Grandpa Ron calls it a grandparent’s book. I call it a children’s book. Read it and decide for yourself! The kids enjoy talking about the activities and details in the pictures. The adults remember their own special moments – either as kids with their grandparents or as grandparents with their grandkids. Dads and moms get their own flashbacks, too!
Inspired by my friend Rob’s Facebook status today about Special Education Week, I decided today had to be the day I shared an old article I ran across the other day. I had saved it because I wanted to share it with friends whose new baby has spina bifida. It is Ticket to Ride in the October 4th People Magazine.
Because I know several families with special needs kids, the article struck me as very special. Here was a dad who could do something – and DID it – to make the world a better place for not only his own special needs daughter Morgan, but for others as well.
Gordon and Maggie Hartman created Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas. It is a place where kids can ride a train, a carousel, a swing or they can experience sensory activities such as the interactive music garden – all independent of their physical or mental abilities. Actually it is even better than that because special needs adults can also have these great experiences – maybe even for the first time in their lives.
If you happen to be looking for some fun activities for your kids or grandkids to do this weekend with a theme of Fourth of July or Independence Day, check out the grandparents.com website – Here are some pages for coloring. While there I laughed while watching a video of kids telling jokes interspersed with laughing babies. You may have seen this already, but it is still funny.
I was “googling around” for toddler activities the other day when I came across Jean Warren and her fabulous preschoolexpress.com with wonderful ideas and activities for parents and teachers to do with toddlers and preschoolers. Do check it out – over and over again! Of course I loved the train theme (so does Grandpa Ron!) but all the ideas for learning, skill building, reading, singing, games, activities, parties, food and cooking with kids, etc., etc., etc., just go on and on! You’ll surely find some stations that will keep your toddler engaged and eager for more! Do check it out!
Austin will be 4 next week! Wow! I still can remember holding him when he was one day old! Mommy is working on party possibilities. It can be daunting but I found a few interesting sites with ideas:
This last weekend I entered Grandpa, Do It! I Do It, Too! into 2 more contests. That makes it 4 different ones. Now we’ll see if we get lucky and maybe win some awards! That would be so nice!
After being a good boy in the car (Are we there yet?) for a full day’s ride from Medford, Oregon to Reno, NV, last December, Austin was rewarded with a morning of sledding! We all had great fun! He must have had 15 to 20 rides down the little incline of cleared landscape – as in – it had fewer rocks than the rest of the land! Lots of fun in the crispy, fresh air! I posted a few runs on youtube:
…and yet another run… I have lots of short clips but they all stop about half way down the hill because I stop the camera so I can catch him. This one runs a little further! Threeeeeee
…and then a closer look at the nearby rocky bits that we maneuvered around for a toboggan run!
Grandparents.com has a great list of “idea-sparkers” for you with the photo list of 9 Places For Hands-On Fun. They’re great ideas and each one has an opportunity to look for similar places near your home! Have Fun!!
Posted by mygrandmasue 
MyGrandmaSue 