The Element of Surprise

When I cranked the knob to get old Jack to pop out of his box, it was never as surprising or funny until Jude mastered it himself!  Now I find myself laughing just as hard as Jude as he jumps as high as Jack, each and every time he gets to the "pop goes the weasel" part. Although we both know what's coming up, it still cracks us up! This is a toy that's been around, some say since the 1500's, but seems to continue to entertain, even the grandparents among us.
P.S. Let us know some vintage toys that you've found your grandkids to still appreciate and enjoy!
Keep 'em laughing,
Bubbie and Jude
Related Article:
Jack-In-The-Box Toy

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!

Kids and Weddings

It was a gorgeous day for a wedding and Jude was anxiously waiting to be seated while discussing the ceremony program.  Being the youngest to be invited, Jude demonstrated his ability to stay perfectly quiet during the ceremony, and later brought down the house with his dance moves on the ballroom floor.  It was a great time for all with loving family and friends to help share in the uniting and celebrating of the newly married couple!  
Wonderful memories will follow for all!
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Share with us your good or not-so-good wedding celebrations with the kids!
Related Articles:
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Fast Food Playgrounds Are Not As Clean As You Think

A few days ago I decided to take my grandson to a fast food restaurant for a lunch and play-date. With his "kid's meal" in one hand, and Jude's hand in my other, I found a great spot, close to the playground, to set down his food for feasting.  Not able to hold back from the fun, Jude took off as I chased behind him and found myself climbing up and through the tubular maze, ending with a twisty slide back down to 'start.'  It was all good fun, but far from clean!  I did not expect to see big pockets of animal droppings all along the way.  Needless to say I had to take a very disappointed toddler away before we had a chance to eat or go around a second time!  I drove him home and back to our favorite park by his house.  We got to have our lunch, play-date in a clean playground.  I've learned my lesson! 1. Be sure to check out the playground area before allowing the children to play. 2. Dorothy was right...there's no place like home!
P.S. I did call the restaurant to let them know the unsanitary conditions of their children's play equipment.  
P.S.S. Please share ideas and/or experiences similar to mine.  Always looking to make the world cleaner and safer for our little ones!
Learning as we go,
Bubbie and Jude
Related Article:
Fast Food Play Places Are Not As Clean As You Think!

Tactile Play

So there was this stick.  This was no ordinary stick. This stick was found by Jude and became his magical find for the day.  Where ever Jude went, so went this stick. And sharing was out of the question! After all, sticks like this one are not easy to find, especially when you live in a neighborhood filled with gardeners ready to clean-up and remove precious treasures such as this, before they hit the ground!
Sticks, flowers, bushes and other natural materials are starting to catch Jude's eye and sense of touch. We brought this stick over to the sand for some drawing fun and it lasted for a good ten minutes before it chipped away into a 2 inch stub, which was actually perfect for digging out that little pebble stuck under some dry brush!
Exploring nature in a safe and fun way, 
Bubbie and Jude
Any tips on nature outings you'd like to share?
Related Article:
What Are Tactile Materials

Cooperative Play

"It takes a village," or in "Jude's World" it takes five toddlers and a water fountain to fill a bucket. 
It's great fun to watch these cuties' work together towards a common goal.  Remy held the bucket, Jude kept the water flowing, Ella carried the bucket back to their play spot while Arden and Allisa cheered them all on! Of course, the process of filling the bucket was the fun part.  Once the bucket was filled and placed back where they wanted it, one of the sweeties conveniently knocked the bucket down and they had to start all over again!  Ain't life grand?

Fun in the sun,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Have you any solutions for keeping our kids learning and playing together?
Related Articles:
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Teaching Your Child To Play With Others

Katie, Katie, Lovely Lady!

