Grandparents Day Ideas
Begin by having each child paint or fingerpaint a design on white
construction paper.
For each child, provide a clean soup can from which the label has been
removed. When the artwork is dry, trim it to fit a can. Have each child
wrap his artwork around a can and glue it in place. Give each child a copy
of the note below. After reading the note aloud to the children have each
child sign his/her copy and tuck it into their can. Grandparents and other
older friends are certain to be most pleased.
This little can, made of tin,
Was washed and saved to use again.
I added paint, I added glue,
And made a present just for you.
It's for your pencils or your pens.
You can show it to your friends.
It's not empty, for you can see,
It's filled with love to you from me.
Handprint Placque
Put the following poem on a plaster handprint:
We miss you when we're not together
We're growing up so fast.
See how big we've gotten
Since you saw us last?
As we grow, we'll change a lot,
The years will fly right by.
You'll wonder how we grew so quickly
When and where and why?
So look upon this handprint plaque
That's hanging on your wall.
And memories will come back, of us,
When we were very small.
Plant
Attach this poem to a small potted plant/flower that the children have
planted.
Once I was so tiny,
As tiny as a seed.
Now I am growing,
As fast as a little weed.
Sometimes I am a challenge,
But please try to understand,
I am trying hard to do,
The very best I can.
I planted this little flower,
To help you see I care.
Help me keep on growing,
'Cause I am very rare.
This flower won't stay small,
It's growing just like me
Please remember, I love You,
And plant it where all can see.
Happy Grandparent's Day
For My Grandparents
When I count my many blessings,
I am thankful for grandparents like you.
You understand and guide me
In everything I do.
You are there each time I need you,
When I need a place to hide;
You are there to tell me it is
My fears I can confide.
You never think I am silly
When I tell of hopes and dreams;
You want them all to each come true
At least that is how it seems.
I am thankful for the two of you
Who help me grow each day;
More and more by your example,
I learn to find the way.
I attached this poem to a lunch sack the children have decorated with markers, stickers, etc and in which we have put some home made muffins or other goodies. I used muffin mixes and let the children help make them.
Quick Planters or Storage Jars.
Wash out old baby food jars and peel off the
labels. Using some colored tissue paper, wrap the jar and seal by putting a
rubber band around the lip of the jar. Fluff up the pieces of tissue paper
that stand over the lip. Have your child decorate carefully with markers or
with stickers. Then, fill the jar with dirt and a small store-bought plant
(with roots already started). For a storage jar, you can fill it with
paperclips and other desk items for a working grandparent, or with nails and
screws for the tool-savvy grandparent.
Mail Holder or Picture Frame.
This activity requires popsicle sticks, glue
and patience. You will glue the sticks together and decorate with markers,
stickers, paint, or glitter. For the picture frame, paste the corners of four
sticks together, making a square. Let dry. Then, glue approximately five or
six sticks down horizontally to this base (this will be the back support).
Let dry. Then glue four more stick around the corners again (this will serve
as the final picture frame). When dry, glue on a photo (cut to the correct
size) onto the back support. Finally, when that is dry, have your child
decorate the frame with stickers, markers, or glitter. For the mail holder,
glue five sticks horizontally to form the base. When dry, add the sides by
gluing three sticks together and gluing to the dry base. Use six sticks for
the back and four for the front. When dry, decorate with your markers,
stickers or glitter.
Handprint Picture, Cloth Bag, or T-Shirt.
For a quick card, get some
construction paper and finger paint. Paint your child's hand and print it on
the paper. Then, interview your child and record his/her words on the
construction paper. Try to solicit answers to such questions as "What do you
like most about Grandma?" "What would you like to do with Grandpa today?" or
"What does Nana look like to you?" To decorate a cloth bag (available at
supermarkets and craft stores) or a plain white T-shirt, you will need to
purchase fabric paints or fabric markers (found in art stores), so the colors
will not wash off in the washing machine. You can use the paints to make your
child's handprints, or use markers and stencils to draw pictures. Don't
forget to add words such as "To the Greatest Grandma" (or Grandpa).
A Grandparents Card
The children paint their fingers a "flowery"
color(s) and their palms green. They then place
their hands down on white construction paper
creating "handprint flowers." They then glue this
to a larger piece of construction paper (their
choice of colors) and glue a paper heart to the
center. (Some may be able to cut out the hearts
themselves.) This poem is then glued to the
"card":
A Piece of Me
(written by Kathleen Lademan)
A piece of me I give to you:
I painted this flower to say "I Love You"
The heart is you, the hand is me
To show we are friends, the best there can be
I hope we'll save it and look back someday
At the flower we shared on your special day.
HAPPY GRANDPARENTS DAY!
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