Personal Keepsakes Written for Grandkids

Talk and Record the Past with Kids

 “Mom, did you know that after WWII Great Grandpa saw starving little kids searching in garbage cans for food in Germany and he always shared his rations with them?  Their faces bothered him for the rest of his life.”

  “Yes, dear, he had a hard time talking about his experiences.”

  Luckily with help  Great Grandpa wrote down his thoughts and created a family keepsake. Reading the keepsake helps grandkids understand why Grandpa had a soft spot for hungry children.

  Someone must be very disciplined to keep a diary or daily journal, but book companies are making it easier to share the most important life experiences with generations of family to come.

  The journals provide prompts and fill in the blanks for people who don’t like to write.

  However, sometimes people are surprised at how much Grandpa and Grandma will write once they are given a little nudge. Life experiences and childhood memories will come tumbling out.

Retell Experiences; Make a Diary

  Many of the memory books also have space for a few very important family photos, like giving Grandma a bent over backwards smooch similar to the famous WWII photograph of a soldier and a nurse in New York City.

  These memory books pass on family traditions and holiday celebrations like hanging giant holiday balls made from clear plastic cups laced with lights.  They recount favorite stories that would rival the “Little House on the Prairie” series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

  The keepsake books reveal what life was like similar to the movie “The Christmas Story.”  Real little people actually were stuffed into itchy woolen long underwear and puffy snow suits with soggy mittens tied with too short yarn running through the sleeves from one arm to the other.  People really did touch their tongues to frozen water pumps and light poles needing rescue.

  Memory books often have guided questions for grandparents to recall their scariest moments, the biggest bully on the block who stole their lunch, or the girl with pigtails who actually did have her hair dipped in the inkwell.

  

Read Books About Journaling

They encourage grandparents to talk about education, love, marriage, family life, religion, military service and unique memories.

  The story of life, retelling experiences, and the wiliness to share hopes and dreams for grandchildren can be recorded this season.

  Here are a few of these books that also make great gifts: “For My Grandchild: A Grandparent’s Gift of Memory” by Lark Crafts; “Memories for My Grandchild” by Suzanne Zenkel; “Grandmother’s Journal: Memories and Keepsakes for My Grandchild” by Blue Streak; “For my Grandchild” by Paige Gilchrist; “Grandfather’s Journal” by Laura Westlake; and “Letters to my Grandchild” by Lea Redmond. For more keepsake ideas see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live and podcasts, also on Pinterest and Facebook.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Writing Personalized Books with Preschoolers

Talk and Draw Personalized Books

Young children may not be able to form their letters yet, but they are able to talk and draw.  All they need are family members to help them write a personalized book. Children like to talk about themselves and be the complete focus of an adult’s attention.

  Gather some computer paper, pencils, crayons, and markers. Explain that you are going to make a little book together to share with others to read on the next Face time with a loved one, a gift, or a book to add to the book box.

Talk Together

 The first step to writing is talking. You can talk together and take some notes for the sentence you will write for them in their words. 

   The topic is all about me, but there are many sentence 

Stories About Your Pets Are Fun

starters to help approach the topic: I am happy when… My favorite (inside or outside) things to do are … These are the things I can do (jump, run, pet my dog, sing, tell a story, set the table, ride my trike, cuddle, hug, smile, play a game, draw, throw a ball … Let me tell you about (child’s name) ....   Take out a mirror or take a picture to help them describe their hair, eyes, smile, teeth or missing teeth, busy fingers, wiggly toes, favorite clothing.

 Virtues are always good book starters: I am thankful for… I am kind when I… I show respect when I… I help when I... I show love when I... I am helpful when….

Family Teaching

   The topic may be something the family is teaching right now like self-control: I am kind to my brother when I… When I am angry I can…I am courteous when…I am prayerful when I… I help stay healthy when I….

  They can write about favorite foods, animals, places to go, colors and things to do in every season. Children can also write about the healthy habits and foods they know are good for them.

  After talking, take out three pieces of paper and fold them in half to make a small book. Together choose a few sentences to write as a captions for their illustrations.

Finish Off Your Writings Into a Book

   Talk about what they would like to draw for each sentence. They can draw illustrations on separate pieces of paper that can be cut out and glued in the book. Draw with them. You can show how to draw stick people and add features and clothes. Give a little help only if they are stuck. When finished add a cover, date, and staple together. You can reinforce the binding with packaging tape over the staples. Some pages can remain empty for another writing time together.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

  For more ideas see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live Tuesdays and Saturdays, and pod casts, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Helping to Make Stronger Families

Positive Care Strengthens Families

How can we strengthen families so children can be successful? The American Society for Positive Care of Children and the Strengthening Families programs find developing social and emotional health is as important as reading to children every day.
  Crying or screaming babies can be most stressful since they don’t have the words to tell what is wrong. From birth, we can start giving children emotional words even though they may not understand or say them yet.
  First check physical needs. ”You are so (hungry, wet, tired, or uncomfortable). I will help.” Let them know you understand how they feel and start teaching words they will use later. Take a deep breath and describe what is gong on in a neutral way to help stay calm, too.
Being Proactive
    If babies are frustrated because they can’t play with a dangerous object, keep it out of sight. Offer a distraction. Offer a different toy or change the scenery. If a baby can’t stand the car seat, offer a wonderful plaything only available in the car.

