Summertime!

Make Memories with the Grands!

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In this time in history grandparents are providing more care then ever for grandchildren. Whether it is daily care or setting aside a few days in the summer for time together, we will create life long memories with our grandchildren. I have a friend who has her grandchildren over for a few days during the summer. She calls it Grammy Camp. I love the photos and stories she shares! Here are some ways that we can make the most of our time with grands:

Consider local activities and options for activities

My friend’s primary goal is for them to have time together. What is your goal? Make a list of local places to go, games, work projects or chores, arts and crafts, shopping and ask the grands what they want to do. Pre-prepped craft boxes can be bought on Amazon, the dollar store, or at Walmart. They save prep time and all supplies are provided. However, never underestimate the power of play dough, like these play dough monsters or a sensory box of rice, such as this one for your littles.

Shopping is part of the Grammy Camp tradition. She gives them money for shopping in individual decorated envelopes. She described that it is fun to see them shop, select, and pay for the items. What a wonderful time to practice these life skills!

Make a simple but flexible schedule

A daily routine helps young children as it provides stability and predictability. Whether or not children are in your home for a day or a few days, set a routine. For example: wake-up, have breakfast, get ready for the day, go to a park, have lunch, quiet time, afternoon adventure, supper, games/crafts, story time, then bed.

At my friend’s Grammy Camp she lets the teenagers have time to sleep-in, but when she has the littles, they have more structure. She has them set their own rules and says its fun to see what they say.

Food. The Menu.

Planning food ahead is so helpful. Talk to your grands and parents and see what they like and how much they are able to help in the kitchen. Just having a standard breakfast for all mornings might work better than lots of choices. At Grammy Camp the kiddos help set the menu with lots of veggies and fruit included. They also help with cooking and clean-up depending on their ages. Again, what an awesome opportunity for reinforcing important daily skills!

Take photos!

It’s easy to take photos these days. Take them of the grands and be sure that you get into the pictures too. Have them printed or put into a photo book. There are so many options for photo books: Walgreens, Chatbook, Shutterfly, and more. There are very few pictures of me and my grandparents. I wish I had photos of us. Your grandchildren will want photos of you too!

Make memories together!

The purpose of this post is to encourage you to spend time with the children in your life…grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. Whether you have an afternoon or five days together, make a plan with simplicity and flexibility in mind. Spend time together and have fun as you make some awesome memories!

Ikea Bag Toddler Pool for the Beach!

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We recently visited the beach in Florida and this Ikea bag toddler pool hack provided a safe place for our Ruby to play away from the surf.

The ocean can be a daunting for a two year old and grown-ups. It is fun to play in the surf but you never know when an unexpected large wave will sweep through. We needed to have our hands on her at all times and that proved to be tiring for her and us. Having a little pool provided a safe place for a her to splash and play independently under watchful eyes.

All you need is the famous blue Ikea Frakta Tote Bag . We love this large bag for so many reasons. Not only can it make a small wading pool but we used it to carry beach toys and so much more. When we got back to the house we just rinsed the sand away.

Click play to see how we made it. As you can see, she loved tossing sand into the pool!

Some of the items that made our trip work well are below. Click the image and affiliate links for details.

This cute little hat has a draw string at the crown that adjusts the size. As you can see in the video it works well even when it is worn backwards!

If you don’t live near an Ikea you can order the bags from Amazon here.

We started Ruby in a vest but at just 30 pounds it was loose and the zipper rubbed the skin on her chin and chest raw. We opted for floaties something like these and kept her within arms reach at all times.

Enjoy your summer and have fun at the beach!

10 Tips For Leaving the Kids Home When Parents Travel

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Leaving the kids at home while you travel can be stressful but unavoidable at times. As parents we didn’t leave our kids home often but when we did, we worked hard to make it a pleasant experience for them and their grandparents who were caring for them. Taking time for some advanced planning will give you peace of mind, and help make your time away fun for them, you, and the grown-ups caring for your kids. Here are some tips and ideas to make your travels special for you and your children.

