NANA SAYS IT TAKES LOTS OF WORK TO PLAN FOR TWO MONTHS OF SUMMER VACATION

With June approaching, the end of school activities consume a lot of time for parents. Then planning for the summer must start early. Deciding on a family vacation and where! Going to the family cottage or renting one takes effort of organizing two homes. Do the children have summer sports' activities like swimming, soceer, baseball or special camps like gymnastics, dance, math, computer or music.? Some parents send their children to weeks of sleepover camp eliminating any need to change their lives. Working and having children at home during the warm weather can be stressful. The day cares are open year round and often offer special day trips and summer activities.For the 11 or 12 year old it becomes tricky. Not wanting a babysitter, yet not old enough to be left alone all day, it is a huge dilemma for parents. Not old enough to get a summer jor or even one of those volunteer jobs that keep the child very occupied. Not wanting them sitting in front of a computer or tv all day either! Some parents will take separate week vacations from work to be with their children. No real family vacation but saves on the budget. Having activities on a daily basis for children is good. If math was the difficult subject, for example, activity books to work on math over the summer could be helpful. Books-yes reading can be an enjoyable activitiy. Using the library as a regular outing! Weekend day trips can be fun. To the beach, to the city, near us weekly jaunts to Wonderland with that seasonal pass and any family members that can join or even offer a day or sleepover for the children add some variety. Depending on the weather- will it be hot, wet, cool- can be the unforeseen factor in planning! Asking children what they want to do can be twofold- they can have particular interests but often children can be offered new opportunities that they may even like. Sounds really busy doesn't it? The less is more can be a good approach too. Rather than setting yourself up as a parent to run, run, run- plan for activities that let you relax too. Children can learn less is more too. Planning ahead though is your first defense because if you are already feeling tired from all the plans then it is a wakeup that maybe you are trying to make life too busy. There can be repetitive activities. A weekly picnic! A weekly family day at the beach! A weekly movie on discount movie night! Remember the grandparents do come in handy and can be one of the planned activities! How are you summer plans going? I remember as a parent with young children it was a struggle to offer them a rewarding summer. Plan and take some pressure off but leave some pockets for the unexpected times that may present themselves!

NANA SAYS KEEP CHILD'S PLAY SIMPLE

Each generation of parents wants their children to be brighter than the one previously and larger than life. Are computer skills at two years old really necessary? Exposing children to books, crafts, creative opportunities are the fodder for learning. Toys with bells and whistles are good too but not the only things to be available.While playing in the snow with one of my grandsons recently, I followed his lead. He likes to dig and play with his roller- his wheelbarrow. It is his machine. He was transporting the snow from one place to another. We were engaging in imaginative play. The tools- shovel, plastic wheelbarrow and snow. We were labelling, counting and using the materials at hand. Hum! Skills that could help with a lifetime? Later he wanted to play with a ball of my wool. He took it around the house- made tunnels and walls. Even Nana was on her knees crawling under his tunnel in play! Simple play. There is always the old joke- the child likes the box a toy comes in better than the toy itself. By talking with childen- language development; grammar; math- how many cookies on your plate?; science- look at the squirrel eating-where do you think he lives or observing the night sky watching the changing of the moon;  listening to music and reading from favourite books- are skills readily available to any parent rich or poor. Playing with children allows the opportunity to develop a relationship as well a teaching moment. All those little moments really are important! What simple play activities do you do? How do you engage with the children in your life? Do you have other suggestions for simple play? Following each child's interest and lead can enrich the experience.

11/11/11

It would be a fun day to have a special event like the birth of a baby. Why are we fascinated with numbers? We have superstitious one- like the number 13! Others cultures have their own lucky numbers! Things come in 3's! Our birthday numbers! Nicer to be 39 than 40! Little children will say I'm 4 and ahalf! Do you like the day with the special- 11/11/11? Are you planning anything special? Do you have a special number? Do you avoid a number? Math plays with numbers and equations all the time. Do you like math? It's my 13th blog for November- I see it as a positive sign!