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Springtime Fun with GRAND Love

© Deborah A Licht

Springtime is the growing season, so why not grow some new experiences and hobbies with your grandchildren. It's a great time to introduce your grandchildren to gardening, bird watching, spectator sports, dog walking, or anything outdoors you can enjoy together. Here are some activities I thoroughly enjoy with my grandchild. BIRDWATCHING is a wonderful hobby, put up a feeder and a bird bath or other shallow water container and watch your feathered friends frolick. Start finding out the names of the birds that visit your area, research the foods they like, and offer those foods or seeds for the birds you want to attract. You can start a bird journal, dating the spring arrival and other important facts about the birds visiting you. You can add photos, or descriptions of your new friends along with the entries. We have pet names for the cardinals - Big Mac and Ruby, and the noisy blue jay is named Bully because he chases all the birds away from the feeders.

BUTTERFLY catching is a wonderful way to past the time, first you need to find a flower garden or wildflower area, second you need to be patient and hunt - looking for the fluttering wings, third net the butterfly or just take a picture. Take along a butterfly handbook and note the kinds you have found. KITES - Does watching the birds and butterflies make you feel like flying? How about a kite, even if you can't run, you can help your grandkids make kites. Then go to a park or an area safe and unobstructed for the kids to run and get their kites flying high. SCAVENGER HUNT OR COLLECTING - While you are at the park or just taking a walk, take the time to look for birds, nests, flowers, bugs, rocks or anything else you or your grandchild find interesting. You can make a long list and set out on a scavenger hunt. You can start a nature collection with your grandchild, whatever seems to interest them, everything in nature is a treasure. SPRING PICNIC - Take along a blanket and a basket of fresh fruit for an early outdoor picnic. The blanket can be home base for rest and converstion. The empty basket a place for all the scavenger hunt items or treasured finds of the day. BUBBLES are inexpensive and a great way to have hours of fun. Grandpa will even join in, kids love to blow, catch, chase, and pop bubbles. You can purchase bottles of bubbles with the bubble wands. When empty, refill the bottles with 1 part dish soap 1 part water.