10 tips for leaving the kids home when parents travel

Creating peace of mind for you and your child when you travel:

1. For medical care leave phone numbers for your health care provider and copies of your insurance cards. Complete a medical release form for your child so that medical decisions can be made in the event of an emergency. Include in this document a list of medications, allergies, and diagnoses for each child. Check with your local authorities or personal lawyer for further details and what would be needed in the area that you live.

2. Print a calendar and note when you are leaving and returning. This will help your child visualize when you will be home. At the end of each day they can mark off the day.

3. Create a schedule so that the folks who are providing care and your child know exactly what to expect each day. Include the times of events and activities along with address of locations so they can find their way.

4. Make an outline of the daily routine with the times to get up, go to bed, when school begins and is out, and anything else that is unique for your family.

5. Provide a list of favorites: foods, toys, blankets, games, pacifiers, and any other favorites that will help your child and the care provider have a good day together.

6. Describe bedtime routines. Bedtime can be such a challenge for young children and sharing expectations and routines will make the end of the day more enjoyable.

Making Each Day Special for Your Child

We thought it was important to make each day special for our kids. Choose one or two of the following ideas to create something for your child to look forward to each day:

7. A short daily letter to describe what you are doing on that day and what they have on their schedule for the day. The letter might include one of the following:

An inexpensive gift card for a treat such as going to Sonic for ice cream or a soda
Hints to find a gift that was hidden in the house (see number 8)
Tickets to a game or movie
A coupon for an activity such as going to the pool or park
A book

8. This is a great time to crack open a new app for the iPad, x-box game, or a new movie for an evening of fun. We would often hide these in the house and leave a hint in their letter.

9. Hide post-its around the house and in their drawers with encouraging notes for them to find throughout the week

10. If possible, schedule a time to call, Facetime, or Skype with your children. Having a predictable time to chat with you and share each others adventures.

Wishing you safe travels and your children a fun time at home!

10 Tips for leaving the kids home when you are away

A Log Walk – An Outdoor Play Area

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My husband, Doug, is a creative builder. He found a log and made this cool log walk for our granddaughter. I grabbed my camera so I could share the process with you. It really isn’t that hard if you have the equipment or someone to do the cutting for you. This outdoor play area cost us nothing except the energy to gather the supplies. Our city produces the mulch from trees trimmings and gives it away for free.

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DIY Seashell Frame – Use those shells!

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We love going to the ocean and since we live far from one it is a truly special experience. If you love going to the beach too and arrive home with sack for of shells and beach treasures, this craft is for you! Rather then let them sit on a shelf or in a jar, make a custom seashell frame. These shells are from Cozemel, Mexico:

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Pool Noodle Activities Round-Up

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Pool Noodles provide summer time entertainment in the pool, but they can be used for year round learning and fun. This post shares a variety of pool noodle activities that promote learning, motor skills, and social skills. Plus they are just plain fun. So stock up on pool noodles at the end of summer sales and be ready for pool noodle fun all year long.

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Water Target Play

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Is it exceptionally hot where you live? Water play is refreshing when the temperatures soar. This activity is a combination of science, physics, motor skills, cause and effect, and fun. Plus it is beyond simple. We had a great time with water target play!

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A Crown of Grass

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To celebrate summer time we’re making a crown of grass. This craft was inspired by Ms. Lora from our local library’s summer preschool story time. She made this crown with our preschoolers. The kids loved it and they looked adorable. It requires only basic supplies and a wide age group can create them. It is a simple preschool activity to celebrate summer.

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Simple Swimming Pool Games

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The heat is on and these simple swimming pool games are cool and fun. They are perfect for any summer day or a pool party. Our local pool limits the number of pool toys and inflatables; and these ideas require very few props and toys. As always, supervision around water is an absolute must. You know your children and their swimming capabilities. The difficulty of some of the games can adjusted by changing the depth of the water. Some can be played in the wading pool, the shallow, or deep end.

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Play and Learn with Bugs

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Bugs! It’s that time of year the bugs are out and (most) kids love to play with them. We found a large bag of plastic bugs and there are many ways to play and learn.

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