Toddlers Learning to Cope

How does one play in bark, without getting any bark in ones shoes? And once the bark gets in your shoes, should you sit in that same pile of bark while trying to get it out? According to Jude, the answers to both of these questions are simply ..."Shoes off!" No discussion, no waiting, just off with the shoes! After several "shoes off" episodes, and giving the play area a try without shoes, Jude decided it is better to have played at the playground with bark in your shoes, then not to have played at the playground at all!
Learning to cope,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Please share your grandkids frustrations, and how they figured it out by themselves!

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Outdoor Activities

On our way over to the jungle gym at the park the other day, Jude spotted a lonely block of cement planted firmly in the ground.  It was just sitting there, minding it's own business, but Jude just had to check it out. What could it do?  There was no bounce, swing or slide to it!  It didn't move or make noise!  At first Jude walked around it, he then sat on it before walking across it.  Next he stepped up onto it, then jumped down repeating this exercise a couple dozen times. He was having so much fun, that he attracted three other children, who now had to have their own turns!
Explore your world,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. What kind of adventures have your grandbabies experienced?
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Fun Family Outdoor Activities 

Reasoning With A Toddler

There is one rocking horse at the neighborhood playground, where I take Jude in the afternoons.  One horse which often has a line of toddlers waiting for a turn...and toddlers are not the best "waiters!"  I've tried to point out to the kids that there are nine, (count them..."nine"), healthy, hearty, rocking cows in the same pen anxious to give them the ride of their lives! But nooooo! Nobody wants a cow ride!  Only a horsie ride!  I'm sure these cows are perfectly capable of giving a smooth, even rock. But for whatever reason, and it's a challenge to reason with a toddler, the horse remains the playground favorite, every time. 

Happy trails to you,

Bubbie and Jude

P.S.  How do you reason with your grandchildren?

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Precious Moments With The Kids

How's this for fun?  First you take 2 or 3 handfuls of wood chips and throw them into a bucket .  You then dump the wood chips that you tossed into the bucket, onto the ground, which is covered in wood chips, which you used in the first place to put into your bucket .  Easy!  Relaxing!  No math skills required!  I've tried it, and would highly recommend it!  As a matter of fact, when Jude discovered it for himself today, he was so fascinated by it's simplicity that he spent 10 minutes repeating the process, until boredom set in, and he moved onto bigger and better things...like finding stuff on the ground (moving or not) which you're not supposed to eat, let alone pick-up!
Another eventful day at the park!
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Share with us your precious moments with your grandkids, and/or kids while playing at the park!
P.S.S. Thanks!
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Playgrounds

I love monkey bars!  I particularly love this monkey bar!  Of all the playground equipment  at the park, this attraction sits at the very top of my list .  It doesn't require my assistance in swinging, climbing, sliding or lifting.  I get to sit next to Jude and watch him hold onto the bars,  while he hangs.  When he gets tired of hanging, he lets go, feet are already on the ground, and he does it again.  Where were these, "toddler size monkey bars," when my kids were little?  At that time I had to lift each child high up off the ground while spotting them. (Reminded me of hanging clothes as a kid...only clothespins held tighter for longer periods of time.)  Just as I finished hanging the last kid, the first kid's arms tired, and they were fussing to come down!  I knew there had to be a better way to make this fun for both parties, but "darn" if I could ever figure it out!  Luckily, someone who built the playground I now go to with Jude, did!  So, until he outgrows it, this will remain my recess, between, "Up!" and "Go, go!"
Hang in there,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S.  Let's hear about your playground adventures with your little ones!
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