The Grandparents Hall of Fame

by Kathryn Lemmon

Bonding with the Grandkids

Every grandparent wants to create those special, life-long memories for their grandchildren. With a little forethought and creativity, you can get into the Grandparents Hall of Fame. Anyone can take the kids out for a burger or movie, here's some ideas which stand out from the ordinary.

In the fifth grade I went rolling skating every weekend. These days that doesn't sound very unusual, but we lived over forty miles from the nearest skating rink. It was all due to a wonderful person, my Grandmother.

Each Saturday she drove ten miles to my house, picked me up and drove another forty miles to the rink. Sitting on the sidelines, she never complained about boredom or having better things to do. In fact, it was all her idea. Funny, how a memorable experience stays with you for a lifetime. Looking back, I realize we were doing what is now popularly known as "bonding." While driving we talked about everything under the sun and I can easily recall the Mt. Everest level of anticipation I had for Saturday.

Every grandparent wants to inspire those rare, life-long memories. Here are some new and different ideas to put you in the Grandparents Hall of Fame.

1. A Year in the Life: Ask you grandchild and/or parents to send school report cards, current photos, mementos from school and sports activities, newspaper notices and other personal items over the course of a year. Assemble it all (in some cases photocopies) in a sturdy scrapbook with a personal inscription from you. Hold until they reach their 16th or 18th birthday and present it to them.
   
   
2. Start and Build a Collection: Whether you travel around the country or around the globe, select an item to give your grandchild as part of a collection. Examples might be: playing cards depicting an attraction, dolls or games from foreign lands, miniature spoons, large maps, or thimbles. For their birthday or Christmas give them a display case or holder for the collection.
   
   
3. Photo Exchange: Go one step beyond those routine vacation snapshots. This year, when your grandchild gives you the annual school picture, surprise him/her with a framed, 8 x 10 portrait of yourself at your best.
   
   
4. Trivia Swap: If you live far away or just down the street, you can do a trivia swap. Prepare five easy trivia questions and ask your grandchild to do the same. Select topics you know your grandchild is interested in. Swap your lists by mail, e-mail or in person. The first one with all the answers wins for that month and has to give the other a small prize.
   
   
5. Secret Pal: Become a secret pal to your grandchild. Purchase special "secret pal" greeting cards or make up some of your own. Address and stamp them. So the postmark won't give you away, mail several in a 6 x 9 envelope to your friends in other states. Have them to drop the cards in the mail periodically. When traveling, send notes, cards or small gifts, signed only "your secret pal." After six months or a year, let them know you're their secret pal.
   
   
6. Sponsor-an-Animal: Find a zoo or animal refuge which allows "adoption or sponsorship" of their animals. Adopt the animal in your grandchild's name. In our state we have a unique wolf park which allows you to adopt-a-wolf. For around $50 you receive special visitation rights, wolf photos twice a year, newsletters and up-dates on health of your wolf.
   
   
7. Annual Craft Share: Once each year, select a craft your grandchild enjoys and challenge them to complete 3 or 4 items, either on their own or with you. Match them item for item. Possible easy crafts might be, teddy bears, wall-hangings, small toys from wood, lap-robes, centerpieces or birdfeeders. When finished, pool your crafts and donate them to a nursing home, hospital, crisis center or homeless shelter.
   
   
8. Time Capsule: Plan and assemble a time capsule with your grandchild. Include items such as current photos, dated materials, video tapes and the newspaper from the date you decide to seal the capsule. Make a special ceremony out of sealing the box. Give your grandchild the option ofng the time capsule in five, ten or twenty years. Attach a small note stating the date and year ofng.
   
   
9. Tournament Play: Put a new spin on Scrabble or Monopoly. Instead of just playing once, start a six-month tournament. Keep on-going score sheets and notes in the box, in case a long time elapses between games. Set a date for the final round and stake a twenty-dollar bill to the champion. Prepare a winner's certificate and fill in the name at the end, even if it's your own!
   
   
10. Funny Memories Journal: Pick up a blank book at the local bookstore and start a journal of funny childhood memories. Let your grandchild have several months to collect memories (plus their own), from various family members. When you get the book back, add your memories and pass the book around to additional family members out of state. When it's full, give it to your grandchild as a keepsake.
    
    
11. Volunteer Challenge: Challenge your grandchild to complete 10 hours of volunteer work per month, anywhere he/she chooses. You do the same. This will give you common ground to compare notes and discuss your experiences. Volunteering is great for building self-confidence in kids of all ages. Among other places, opportunities are available at your local library, hospital, animal shelter or church.
    
    
12. Create a Holiday Video: As a joint project, prepare and film a funny music video, set to a well-known Christmas song. Planning is half the fun. Select the song, then find props and costumes from items on hand. Write the script together and involve other family members, if possible. For a real challenge, do this in the heat of summer! Show the video at family gatherings around the holidays.