Category — Spring

These wind chimes are easy to make and would be a great gift for any occasion.
You’ll need: Various sizes of lids (soup, vegetables, fruit, etc.), paint, string, dowel, 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 front & back. When dry decorate.
4. Attach a string to each lid and then 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.

If you enjoy gardening, invite your grandchildren to help plant your garden. This can be a great time to talk and you can use the ideas below to make it a fun learning time for math, reading and writing.
Have your grandchild:
Measure how far apart to plant the seeds.
Measure the perimeter of the garden.
Count how many rows will be needed.
Estimate how tall specific plants will grow.
Make a list of everything needed to plant and care for the garden.
Read the instructions for planting.
Read the instructions for caring for what is planted.
Design a marker for each thing planted.

My friend Barbara shared this fun idea with me.

You’ll need:
Paper
Crayons or markers
Scissors
Tongue depressor or popsicle stick
Pipe cleaner
Directions:
1. Trace your child’s hand on a piece of paper. Only do the fingers and have them spread out as if they are wings.
2. Cut out the shape and color.
3. Color the tongue depressor. If will be the head and body of the butterfly. Glue it onto the handprint.
4. Make the antennae using the pipe cleaner and glue on the head.
Your grandchild can hold the tongue depressor body and make it fly.
Learn this poem to say as the butterfly is flying around.

Butterfly
Butterfly, oh butterfly
Dancing across the sky.
Butterfly, oh butterfly.
First you are low then you are high.
E. Naccarato

You’ll need:
Empty egg carton (heavy paper kind works the best)
Crayons, markers or paint
Scissors
Pipe cleaner
Directions:
1. Cut the egg carton in half the long way.
2. Have your grandchild decorate with paint, markers or crayons.
3. Cut the pipe cleaner the length you want the antennae. Make 2 small holes on the head and from underneath stick the antennae in so they come out the top. Shape into antennae.
Learn this poem to recite as your grandchild plays with the caterpillar.

Little Caterpillar
Little caterpillar
Crawling on the ground.
Did you know that someday
You’d be fly up and down.
Little caterpillar
Crawling on the ground
Did you know that someday
You’d be flying all around.
E. Naccarato

Here’s a fun poem to recite while you’re gardening with your grandchildren.
It’s written by Moiselle Renstrom.

Little seeds lie fast asleep
In a row, in a row.
“Wake up, wake up,” calls the sun,
“Wake up now and grow.”
Little seeds wake one by one
In a row, in a row,
Then they stretch up toward the sun
And begin to grow.

I learned or should I say re-learned a lesson recently, when it comes to grandchildren it’s the simple things that can build lasting memories. Two of my grandsons, age 7 and 5, were spending time with me and one of the things we did was go to the playground of a nearby school. They had fun playing follow-the-leader, pretending to be the Star Wars characters and daring each other to try tricks on the high bars. But most of the time was spend scooping up small gravel rocks and piling them at the bottom of the slide. They would then slide down and crash through the rocks. After laughing hysterically would start the piling again. This went on for about 30 minutes and then it was time to head back to my home. At dinner and even later in the evening they talked about how much fun we had piling and sliding through the rocks. They both expressed, “That was their favorite thing!” It all seemed so simple yet, I believe it built a lasting memory.
I would love to hear about the memories you are building with your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Now that spring is here people want to be outdoors. You can share the outdoors with your children in many ways. Hiking is great because it gives you a chance to talk, explore the world of nature and get physical exercise. Planting a garden can be combined with learning math by estimating and measuring the garden area, how far apart to plant the seeds and measuring the amount of water needed. Visit the beach and gather shells and small rocks to make a collage. Use your imagination to find fun, no cost activities to share with your children in the great outdoors.

These bunnies are fun and easy to make to decorate your Easter table or any Springtime celebration.
You’ll Need:
White & pink paper
Cotton balls
Glue or tape
Markers or crayons

For each bunny cut the white paper into 2 pieces, one approximately
5 1/2″ x 7″ and the other 4″ x 5″. Cut 2 pink ears and 2 white smaller inside ears. Roll into a tube as shown in the photo and secure with tape or glue. Add the ears, a cotton ball tail and the face.

This is an easy project for you and your grandchild to make. It’s especially great on a windy day.
You will need:
1 sheet of 8.5 x 11 colored paper
Strips of paper for decorating
Yarn or string
Scissors & glue
Directions:
1. Fold the paper in a cone shape and glue the ends together.
2. Decorate one end of the cone by gluing strips of crepe paper, colored paper or even newspaper.
3. On the other end of the cone make 2 holes and attach a piece of yarn or string. This will be use to hang your windsock.
Now, hang your windsock in a secure place and watch what happens when the wind blows.

This is a fun and easy way to play catch with your grandchild. It’s especially great for younger children who may have difficulty catching with their hands.  You can even play inside the house.
Materials:
1 gallon milk carton  with handle (empty, of course)
Ball or bean bag
Directions:
1. Cut out a section of the milk carton large enough to catch a ball or bean bag. Be sure to leave the handle intact so you can hold the catcher.
2. Take turns tossing the ball and trying to catch it in the milk carton catcher.