Meet and Greet

"Gentleness is a learned behavior. You can help teach your child to be gentle by modeling the behavior yourself, by having your child role play with a doll or stuffed animal, and by helping your child to be aware that her movements and tone of voice are just as important as gentle touch."
Grayson begins his animal toy playdates with a meet and greet. After lining up all of his animals in a neat row, Grayson gives each a gentle hug, followed by a kiss and a little conversation. He usually calls them by their animal names and uses their animal sounds for communication. Grayson is well versed in a multitude of animal languages. He's corrected me many times :)))))
Gentle hugs from,
Bubbie and her Grandkids
Below please find a few links I found helpful:
Play Gently Instead of Roughly
Teaching Your Toddler to be Gentle

Getting Along Lovingly During Quarantine Time

 Getting along with one another, in the same house for weeks at a time during our quarantine, doesn't have to be stressful. Take it from this two-year-old. Grayson uses his often successful snag-them-when-they're-not-looking technique. It's pretty simple. Step 1- Look for an unsuspecting soul, who's totally self-absorbed in something they adore. Step 2- Carefully and quietly, sneak up from behind them. Step 3 - Take hold of their arms if you can, and begin with a slight squeeze while working your way into a comfortable body hug. Step 4- Be sure to get away before you're found out, then advance to another family member who is also in need of some sweet, baby love!
Stay well and stay safe!
Virtual hugs,
Bubbie and her Grandbabies
Families Together in Quarantine
5 Ways to Minimize Family Fighting During COVID 19 

Grandparents Day!

Question: What's a hug worth from a grandbaby? 
Answer:  More than money can buy...and we officially get to cash in on those hugs on September 11th this year, 2011. You see, The United States Congress passed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day in 1978. This special day to honor grandparents was initiated by a West Virginia housewife, Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade.  (A grandmother of 40!)
Some especially great activities can be found on the site:
Grandparentsday.com

Have you hugged a kid today?
Love,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Please share your suggestions for fun things to do with the grandkids!

"Calming Down" Time

Soft comforts!  Who can't love this?  Petting a furry-purry cat with one hand, and hugging a silky-lovey with the other. Jude sure knows how to take a "play" break.  And I thought the answer was a box of chocolates and a good movie. Just snapping the picture soothed my soul. The best part of this moment was the chatter between the two. Although I couldn't understand a word either one said, it was clear that they did.
Take a break and enjoy,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S.  Any tips of your own, for helping the kids with down time?
Related Articles:
Calm-It-Down Tips 
Calm-Down Time 
The Power Of Petting A Cat 

Toddlers and the "No" Word

No! No! No!  Of all the words that Jude can say, "no" seems to be on the tip of his tongue at all times.  And it sure does work around me.  I find myself standing at attention when he expresses his favorite word, anxious to find out what he is now cognizant of that he doesn't want, or doesn't want to do.  Usually it's in place of, "Stop shoving food into my mouth, I've had enough," or "That's not the video I want to watch, that's the one you want to watch!"  As long as it doesn't mean, "Enough with the hugs and kisses," I'm happy!
"No-no" for now,
Bubbie and Jude


Related Articles:
When All You Hear Is "No!" 
Toddlers Say "No" Because They Can