Jude is tickled pink about his new cousin, Katie!  She has no idea the things that Jude has in store for her.  Like, how to hold a peach when you're trying to suck out the juice, where to hide when you don't want anyone to know you're pooping in your diaper, and of course, jumping on the bed then plopping on a mound of pillows! He's not yet aware that this lovely baby Katie is only one week old and still needing a little R & R before his games begin. I think this boy is going to do just fine with his first cousin, and I'm sure we'll soon see Katie teaching Jude a thing or two!                                                                                     

I'd love to hear your ideas on helping toddlers feel comfortable around newborns!

Best wishes from a very happy, new,

Bubbie and cousin Jude!

Related Article:

When Toddler Meets Baby

Sharing Toddlers

"Share"..."Don't push"..."Take turns" are just a few of the phrases you'll hear from the grownups when our little playmates get together for their play dates.  It's getting a bit easier with kids they're familiar with, but as soon as a newbie comes along, we're clearing our throats for more words of encouragement.  A bucket of water with heavy duty paintbrushes (*all the same size, of course) seems to be the easiest activity for sharing right now...especially with the warm weather drying us off before we get too wet!  
P.S. *I bought a bag of 10 brushes at Lakeshore Learning Supplies.  Check teacher's supply stores for tons of great learning tools.
(Besides using the brushes for tracing our shadows, hands, feet and drawing, we also dip small plastic cars in the water to make car tracks on the ground!)
Let me know if you have any suggestions for helping kids learn to share!
Best,
Bubbie and Jude
Teaching Your Toddler To Share

Hydrating Toddlers

The days are getting hotter and Jude is playing harder. Fortunately, Jude likes to take water breaks, so I've always got a cuppy filled with cool water waiting for him in his car-mobile.   Another favorite rehydrator of his are grapes and watermelon pieces at snack time! To protect this little guy during the summer months, I also keep him lathered in sunscreen and look for shady spots to play. The only issue is the old hat trick...if I could only get him to keep one on his head!  Any and all suggestions are welcome and appreciated! 
Happy summer months,
Bubbie and Jude




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Kids Helping Kids

Jude enjoyed being helped, as much as his friend enjoyed helping! The grown-ups all applauded and whooped it up, which caused the children to look for more ways to help one another. Modeling and encouraging kindness certainly pays off for everyone!
Respectfully yours,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. What methods have you used to teach your grandkids and/or kids kindness and caring?
Related Article:
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Seesaws and other Playground Fun

Not only is this playground seesaw a four-seater, but it's spring won't allow anyone to be dropped to the ground, like when I was a kidlet! What a great improvement!  It took us several tries as kids to figure out that you always wanted your turn with someone lighter than yourself.  I can still feel the "thud" when I would hit the ground unexpectedly, and my "supposed" friend would take off to play on something else...like the swings.  Well, that was Jude's next stop after the seesaw and then the slides, and then the climbing toy...and then, and then, this bubbie was ready for the sleeping toy!
Happy playing,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S.  What's your grandchild's favorite playground toy?

Ordinary Household Items for Learning and Discovery

As long as there's a house full of stuff, you can never run out of fun for the kids! 
A few slightly damp sponges were all it took to keep this toddler amused and busy for quite some time.  Jude started out cleaning the surface of the table, and soon discovered the joy of wiping over and around walls, chairs and toys.  Good thing the dog wasn't around, or he would have gotten the "once over," too!  
Keeping it interesting,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Any play suggestions using ordinary household items?
Related Article:
Ordinary Materials to Support Discovery and Learning

Dining Out With The Kids

Want some exercise in portion control and pushing the old heartbeat up a notch or two?  Just go out to eat with a toddler! In no time at all you'll be racing out of your favorite restaurant having finished only half your meal. This works every time! You might even get a little extra jogging in if your munchkin is slick enough to Houdini it out of the high chair, and go for their "meet and greet the diners" run.  So put on your sneakers, come semi-hungry and let the games begin!
Laughing all the way,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Any great "eating out" restaurant tips with the little ones?
Related Article:
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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



Laughter Does a Body Good!

