Six Ways You Can Be the Fun Grandparent

1. Make any together time a game. Driving from one place to another can be very boring for young children. The boredom can be relieved by singing songs with the children being encouraged to join in. Make up stories and encourage children to add their own pieces to the story no matter how silly or outlandish it may seem. A story can be a very effective distraction and can last quite a while depending on the number of children there are contributing to the story line. Do counting and other games, depending on the ages of the children. For example if they are learning their alphabet and their numbers, you can play something like: one apple, two bears, three cats, four dogs, five elephant, six frogs, etc. Let them come up with ideas for each of the different letters of the alphabet.

2. Play with children by doing what they enjoy. If physically possible, get down on the floor with them and build airplanes and cars with their blocks or dance with them to some of their musical toys. I spent some time recently sitting in a princess castle with my two year old granddaughter while we read books. Children like it when you are at the same level as they are. It is important to play the games that children enjoy not just what is the most enjoyable for you. Understandably, some things are not physically possible as grandparents age.

3. Determine what the interests are of each grandchild and create fun things to do relating to their interests. One of my grandchildren enjoys doing crafts so each time we get together we have a different project to work on. Recently at seven he has decided he wants to be an architect when he grows up. He has seen some old buildings and wants to view others. My ten year old granddaughter enjoys going for dinner and then looking in the stores, even if we don't buy anything. And one of the little ones loves animals so we have gone to petting zoos, the aquarium, a bird sanctuary and the game park zoo.

4. Celebrate each occasion with your grandchildren. There are events for all of them. For Hallowe'en make going to the pumpkin patch an annual event. Every year we include going through a corn maze as a fun thing to do too. At this time of the year there are also hayrides to go on. At Christmas there are Christmas light displays; some of them are so spectacular that children are invited to be part of the event. Most towns have a Christmas parade and there's always a visit with Santa or breakfast with Santa. And during the summer there are trips to the beach, walks through nature or even a trip to a farm to pick berries.

5. Fun time with grandchildren can also be educational. We recently went to a butterfly sanctuary where even the youngest children learned something. Another trip was whale watching where we saw not only a few whales but sea lions and seals. Visiting the farm animals at the country fair can be another fun and educational experience for children. And going kite flying at the beach lets children learn how to keep it in the air.

6. Invite the grandchildren for sleepovers. I will have one or sometimes two at a time and plan on doing something special. If it's around Christmas we have made gingerbread houses, done baking or made a Christmas craft all of which they can take home with them. If the weather is nice we will plan on an outdoor adventure like going to the duck pond with lots of birdseed, going to a local park to explore or in really nice weather, going to a water park. The ten year old grandchild and I once spent several weeks working on a puppet show by preparing a set and making the puppets by using apple heads. I wrote the play and at one of the family functions we presented it to the entire family.

I have done all of these things with my grandchildren plus more. We have also gone on vacations together at various times. Not only do they enjoy the time spent with a grandparent but I enjoy my time spent with them by being the fun grandparent.

Sylvia Behnish has recently published her first non-fiction book entitled "Rollercoaster Ride With Brain Injury (For Loved Ones)" and her first fiction novel entitled "His Sins", a three generation family saga. She has also had numerous articles published in newspapers and magazines in both Canada and the United States on subjects related to brain injuries, family issues, motivational topics and travel.

Sylvia has a very active lifestyle which includes her large family, writing, photography, gardening, reading and time spent enjoying and exploring nature.

"Rollercoaster Ride With Brain Injury (For Loved Ones)" and "His Sins" can be ordered by e-mail at: orders@trafford.com

Website: http://www.talesbysylvia.com
Blog: http://www.progressofabraininjury.blogspot.com