when I arrive, my home takes a back seat to this home, these babies. And sure enough, they’ve grown. But they know me!

We pick up right where we left off. My grandson…oh goodness, there will always be a special bond between us. He knows just how to melt my heart. This time, it was by moving a chair close to me and saying, “I want to sit by you, Grandma, because I love you.” On the first night, though, he struggles with his routine. “Can Grandma read your bedtime story?” “No, I want mommy to…but I still love you Grandma.” By the end of this visit, he invites me to that special time of the day. “You can come lay with us, Grandma.” I have earned a place again.

Now, my granddaughter, she’s a little tougher. She and I did not grow up together. Her connection to her mommy is deeper. I have to work to gain her trust, every single time, but last night she let me rock her to sleep. I worked my way into her heart one more time.

Making Memories

I’m trying to capture golden moments. I’m trying to be part of their life, feel their days – the good and the bad parts. It won’t be long and they’ll be too busy for their grandma. Friendships and activities will consume their time and I will be relegated to periodic visits for school concerts or athletic events. I know this.

And so, on each trip, we try to plan something that is memorable. This time, it turned out to be as simple as setting up a wading pool and sprinkler. They’d not done either yet. So, guess what? We did it! Mommy bought a new garden hose and pulled out a blow up pool that had been waiting since last summer. Together, we made that moment happen and it was so completely joyful. They jumped and splashed in the extraordinary May heat; laughing, screaming, and shouting out to the birds in the trees. It was the moment I will remember from this trip.

Then, I try to take part in their events. I want to feel their days. This trip, it was a short little kids yoga class at their preschool, library story time, and a T-ball game. Then, mix in the play time activities. This time, it was all about tiny legos. Last time, it was the Super Ultimate Garage! My grandson dominates the play choices still. His sister adores him so she gladly follows along.

And Before I Know It…

Another trip comes to an end and my eyes fill with tears…again. It never gets easier. It’s always the same. We talk about when the next time will be, how short a time there is to wait, but two months is a long time for all of us. We just pretend that the time will go fast.

No Matter What

Until they are too busy, until I am no longer able to travel, I will make these trips. I will continue to live from one memory to the next. My days as a Grandma are still the best days of my life. I’ll take the melancholy and the tears over and over again because in between them there is so much laughter and love.

Happy Birthday, Beautiful Little Girl

To the most beautiful little girl. Thank you for filling our life with so much joy.

original_url: 0E81F5EC-A6ED-46D5-8E70-7B2C06C66D2A

And so you reach the end of this,
your year number one.
Hanna Jae, you have
become a joy,
a joy to everyone.

original_url: A6F48100-AE61-4F28-A5A9-03B5694141FE

You have taught us
to deal with the things that
life can throw your way;
Wearing issues with pride,
Melting hearts along the way.

original_url: AEB49CA2-3A0E-4C38-9970-26E3E56742C8

You handled a brother
who’s bigger than you.
When he tackled you,
you knew what to do.

You just got back up!

When he takes his toys
away from you.
You just go back
and now take two.

original_url: 40012472-F353-45DC-BACF-6817254DB34B

You stay calm and
go with the flow.
Helmets and hip braces
Taught you to go slow.

original_url: 9DE49C22-3DCE-4855-BC87-5D46C71D52C2

Your face shows
the look of quiet observation.
A look of trust, acceptance,
and cautious experimentation.

original_url: 4E830802-7377-425E-B329-4036598C71FA

Love is such a little word
But oh if you only knew,
how you’ve filled us to the brim
with this little word.

There’s so much love for you.

original_url: 04CA1202-1D23-46C5-A6F0-2A2328BFF09D

Days With Grandma Returns

Watch out! This Grandma’s back in business. The antics will continue with the newest baby in the family. Stay tuned.

January 14, 2017

Life Reset

It’s been a while since I’ve written. I had believed that my days with my grandson would last until he went off to school. I had four or five good years, I thought. Then I found out that he was about to become a big brother and my heart exploded. My contract was sure to be extended!

Instead, “Days With Grandma” stopped; moved away.