What's so funny?  All I said was, "Peek-a-boo!" while popping out from under a mound of pillows.  This game elicited squealing, giggling and some hardy laughs for more than 20 minutes!  
"Experts say a well-developed sense of humor can boost a person's immune system, contribute to a more optimistic outlook on life, and increase self-esteem."
Jude and I are finding lots of times to laugh, whether it's pushing him in his cardboard box around his room, playing with Jude's Jack-in-the box or giving him surprised looks when my hat falls off of my head.  
"What's more, research shows that a sense of humor is learned, not inherited. "
Well, we are having a great time learning how to have a sense of humor. Fortunately, his parents love to laugh and have always shared this with Jude, so I have no doubt that this little honey will end up with a considerably boosted immune system!
Keep 'em smiling,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. What makes your grandkids laugh?
Related Article:
What's funny to a toddler? 

Learning The Alphabet

"Most children begin recognizing some letters between the ages of 2 and 3 and can identify most letters between 4 and 5. This means that you can start teaching your child the alphabet when he's around 2 — but don't expect full mastery for some time."

Jude's playing with magnetic letters has become a learning experience for me, too!  First he figured out they can stick, followed by the discovery that some letters match, and I believe he's now trying to figure out how to line them up to make patterns.  Learning the letters will come, there's just so many other things that this toddler needs to explore first!   

Best,

Bubbie and Jude

P.S. Have any good tips on teaching the ABC's?

Related Articles:
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Educational Toys

The advertisement read, "This ingenious, fun-to-use phone lets children hear themselves talk…so kids can really focus on every sound they say! Perfect for exploring letter sounds, phoneme blending, sound manipulation and more, the molded plastic phone is sized just for kids, with a lightweight, easy-grip handle." Obviously I had to buy this right away for my grandson.  I couldn't wait to watch the surprised expression on his face as he'd hear himself talk.  What the copy on the package should have added was, "...and just in case your children prefer puzzles, expect them to try to fit every toy they have into the fun-to-use phone's openings and build from there!"  I must admit, I spent a lot of time listening to myself talk into this ingenious invention while Jude slept.  It will be fun and educational once he's ready!
Happy learning,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S.  I'd love to hear about some educational toys you've found worthwhile buying for the kids!  Thanks!
Related article:
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Cardboard Boxes Stir The Imagination

It all started with an empty Pampers box.  Darn that last diaper!  I simply couldn't resist introducing Jude to "the empty box."  I knew it would be love at first site.  The first thing Jude did was to climb in for a ride.  As the designated driver, I had the honor of pulling this precious cargo from room to room while he repeatedly asked for more!  After I pooped out, Jude filled it with balls, and drove it around himself for a while.  We've got lots more to do with this great toy as we break her in!  Old favorites never die!
Here's to fun,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S.  How about sharing some of your great ideas for box play?
Related Article:
Fun With Cardboard Boxes 

Problem Solving

Going through a dog door is no easy task, as I learned watching Jude deal with the problem.  His first decision was to assess the height and width of the opening from the outside.  Once he convinced himself that he could fit, he proceeded to push his way in, with no hands, of course.  Looking back at his accomplishment gave him great satisfaction, and that I believe is why he had to try it ten more times!  Poor dog, had to wait his turn!
"Nothing can take the place of persistence." (Calvin Coolidge)
"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with my problems longer." (Albert Einstein)
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. How do your grandchildren deal with their problems?
Related Article:
Problem Solving In Action 

Music Does A Body Good

"Research shows that kids who are actively involved in music (who play it or sing it regularly):

• do better in reading and math when they start school
• are better able to focus and control their bodies
• play better with others and have higher self-esteem"

So glad to learn the stats because it makes Jude's playing a lot easier to listen to.  When he gets into his musical interludes now, it's  music to my ears!  (Although, I think the cats and dog would strongly disagree with me!)



Music does a body good,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Have you any experiences to share regarding children and music?

Related Article:
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Benefits of Music