The More We Get Together the Happier We Are!

I was fortunate to have lots of company during the holidays. Not only did my grandkids stay with me for almost a week, but one of my grand doggies got to join in the fun, too! Although my honey bunnies range in age from 4 to 12, they often engage in the same activities helping each other along the way. Whether we're setting the table, prepping a meal, building candy sculptures, creating art, or blowing bubbles for the dog to pop, there's always something that requires everyones help. The time moves pretty quickly and settling down for a movie each night is a welcome unwind and treat (especially the complimentary popcorn) for all!
Thanks for stopping by!
Bubbie and her Grandkids
Games for Older & Younger Kids
Older Kids Helping Younger Kids

Blowing Bubbles at the Beach

The day was clear and warm (but not too warm). Actually, it was a perfect day to hit the beach! With very few beach goers other than us, and the "us" refers to myself, my son and my grandson, we were happy campers! I learned that when you pick the middle of the week, earlier in the a.m., not a holiday and with many folks staying in because of Covid 19, you can pretty much have the pick of the land.

So, after staking our claim, time was spent building castles, snacking and jumping the waves. Bubble blowing came last and that was the highlight of my day! Since there was a bit of wind, we had a lot of help with the blowing part. What a great sense of calm we enjoyed as we watched (and Finn giggled) at the size of the bubbles and the distance each traveled before popping. And, my favorite part was that it all happened high enough off of the ground to be sandless :))))))

Hope you're all staying safe and well!

Virtual hugs from Bubbie and her grandbabies!

Enjoy a few wonderful links regarding the many benefits of bubble blowing for young and old:

11 Benefits of Playing with Bubbles
The Health Benefits of Blowing Bubbles for All Ages
Using Bubbles to Help Kids Relieve Stress

Things That Need Counting

Jude and I never run out of things that need counting! I just never know where these "fun things to count" might appear. Thank goodness Jude is always willing to point them out. His latest discovery eventually drew a nice crowd of like-minded toddlers, who just had to count the circles at the end of the slide, too. Fortunately, before they got too impatient waiting their turns, the bubbles came out, and we were onto bigger and wetter things!
Learning to have fun,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. What do/did your little ones like to count?
Related Articles:
Counting Games
Creative Ways To Teach Numbers

Halloween 2011

"Toy Story's" Woody, the always popular Superman, Ducky, Miss Ladybug, King Midas, and two lovely, twin fairies came together this year, for a pre-Halloween party at the park.  This adorable group of celebrities honored us grown-ups with their presence, and brought enough enthusiasm to keep the celebration moving until lunchtime.  They kept busy coloring, playing with clay, bubbles, chalk and with each other. What we didn't include in the festivities was "sugar." We figured they would have their fill trick-or-treating later that day. Halloween stickers, ghoulish finger puppets and rings replaced the sweets without a problem!
Best,
Bubbie, Jude and the neighborhood kidlets, too!
Have a great recipe for the kids?  Please drop us your favorite in the comments box!
Related Article:
15 Terrific Healthy Halloween Recipes

Bubbles/Helping to Improve Language Development

"Language is a complex set of behaviors.  It involves much more than learning words and their meaning.  A child needs to have the psycho-motor skills to be ready to learn languages.  Playing with  bubbles encourages a variety of opportunities to coordinate breathing and movements with the mouth and tongue." 
Who knew?  And we thought we were just having fun!  What an added bonus to know we're contributing to our little-one's language skills. It is pretty amazing to see how quickly the youngest and newest kids on the block figure out, after just a few tries, how to blow a bubble!  
(Biggest Bubble Blown This Day went to Jude!)
Ta Dah,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Please share ways you've found to help promote language with your grand kids and/or kids?
Related Articles:
Blowing Bubbles (Watch the video...adorable!)
Playing With Bubbles
Bubbles to Improve Language Development
Bubbles For Learning (Terrific for older kids)

Toddler Playgroups

Jude and I began going to the park months ago as a way of stretching our legs and enjoying the clean, fresh air.  We never expected to end up with a great playgroup!  On any given day we can have as few as 4 children and as many as 20!  Socializing consists of sharing healthy treats for snack time,  gathering the kids for circle games, and if time allows breaking out the bubbles and wands, blankets for coloring or big brushes for water painting. The kids play hard and are ready for lunch and a nap by the time we get them home, which makes for a very happy grown-up!

Keep 'em laughing,

Bubbie and Jude

P.S. Please share your (grandkids or kids) playgroup experiences!

Related Articles:

Benefits of Playgroups for Toddlers



Bath Games And Toys For Kids

Water drums, water flutes, bobbing blocks, bathtub crayons, fingerpaints, and markers too, are just some of the many toys kids get to enjoy in the tub today.  Items either stick to the bathtub walls, or float.  Who wouldn't want to take a bath? "When I was a kid," (and I can't believe I'm saying that), but our parents' bribe to get us clean were plastic bowls, and bubble bath... which we thought was for making sudsy, silly hair shapes!  Since I'm still busy working on a house move, I think I'll snag some of my grandsons toys for a most entertaining and relaxing soak!  Look out magnetic boats, here I come!

Best,

Bubbie

P.S. How do you encourage your grandkids to get cleaned up?

Related Articles:

Coolest Bathtoys For Kids

Top Toddler Bathtime Games