3 Creative Ideas That Work for Long-Distance Grandparents
3 Creative Ideas that work for long-distance grandparents
Stay in the minds and hearts of your grandies with these fun, easy and educational activities is easy.
Have you seen your grandchild recently?
Congratulations to all grandparents who have been able to keep regular in person contact with their grandchildren throughout the year. Forgive me but I really had to add this photo...I hardly ever see "baby" George!
Music Matters Grandparents with newborn
ISOLATION is becoming the new norm for families.
In 2020, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions there is a growing number of parents who have been forced into separation from their adult children along with their grandies much to their sadness.
There is a new wave of grandchildren who do not have grandparent contact due to current travel and or visiting restrictions imposed by fear of transmission of COVID-19. I said it twice because the situation is becoming more common.
Some new born babies will not be held by grandparents until months into their lives. It is distressing to new parents not to have their own parents visit, live nearby or available for support. Whilst this is already the normal situation for thousands of families, when isolation is forced upon new parents unexpectedly it can be devastating.
Who knows when this will end? Do we just hope that life returns to normal as soon as possible? In the meantime our grandchildren are growing up and those special weeks and months of bonding are flying by.
Baby George plays with music mobile Early Learning Music
WE FEEL A SHARED PAIN
I was chatting to a friend at social tennis yesterday. We share the common problem of living in a different state to our grandchildren. She said that the older her grand daughter gets, the harder it is to keep her occupied and interested in talking to her on the phone, even with video calls. Her granddaughter was only 2 years old! My heart went out to her as she continued. "It was easy at first because I was a novelty, a new face and voice. Now that she wants to move around more it is hard for my daughter to keep her on the phone. We have really short calls and I'm worried that she will forget me." I waited and listened.
She went on, "I wish I knew what to do to keep her interested but I am all out of ideas." I felt for my friend as I suffer the same long distance heart-aches.
I shared my situation with her. "Actually I am currently sharing musical ideas online with my own grandchildren who all live in Adelaide."
Early Learning Music Class with George
My friend asked more about my situation and I went on.
"My belief is that, as grandparents, our advantage in that we have already brought up our own kids. We therefore have a head start on knowing the approximate developmental patterns of babies/toddlers and pre-schoolers.
We already know in advance that our grandkids are not going to stay in any one stage for long. They are always growing, learning and developing. Just when we think we have got it right they change. If we are going to keep them engaged, we have to be one step ahead. I have learnt that kids love puppets, they love movement, singing, and as the Bee Gees so nicely put it 'You should be dancing.' Music, dance, singing and banging on things all go hand in hand for little ones."
"Oh, of course" my friend responded, "I was a school teacher. I know lots of music and craft ideas we can share."
"Well maybe we can share some ideas together?"
Music MAtters George, aged 2, plays harmonica
HOW CAN WE KEEP GRANDCHILDREN ENGAGED ON VIDEO CALLS?
But what if you have never had teacher training, what if you have forgotten the baby to pre-schooler stages? If you are reading this blog then you most likely have access to the internet. A simple search for online learning activities for pre-schoolers will give you some really great ideas. Musical ideas for all the basic growth stages are also listed on many sites. In the meantime here are my three top tips for instant success with grandchildren online.
Tip #1 SING TO THEM...It doesn't matter if you can't sing, just sing anything.
Kids of all ages can't resist music. From the smallest baby fussing over a nappy change to a 5 year old ready to start school the voice of their mother, father...or grandparent...breaking out in song brings them quickly to attention. Not only is the song unexpected, but if it includes their name, they can't help but look intently at you and wonder what is coming next. There are plenty of songs that use names. Little Jack Horner, Old McDonald, Mary Had a Little Lamb and so on. Simply substitute your grandchild's name in the song and you will have their immediate attention. with a little practise you can use a familiar tunes.
Try the following song to the tune of "Twinkle Star". Substitute my family's names for your own.
Music Matters 2 Star Puppets on sticks
Twinkle Star song and tune for the "Wright Family"
"Heidi, James, Kianna and George live together in a great big house. All day long they laugh and play, running around and chasing a mouse. Heidi, James, Kianna and George live together in a great big house."
Tip #2 PUPPET WITH THEM
What child can resist a puppet?
Forgetful Freddie is my green frog hand puppet. I take him to kindergarten class once a week to help me remember the children's names. He's nearly able to remember all of them, but he still gets mixed up at times. When he stays home for one week, the children are asking "Where is Forgetful Freddie?" I tell them, "He forgot to get up in time to come to Kindy today. Would you like me to wake him up in time for next week?... "Yes!" they reply.
Puppets are the best invention. Before too long you'll have a whole farm full of puppets. With a puppet you can take on a new life, a new character, a new face (mask puppets). Puppets are actors. They pretend all day long. They pretend to be happy, to be sad, to be lonely, to be hurt to be amazed and so on. Kids of all ages simply adore puppets. Every grandparent can make a simple paper puppet.
It can be a paper plate with texta colour eyes, nose and mouth. There are literally hundreds of printable puppets on the internet. Add a handle with a thick pop stick from your 2 Dollar Store and you have yourself a wonderful prop.