Plan for Young Ones' Needed Down Time

   When babies need downtime during a certain time of the day, read a soothing story, rock, play soft music, or hold in front of a window. Happy and soothing books include “The Perfect Hug” and the “Perfect Kiss” by Walsh.
   Avoid running errands at that time until they are older. Organize a support group of friends and relatives to take turns having one or two hours of free time to conduct errands.
  During out of control crying, remain calm and positive, deep breathe, and praise them for something. “You will be much happier and cozier now. Close your little eyes and relax.” Then take a nap when they sleep. Chores can wait.
  In toddlers, preschoolers, or older children, anger may look like many emotions.  It is difficult to know until children have the words and are calm enough to talk about their feelings Help children know what they are feeling and use the words. Frustration, sadness, hurt, jealously, worry, anxiety, disappointment, embarrassment, fear can look the same.
Getting the Anger Out

Teach Emotional Words Through Conversations

  Teaching emotional words and how to calm down cannot be taught during a full-fledged melt down. They can be taught at many other times during the day through conversations or after a melt down.
  Young children can learn to calm down by slowly breathing deeply in through the nose and sticking out the stomach. Exhale through the mouth much longer and slower than inhaling.
  Young children can punch a pillow, tense and relax muscles from the face to the toes, exercise, or count to 10 slowly. When they are calm, use ”I messages” to let them know you understand their feelings. ”I understand you are angry” can start the conversation. 
Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos 
More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest

Fun and Thoughtful Fall Art

Make a Family Tree

Late fall is a good time to do family activities with small children that teach kindness and caring for one another, especially for family members who may be ill, alone, or lonely.  This Thanksgiving project creates a family tree full of pictures and messages.
  You’ll need some brown wrapping paper, colored paper, children’s scissors, glue, markers, crayons, and family and pet photos.
Caring Family Tree
  Draw a tree with a trunk and branches using markers and crayons. The tree can be very large or the size of two pieces of computer paper.  It can be sent in pieces in a large envelope ready to be put together at its destination.
  Young children will enjoy coloring the bark and adding squirrel holes. To make leaves, trace hands on colored paper and cut them out. Print family members’ names on the leaves with messages of love, sentences remembering good times, and reasons to be thankful.  Children can dictate sentences about  good times with relatives. Fun and humorous times like swimming, fishing, or playing ball will bring smiles to someone who needs them.

Glue Photographs to the Leaves

  Draw
  Children  can add drawings or glued on photographs to the leaves. Do this activity over a few days in very short periods of time since children need time to think and draw. Take a break often and do an active fun activity or snack and read if you want good quality drawings.
   Adapt this idea for different ages.Very young children can make circles and color them or add string for balloon. They can trace their little hand on a bigger leaf.
All ages can dictate short sentences to an older child about something fun they did with Grandpa and Grandma like visiting the fair, attending a college football game, or cooking.  It’s a good chance for older children to practice penmanship.
 Include the family pet.  They can make paw prints on the leaves. Children may add a few messages of love from the pets. Trace their paws or if you’re adventurous, dip their paws in poster paint.

Write Messages on the Leaves

If mailing a tree, a few leaves may be cut into large puzzle pieces while keeping the rest the intact. Relatives offer need help putting up the family tree so offer to visit and bring along the children. Young children can be taught how to visit someone who is ill and what to say and do to bring them comfort.
  Children may want to add little extra decorations like a squirrel, a few birds, or bird’s nest in future visits.
  The leaves may also have quotes from famous people like Mark Twain or Yogi Berra. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” “Take it with a grin of salt.”
Photos: Fran Darling fdarling fotos 
More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest

Family Chores Help Make Kids Successful

Children are great garden helpers.

Families want
 children spending time on activities that lea to success. Doing family chores has been proven a predictor of success according to developmental psychology studies and it is cheap. Family To- Do Lists are trainers for responsibility, wise use time, and accountability. Decades of many studies preschool into the 20’s show that To-Do children are Can-Do adults—academically, emotionally, and professionally (Weissbourd, Rende, Rossman, and Madeline Levine). In studies of 10,000 high school children, personal happiness is not from high achievement but strong family relationships.
Begin Early
  Young adults who begin chores at age 3 are more likely to have good relationships and a sense of family. How is this done?
  When children are small. Think small. A three year old can help put their dirty clothes in the correct place, find spoons and place them on the table, and help pick up toys. Families are training valuable and appreciated helpers. Their rewards are smiles, hugs, and praising words.
Chores with a Smile
    One key is an adult helping with the chore.  When children are young or doing a new job, adults can work along side, praise, and not expect perfection. Even young children can help dust with an old sock over their hand or dust mop under beds to find dust bunnies.
  Keep it simple and age appropriate.  Young children can pick up little sticks and count their pile. 
  Be careful with the language used.  Thank children for being a “helper” rather than helping.  It is important that children view themselves as one who pitches in, who helps the family, neighbors, and the community. Let’s do “our family chores”, not  “your chores”.
  Avoid tying chores to punishment. Keep talk about To-Do Lists positive or at least neutral. If adults complain about sorting, washing clothes, folding, or doing the dishes so will children.
  Carry on conversations.  One family puts cleaned clothing on a bed, and all gather around to fold and hang up their clothes. They discuss good things, successes, and things that could be better from the week. 
  Take turns with jobs. Make a schedule. Everyone has a day to fill the dishwasher.  Little ones pair up with older ones. Everyone takes their age from the table, adults last.   Schedule chore times into the calendar right next to piano lessons and sports practice. Maintain consistency.
  Keep the allowance and chores separate. Often sit down together at the kitchen table, discuss, and make a master list together to make the family run smoothly.
Start small and earn new levels of responsibility. Game it. They understand the concept.
  To build pro-family behavior like empathy, focus on chores that take care of the family rather than personal hygiene. That’s a different list.
Photo: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos; Sketch: Mark Nowicki

More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest