GRANDPARENTS DAY IS SEPTEMBER 7TH - CELEBRATION IDEAS + MORE

With National Grandparents day right around the corner (September 7th), I will be vicariously living through my students . . . soaking up all the grandparent and "grandfriend" love I can get on Friday:)  

Every year we take a moment in early September to talk about community and family . . . Grandparents Day fits oh so nicely into the mix.  A few years ago, our school started inviting grandparents and "grandfriends" in to the classrooms for a little celebration.  I'll be honest and say that it falls at the WORST possible time of year . . . we are just getting back in to the swing of things and the training is still in full force.  Yes, stress is through the roof before they walk in that door.  However, after our little afternoon celebration, I always find myself feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.  It's soooo worth the extra effort.  

You can make a Grandparents Day celebration as big or small as you want. Some teachers at our school host a picnic lunch and afternoon art activity. Others invite grandparents to drop in throughout the day and have special stations set up.  Another set of teachers host a very low-key afternoon dessert and simple activity.  It's whatever you wish to make of the day.  

I always opt for the low-key ditty.  Students invite grandparents or "grandfriends" in for lemonade and cookies.  The grandchildren serve their elders and present them with a card.  Then, they read books together.  Finally, they complete a grandparent interview sheet and word search together if there is time. It is the cutest thing ever - I have to keep a Kleenex in my pocket ;) The whole thing takes about 30-45 minutes.  Many of the grandparents take their kiddos home or on a special date when they finish at the school . . . love when the babes get extra GP time!  Swoon . . . :)

For those babies who don't have grandparents who can attend (or maybe they don't have any), we allow them to invite a "grandfriend."  I know what you are thinking . . . what if no one shows up for a little sweetie?  I cannot tell you how amazing it is when the grandparents who do attend "adopt" another kiddo.  **Again . . . cue the tissue.**  As long as you frontload your babies, the students are able to saddle up to a sweet grannie or grandpa who is there for another student.  

This year we will be learning a song to sing to our Grandparent guests.  Ron Brown from Intelli-Tunes wrote one that tugs on that heart for sure - Grandparents.  I cannot wait to start practicing this tune on Tuesday.   

If you are looking to host your own celebration, create a quick and simple card, and/or sneak in a little grandparent learning and want a little support . . . I created a packet last year that fits the bill {Thank Goodness for Grandparents}.  The song is included in this collection -- as is a grandparent mini-book, can/have/are chart, letter templates, card templates, word search, and an interview sheet.  It also has celebration ideas and a parent note.  My goal was to create a series of quick and easy activities that you could copy and run with with little effort!

Alright, I'm out of here.  Must mow the lawn before the neighbors start forming a less than desirable opinion about the Dollings :)  On a final note, if you are lucky enough to have a grandparent left in your life, think about taking a moment to call or write.  Not a day goes by that I don't wish I could pick up the phone and tell my Grandad or Gram how much I love them.