Showing compassion for animals can help children learn to be kind to all living things.
If you have a pet teach your children and grandchildren to be gentle. Show them how to pet an animal on the back instead of on the face. They shouldn’t tease or roughhouse with a pet but show them how to play appropriately. Let them help you feed or groom your pet.
These ideas are from Home & School Connection – Granite School District.

In the book The Empty Place, author, Roberta Temes, Ph.D. tells the story of a young boy who faces the fear, pain and finality of death when his big sister dies. His babysitter, who also lost a sibling, suggests ways to help with the pain and assures him he won’t have all these terrible feelings forever.

The Saturday after school is out, for me and my grandkids, we have a “School’s Out Party”. Everyone comes for dinner and I use all the extra napkins and other items left from special occasions throughout the year. Nothing matches but that’s the fun. We even have party hats. The highlight is when I give each child a bag filled with activities and projects for the summer. This doesn’t have to be expensive. I collect items over the course of the year that I find on sale. Some items I make myself. It’s always a fun event.

My 6th grade students had an assignment to write a poem about something they loved, so I decided to write one also.

Hugs and Kisses
by E. Naccarato
What a delight it is to see,
My darling grandchildren run to me.
Their arms around my neck so tight,
Hugging me with all their might.
Their kisses are sometimes sloppy and wet,
But I don’t care, I’m not going to fret!
I’ll take their hugs and kisses anyway,
And cherish their love each and every day.
I would love for you to share a poem about your children or grandchildren.

10 Ideas to celebrate with your children & grandchildren.

This is a great gift for your child to give someone special or a way to preserve a memory. Just recycle an old frame with paint and cute designs. You can also us tongue depressors to form a frame. Just paint, glue together and add a message or design. Use a ribbon or string for hanging. These frames are easy and fun and I know any grandparent or parent would be thrilled to receive one as a gift.

These wind chimes are easy to make and would be a great gift for Mother’s Day or any occasion.
You’ll need:
various sizes of lids (soup, vegetables, fruit, etc.)
paint
string
dowel (about 6-8 inches long)
hammer
nail
Directions:
1. When you open the cans to get the lids make sure to use a can opener that doesn’t leave sharp edges. Clean the lids.
2. Using the hammer and nail make a hole in each lid. Make sure to pound the back down flat so there are no cut fingers.
3. Paint each lid front & back. When dry decorate.
4. Attach a string to each lid where you made the hole and then attach to the dowel. You’ll want them to be close enough together so they chime when the wind blows.
5. Attach a string to the dowel and hang.

Wouldn’t this be a fun way to present a Mother’s Day gift. You could fill it with potting plants, lotions & soap or towels. All you need is a basket and some ribbon or fabric strips. Aimee at HomeSpun Threads shows you how you can take a plain basket and embellish it to create something special.
Get step by step instructions.

This would be a great Mother’s Day gift, teacher gift , or a “thank you” to someone special. Just trace & cut-out your handprint, write a short note them glue or tape around a tube of lotion.
MORE INSTRUCTIONS

Some of my grandkids were with me recently and I got out the Box of Creativity (some people might call it the box of junk). The kids had a great time using their imagination to create things. Later that day other family members came for dinner so we decided to display all the creations. You can have a Box of Creativity too, just collect lots of different items you think you’re kids will enjoy. I often go to thrift stores and find bags of small pieces of wood, pompoms and beads. Keep everything in a box so it’s easy to store.