Water water everywhere!
As the March winds herald change, we look forward to warmer weather and outdoor activities, most of which will include water in some form or other. During the long winter months we had to console ourselves with playing in the tub, or in the jacuzzi or pool at the mountain house (our one week at our timeshare in the mountains). Wherever we are, water is a natural magnet, and you are well advised to just accept it and adapt. Try to figure ways to make it work in your favor.
For the tub we have bubble bath, plastic Cool Whip containers (a big favorite for dumping water on your head for hair washing and for floating small toys and creatures), foam alphabet blocks which can spell words and stick to the side wall, and lots of action figures, mermaids, boats, etc. They also like bottle scrubbers and washcloths. A few of our favorite tub songs include the Beatles “Yellow Submarine”, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, and the very best, “Splish Splash I was Taking a Bath”. The words for all of these can be found online, and the children love to sing in the bubbling water. As you can see, Owen was ready, clothes and all!
For the Jacuzzi we haven’t needed toys because the foaming bubbles keep them entertained. Most of the time they like to wear their suits just because they can. Every now and then they decide to do a nakie dip, but I do not want to get shut down for r-rated content, so I won’t include those pictures here.
For the yard we bought a very inexpensive Winnie-the-Pooh sprinkler which attaches to the hose. Not only do the kids love playing “chicken” with it, but it also gets our lawn watered at the same time. And after they’re done, they love to play games with the towels draped over their heads. This is also a great way to rinse off upon returning full of sand from the beach.
Children can begin to enjoy the various pools and beach at a very young age. Our daughters have small wading pools for the infants and toddlers; Owen is very young here in his green frog outfit lounging in his tube in the wading pool. One of our daughters has a large above ground pool, and we tend to gravitate there in the summer. We all try to pitch in and bring food and accessories so they are not always supplying everything, and everyone also watches all the children. Usually an intrepid adult (not I!) will hop in the larger pool with them and play games and keep them reasonably happily occupied.
Because we live near the ocean, the beach is a major source of entertainment for us, and I plan to do an entire blog on it as the season approaches.
It is helpful to bring juice boxes, fruit or other healthy snacks, wipes and towels wherever you are going. Always use sun block liberally, and be sure it is waterproof. Water is your ally and can occupy the children for hours if you have them safely lathered and are prepared to water and feed them periodically. We have not bought a lot of fancy toys as they only lose them or fight over them. What they truly like the most is having their cousins with them to share whatever water adventure we are doing.
Tip #17: Water is one of your best sources of entertainment for your grandchildren. Use it well and liberally. Keep wipes, sun block, snacks and towels in your car at all times……and don’t forget your camera! Find a milk crate or old laundry basket and throw in things like plastic containers and shovels which can remain there for the whole summer. Sit back, relax, and let their energy and creativity do the rest….but never, ever, take your eyes off them! Oh, and let them splash through those puddles in your driveway, on your street and in your garage. Who cares?
As the March winds herald change, we look forward to warmer weather and outdoor activities, most of which will include water in some form or other. During the long winter months we had to console ourselves with playing in the tub, or in the jacuzzi or pool at the mountain house (our one week at our timeshare in the mountains). Wherever we are, water is a natural magnet, and you are well advised to just accept it and adapt. Try to figure ways to make it work in your favor.
For the tub we have bubble bath, plastic Cool Whip containers (a big favorite for dumping water on your head for hair washing and for floating small toys and creatures), foam alphabet blocks which can spell words and stick to the side wall, and lots of action figures, mermaids, boats, etc. They also like bottle scrubbers and washcloths. A few of our favorite tub songs include the Beatles “Yellow Submarine”, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, and the very best, “Splish Splash I was Taking a Bath”. The words for all of these can be found online, and the children love to sing in the bubbling water. As you can see, Owen was ready, clothes and all!
For the Jacuzzi we haven’t needed toys because the foaming bubbles keep them entertained. Most of the time they like to wear their suits just because they can. Every now and then they decide to do a nakie dip, but I do not want to get shut down for r-rated content, so I won’t include those pictures here.
For the yard we bought a very inexpensive Winnie-the-Pooh sprinkler which attaches to the hose. Not only do the kids love playing “chicken” with it, but it also gets our lawn watered at the same time. And after they’re done, they love to play games with the towels draped over their heads. This is also a great way to rinse off upon returning full of sand from the beach.
Children can begin to enjoy the various pools and beach at a very young age. Our daughters have small wading pools for the infants and toddlers; Owen is very young here in his green frog outfit lounging in his tube in the wading pool. One of our daughters has a large above ground pool, and we tend to gravitate there in the summer. We all try to pitch in and bring food and accessories so they are not always supplying everything, and everyone also watches all the children. Usually an intrepid adult (not I!) will hop in the larger pool with them and play games and keep them reasonably happily occupied.
Because we live near the ocean, the beach is a major source of entertainment for us, and I plan to do an entire blog on it as the season approaches.
It is helpful to bring juice boxes, fruit or other healthy snacks, wipes and towels wherever you are going. Always use sun block liberally, and be sure it is waterproof. Water is your ally and can occupy the children for hours if you have them safely lathered and are prepared to water and feed them periodically. We have not bought a lot of fancy toys as they only lose them or fight over them. What they truly like the most is having their cousins with them to share whatever water adventure we are doing.
Tip #17: Water is one of your best sources of entertainment for your grandchildren. Use it well and liberally. Keep wipes, sun block, snacks and towels in your car at all times……and don’t forget your camera! Find a milk crate or old laundry basket and throw in things like plastic containers and shovels which can remain there for the whole summer. Sit back, relax, and let their energy and creativity do the rest….but never, ever, take your eyes off them! Oh, and let them splash through those puddles in your driveway, on your street and in your garage. Who cares?
2 comments:
Another helpful little hint when the water is at the beach, throw a small container of baby powder in the beach bag. Upon leaving the sand and arriving at the sidewalk sprinkle the powder liberally over feet and ankles. Sand magically wipes off!!! No fighting about uncomfortable shoes or toes. And lets face it how many things of baby powder are just hanging out at your house since the baby shower anyway???
Make sure the rules regarding water are shared with the grandparents before you leave. Most will be adept with the skills of the children but for those who haven't seen the new skills in a while covering the bases can avoid near misses or tantrums when new skills aren't recognized!
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