September 8, 2019 – joyful parenting

Grandparents Day (4)

Today (September 8) is grandparents day! If you are lucky enough to be near grandparents, I hope you enjoyed something special today. For those who live further away, consider having your little one draw a picture!

I suggested to Travis that he draw a picture of a favorite activity he shared with his grandparents. This turned into a picture of Darth Vader, which is probably better because the idea came from him!

Grandparents Day (3)

We added a second drawing of apple picking…

Grandparents Day (1)

…because we finished the with a beautiful multi-generational trip to the orchard!

orchard (4).jpg

It was also chance for Travis to hear stories from when they were little, like how his grandmother had a raspberry bush in her front yard. These shared outings are fantastic ways to let your kids learn about an older generation. Older kids might want to make it more of a proper interview, and can draw pictures of what they learn about their grandparents as kids.

How did you celebrate Grandparents Day this year? Please share in the comments!

Sorting Swapping (6).JPG

How do you keep a baby busy while a big sibling makes cookies? With this adorable sorting and swapping game!

I gave Veronika two plates, one piled high with lemons and small oranges, the other empty. These fruits were ideal because they were small enough for her to hold, big enough not to be choking hazards, and the peels prevented her from actually biting into them.

I showed her how to move everything from the first plate to the other. She was eager to get her hands on a lemon!

Sorting Swapping (1)

It was a great chance to introduce the ideas of empty and full. Then I placed all the lemons on one side and all the oranges on the other, a great way to talk about different colors.

Sorting Swapping (4)

Obviously this advanced sorting is too much for a ten-month-old to replicate, but it was useful for Veronika to see the grouping. She loved transferring the fruits back and forth for quite some time.

Sorting Swapping (2)