Days are now visits, some longer than others but, all of them, short. Happiness fills those visits but I’m constantly reminded that it’s a visit. It will end. So, I’ve struggled with writing about the joy that truly fills me each time. Visits are different. I’m a guest…a special guest for sure, but none the less a brief diversion from the new routine. And so I watch as he shows me his new skills; running, climbing, building. I see that he has embraced other little people as well; thrilled to have others his size to run and climb and build with too. He talks and sings now. Words spill freely from his consciousness. How did he learn all of that? Laughter erupts often as he shares his unique view of the world. One day, he described his throat as a drain which was super cute and logical so why did it surprise me when he also said that he had a “poop drain”? Logical, lovable, growing up connections.

He’s now a big brother. He has a little sister. I enjoy my minutes with her but I have to admit, I don’t know her as well. I haven’t watched her every movement from the day she was born. Our relationship has been a Facetime connection. Every time I visit, she looks at me, initially, as a stranger. During the visit, I hold her, rock her, play with her, and love her. But, I don’t have stories to write about her. Her brother commands more attention. She, quietly, observes his antics and throws out big beautiful smiles when we remember that she’s there too. I am determined to visit often so she knows me, truly know me. But, I know it will always be different.

Days With Grandma Returns

Life goes on. Right? Time changes things. I adjust.

And then, I learn there’s a new baby on the way. This baby lives three blocks from me. I’m about to be a Grandma again! Can I help with childcare? Are you kidding me?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

My Grandma duty started this week! This time, I tell myself, “Just remember…

Enjoy the moment…the moment.

I Will Always Carry You

In the beginning,
I didn’t know
just how much I’d love
watching you grow?

In the beginning
I just knew
I wanted you to know me
and me to know you.

So, in the beginning
I carried you and danced around, wild and free.
And then one day, my heart skipped a beat
because, you…you smiled up at me.

Well, time goes by so fast,and every day, you just grew and grew
First you crawled and then you walked.
I had to hurry to keep up with you.

You talk so much now
and you try to be a big boy too
but when you grow tired and reach up to me.
I can’t resist, when you say, “Carry you.”

The words are not quite right yet
Which makes it all so dear.
I just reach down and pick you up.
My heart melts as I hold you near.

Now you have a baby sister;
someone new for me to carry when she cries.
Even though it’s been just a few days,
she looks right at me with trusting eyes.

A little boy and now a baby girl;
I can feel my heart expand.
It just so happens, apparently,
I have plenty of love on hand.

I want to rock and sing to this new baby girl
and, with you, I want to play and play.
But time is passing and my eyes tear up.
Grandma’s visit will end soon. I now live far away.

But there’s a special place
for my little man and now his baby sister too.
It’s this great big place inside my heart,
Where I will always carry you.

Edges Of A Day

My job, right now, is to take the sharpness off the edges of each day.

That’s what I wrote in my journal this morning.

Grandma’s job, when a new baby is born, is to be there; to just be there.

I try to remember back when my second child was born. Who helped me? My mom had died earlier that year. Still, I would not have reached out to her for help. She told me with my first “I raised my kids. I don’t want to raise your’s.” I am a different kind of grandma.

I am here…

This grandma learned, early on, that she needed to stay physically fit to keep up with growing baby number one. And, now that baby is two years old and we play together in bouncy houses and he challenges me to races in the hallway. “Run, grandma, run. Hop, grandma, hop. Roll, grandma, roll”. I get quite a workout from my little trainer.

I am here… to keep him busy while mama cares of the new baby.

The new baby had a need for doctor visits. Something’s not right. Mama and daddy are emotional and stressed.

I am here… to listen and encourage. “Trust that everything will be ok. Trust.”

Big brother doesn’t understand why things are different now. “Daddy, play!” Daddy is busy trying to help mama. Big brother gets louder and louder.

I am here… to give him another option besides screaming.

I try to remember how I did it when my two girls were little. How did I cope with the crying, the noise, the needs of two babies, and mountains of cloth diapers? How did I do it alone?

This grandma raised her children but has more to give.

I am here… to take the sharpness off the edges of the day.

Sweet Memories

Runny nose,
Running feet.
Little boy.
So,
So,
Sweet.

Pushing trucks,
Playing in sand.
Fingerprints left by
His
Little
Hand.

Happy chatter,
Singing songs.
Happy boy,
All
Day
Long.

Home filled.
So much noise!
Watch your step!
So
Many
Toys!

New baby!
Little sister.
“Gentle touch.
Softly,
Kiss
Her.”

Sun sets.
Another day.
Tears fall.
“No
Daddy.
Play!“

Sweet Moments
Flying by.
Cherished memories.
Make
Me
Cry!