Get Them Writing

Many Benefits, for Them and for You

Looking for a way to give your grandkids a step up academically and boost their self-esteem? Get them writing. Many educators and parents fear that writing well is becoming a lost art. According to the federal government's latest National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as "the nation's report card," only 33 percent of the country's eighth-graders are proficient in writing. Inspiring your grandchildren to put words to paper — starting when they are young — will help them get ahead and give you some priceless keepsakes. Here are five ways to get started:

1. Sending Letters

Kids love getting mail, and sending letters to your grandchildren (when they are away) is a great way to prompt them to write. You can encourage them to write back to you by including a self-addressed stamped envelope or postcard with your note. Fun stationery can also motivate them.

2. Let Them Set the Agenda

Invite your grandchildren to run some errands with you. (You can assure them that there will be treats involved.) Before going out, have the kids help you come up a list of tasks for the day, but make them responsible for writing everything down. As you finish each task, give the children the satisfaction of crossing it off of the list.

3. Make Them Your Travel Diarists

When the family goes on vacation, encourage the children to keep travel journals they can share when they return.  Give your grandchildren writing prompts before they leave, like "Did you see anything historical?" or "What was the best thing you ate?" The website Lucy Travels offers tons of writing prompts that are sure to get a child's creative juices flowing. Younger kids who aren't ready to maintain a journal may be able to write captions for photos from their trip.

4. Help Them Become Family Historians

Ask your grandchildren to work on a family history with you by interviewing other relatives about their memories. You can ask older children to think of questions before each visit, then record their subjects' answers and work with you to type up the responses. They can also transcribe your own memories of late relatives. "The older they are, the more you can lean on them to produce a fair amount of it," says Celia Webb of children's book publisher Pilinut Press. "If you are working with a teenager they can do all the writing."

5. Teach Them to Say Thanks in Writing

Encourage grandchildren to send thank-you notes whenever they receive birthday or holiday gifts. Urge kids to come up with a special, personal message for each card, including the name of the gift they received, and what they liked most about it. If the present was monetary, or a gift card, ask them to mention how they plan to spend it.

 

Source: Grandparents.com, 5 Ways to Get Grandchildren Writing by Jessica Jones

What Will Your Grandchildren Learn This School Year?

Source: Grandparents.com

The Grandparents Guide to Education

Curriculum experts tell what grandchildren should learn in school, from grades K through 8

So, what are you doing in school this year?
It's the opening line in many conversations between grandparents and grandchildren. Unfortunately, as many grandparents learn, children are not always so forthcoming with the details of what they're doing in, say, third-grade math or sixth-grade science. Now Grandparents.com has asked some experts to help fill you in — a team of teachers and writers who produce textbooks, magazines, and other products for the nation's classrooms. They helped us compile a clear and concise guide to what your grandchildren should be learning, from kindergarten through grade 8, in the subject areas of English, math, science, and social studies.
Each article summarizes what grandchildren will learn during the school year; introduces controversial issues that students and teachers may face as they study together; recommends books and websites that will expand your grandchildren's knowledge; and suggests activities you and your grandchildren can do together to reinforce and extend their classroom lessons. Now you'll be prepared not only to talk with the kids about what they're learning in the classroom, but to help them excel there as well.

Click on this link for the guide K-8:

 http://www.grandparents.com/grandkids/education-and-school/grandparents-guide-to-education

Going to Court: Some considerations

Burden of Proof
Grandparents seeking visitation or custody must prove that the parents are unfit or that the grandparents' custody serves the best interest of the child. Often, proof refers to physical or sexual abuse allegations, which are difficult to confirm. Courts tend to favor parents' rights to custody and care of their children.
Hearing a Case
Custody cases may be heard in the grandparent's home state if it is the home state of the grandchild, OR if the grandchild has resided in the grandparent's home state within the last six months prior to the beginning of the custody petition.
Custody cases may also be heard in the grandparent's home state if (a) one of the parents lives in that state or (b) if the grandchild is physically present in the state and has been abandoned or is in danger of abuse.
Adoption
Adoption is permanent and results in the loss of legal ties to biological parents and relatives (i.e., grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles). (Virginia § 63.2-1230) The biological parents or legal guardian may choose the adoptive parents as stated by the juvenile and domestic relations district court. The home state of the birth parent or guardian has court authority for custody matters. (Virginia § 20-146.11)
Custody
Custody is not permanent. It continues the legal ties of biological parents and relatives, although the person with custody holds parental rights.
Financial Strain/Court Costs
Caregiving includes emotional and monetary responsibilities. Grandparents also must consider the emotional and financial costs of pursuing a case. The financial strain may be greater for grandparents with fixed incomes or at risk of poverty. Court costs and lawyers' fees will vary with the complexity of the case.

