50 areas where grandmas should know at least one thing
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 Much as we'd like to or we pretend to, grandmas can't know everything.
If we simply know at least one thing, though, from each of the following areas, we'll know more than enough to fully connect with—and impress!—our grandchildren of any age.
How to play:
• outdoor games
• board games
• video games (mega points for this one)
• ball games
• card games
• card tricks
• magic tricks
• cookie recipes
• snack recipes
• how to draw something, anything
• how to connect with technology—email, Skype, FaceTime, Facebook, and more
• how to not annoy the grandchild when connecting with technology—too much lurking, liking, and more
• nursery rhymes
• lullabies
• dance moves
• bird calls
• animal sounds
• words in another language
• names of grandchild's pets
• names of grandchild's friends
• names of grandchild's teachers
• grandchild's fears and phobias
Grandchild's favorites:
• favorite colors
• favorite classes
• favorite sports
• favorite songs (bonus points if you know the words)
• favorite programs and movies
• favorite books
• favorite games on computer/console/phone/internet
• favorite foods
• grandchild's least favorite foods
• mealtime prayers
• bedtime prayers
• bedtime stories
• stories or poems by heart
• stories related to the grandchild's birth
• stories related to the grandchild's parent's birth
• stories related to the grandchild's parent's childhood
• stories related to your childhood
• what grandchild wants to be when he or she grows up
• gardening basics
• astronomy basics—stars, planets, constellations
• memorable quotes, phrases, sayings (worth more if they impart useful advice)
• animal trivia
• nature trivia
• history trivia
• sports trivia
• sentence diagramming (Okay, that one's a joke and doesn't count; just seeing if you're still reading)
• ways to fold paper—think paper airplanes, cootie catchers, origami stars
• ways to save a child's life—preferably the one that works
• ways to say I love you—preferably more than one!
Today's question:
In what other areas should grandmas know at least one thing?
Reader Comments (12)
Yikes! Thankful yet again for other Gma, or my Grandkids would be so out of luck with bird calls, astronomy, baking, and gardening. Plus, she adheres to grammar rules even when online.
I'd add knowing Grandchild's favorite way to be held/comforted. Very important! <-- this is not a sentence ;)
My grand kids take great joy in wtching me attempt a video game. I am so bad at them that they (along with my loving daughter) usually end up laughing through tears.
OMG, I would only be able to make every grandchild, whatever age, feel extremely smart, seeing as how much smarter they are than I am, in many of those areas!
I do, however, know about a jillion lullabies and stories; I sing and tell them to my 7-year-old newly adopted toy poodle when she's quaking and shakig from remembering her abusive past.
NonnieKelly: You know more about astronomy than you think. I bet you can point out the moon. :oD AND the Big Dipper. And here's an astronomical bonus (which you may already know): The full moon coming on August 31 is called a blue moon because it's the second full moon in one month. There...THREE things you know in that area...at least!
Olga: What fun! You're a good sport. But now you do know at least ONE thing about video games. :oD Bubby gets a kick out of watching me play some silly cupcake game on my iPhone, in which cupcakes roll off the conveyor belt and you must get them decorated before the end. Makes me feel like Lucy in the chocolate factory but he loves watching me fail.
Ann: Congrats on the new poodle! I can't wait to meet her!
What a great list! I can only think of one thing to add and you kind of have it already -- you MUST know the name of the current boyfriend/girlfriend! Just so you can tease her about it all the time -- something both Jenna, Grampy and I do very very well!!!
I do know how to diagram a sentence ...lol! I admit I haven't had the need to do it in quite awhile. Actually being up on all the new reading and math methods being taught in school might be helpful at homework help time.
My only living grandparent --my maternal grandmother who immigrated from the Ukraine in 1911-- could neither read or write or speak English, but even so I loved her so, so much! I think as long as a grandparent knows how to show love they are ahead of the game in every instance no matter what they know. :)
Excellent point, Pat! Love that! So very true and something we all need to remember—especially when we can't remember how to diagram a sentence or which stars make up a constellation.
WOW what a list!
Now that my granddaughter is approaching 11....Grandma's need to know what is the latest fashion!
Great list Lisa.
Would add
Learning to say I'm sorry, that goes for adults and children
Names of plants
Making up nonsense rhymes
Having fun in the sea
Debbie: As a mother to three daughters, how could I have forgotten the need for a teensy bit of fashion sense? Thanks!
But, I can diagram a sentence. What a list - I fall short in 1/3 of these. The only thing I can think to add is how to apply band aids! Looks like my grandsons and I will have to learn some of these things together.
This is great Lisa. This is like a list of the joys of grandparenting. Great post!