I have three grandchildren, and they are all a blessing. My youngest granddaughter and I share a very special bond. We see each other almost every day, since she lives only a few blocks from me. It started with baby activities and toddler games. And while we usually pass the time routinely, once in awhile we search for more meaningful family home activities.
Recently we spent a Saturday morning making some really special memories. We decided to bake cookies. What’s so special about baking cookies? As it turned out, aside from snacking on delicious home-baked cookies made from a very old family recipe, we also had a hearty helping of math, when we doubled the recipe, and science, while we watched the cookies rise. The geography, social studies and history lessons came while we were looking at a world map and talking about our Italian heritage and waiting for the cookies to cool off. Despite the flour all over and the eggshells we fished out of the dough, we managed to have a really fun day. Talk about some kitchen learning -- it's one of the best family ideas.
Later that morning while cleaning up and talking about her great-great grandmother’s cookies, our conversation turned to making good grades in school, getting along with friends and the rules parents impose.
Learning from Family Fun Activities
I got to thinking about my grandchildren and how they learn. I know from my own experience that life has many teachers, and not all of them are in a classroom. As a grandparent, aside from loving them, I owe it to them to be their mentor and teacher. I always try to keep in mind that I am not the parent and I don’t have a teaching degree, but that makes me no less a teacher. The experience and wisdom of grandparents and other older adults can act as a buffer against the stress that school can bring and jump-start learning for the child.
My granddaughter told me I was the best and there was not another person in the world as good as her grandma. While that made my day, I pointed out that there are grandmothers and grandfathers all over the world just like me. I felt the same way about my grandmothers.
She wanted to know why parents were not like grandmas, and sometimes seemed to make life more difficult. I explained that everyone has a job to do, including parents. They have to make sure she grows up to be the best person she can be. On the other hand, my job is a lot more fun. Although I always try to reinforce what her parents are teaching, my biggest job is to love her, and if learning is a benefit of that love, all the better. If by loving her we travel down the path toward knowledge, that’s the bonus that comes with grandparenting.
I’m just happy to be a part of her circle of learning.
Diane Bonofiglio is a grandmother and freelance writer in Grand Ledge, Michigan.