Source: Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren Rights and Responsibilities, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Tammy L. Henderson, Ph.D., Assistant professor and Michelle L. Stevenson, Ph.D., Assistant professor and Extension gerontology specialist, Department of Human Development; Virginia Tech. Based on a previous publication by Pamela B. Teaster, Ph.D., and Tammy L. Henderson, Ph.D.

Need to Smile?

Look at this facebook page; it will inform you and make you smile.  Check it out and share your experiences with Grandparents and Grandkids.

https://www.facebook.com/GrandparentsandGrandkids

Eat Your Veggies

It's hardly ever easy to get our kids or grandkids to eat their veggies.  But try this:
 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5-10 minutes
Ingredients

• 1 large zucchini, shredded (about 1 cup)
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and shredded (about 1 cup)
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. Mix zucchini, sweet potato, eggs, salt, pepper, and flour. Mix until well combined.
2. Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
3. Using a soup ladle, drop about ¼ cup of mixture into skillet and cook each cake about until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve as is or with applesauce.

Servings: 6 to 8 people
Suggestion: Use shredded carrot instead of shredded sweet potato.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

Don't Be Proud

Parenting a second time can puncture a retiree's finances, Karen Best Wright of grandparents.com said.
Grandparents should accept assistance if it's available, Wright said. Contacting your church or community organizations can be a good source for food, clothing, utilities, or Christmas and birthday gifts. Tax breaks, food stamps and grants can be available, depending upon the custody arrangements, income and state you live in. "Don't be proud," Wright said.
If the grandchildren are under 5, WIC (The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) may be available through the Health Department. It pays for healthy foods for children, Wright said. She also suggests looking into what the state offers as part of the TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) grant at the Administration for Children & Families. Wright also found her local social services "most helpful." They guided her through the child-only TANF grant process, Medicaid and available child care.

Source: "Bringing Them Up As Their Own," Deseret News

Organizaing a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group

Source: Pennsylvania Grandparents Raising GrandChildren, Pennsylvania Dept. of Aging

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=616615&mode=2

Support groups are beneficial to families, because:

• They can help reduce caregiver stress, improving overall health and resulting in greater physical and emotional stability for caregivers and those in their care. 
• No matter the situation, just knowing there are others experiencing the same thing is very helpful.

Organizing a Support Group

Here are some helpful pointers on how to start your own kinship care support group if none exist in your area:

• Gather information about other kinds of support groups; if possible, call and ask permission to attend a meeting to watch, ask questions and borrow ideas.
• Assess the need in your community. Talk with the decision makers at your local schools, preschools and daycares and get them to agree to distribute a short survey that gathers information about kinship care families in your area. (See sample survey at the bottom of this page) 
• Develop ground rules by which you will run your meeting so that everyone will know what to expect without apprehension. Confidentiality of discussions is an example.
• Decide if you want an open meeting or an educational meeting with speakers who can educate about caregiver needs. Often it is a good idea to have an open coffee and/or pizza meeting and let the group participate in developing the organization. Be flexible.
• Find a convenient and safe meeting place for a one to two hour meeting, such as a library, community center, church or synagogue, hospital, social service agency, YMCA/YWCA, bank, or fraternal organization.
• Contact human service professionals that work with older adults, families or children as well as school officials and make them aware of your support group. Ask them to refer families to your organization.
• Publicize meetings through posters, flyers, announcements or letters-to-the-editor in newspapers. Place them where you go and you are likely to find other caregivers in the same position as you