Small Memories

Parents & Grandparents Plan Your Summer Strategy NOW!

Summer is almost here. Schools will soon let the kids out for the Summer vacation. There will be kids bouncing around celebrating. Will you be celebrating with them? Many of you are already happy on the outside but cringing on the inside. Don’t worry just yet. You still have a little while before you hear the daily whines of, “Isn’t it time for them to go back to school yet?”

Now’s the time to get your Summer plan of action ready! Start with a Summer reading program. Don’t know if your library has a program? You can find out by clicking here. Look in the states section at the top of the page. Choose your state and then select your town to find your local library system’s website.

In most cases, your local library won’t have their own website but you can see what is available through the regional system. You can also find the address and phone number for your local library so you can call and ask what they have to offer. Don’t forget to ask about programs for people who can’t get to the library for story time. For instance, the Middle Georgia Regional Library System offers a Summer program as well as a story line.

While you’re at the library website, look to see if they have a yearly book sale. Many are called “Friends of the Library” book sale. These book sales generally take donated books (from you) as well as older books from the library to raise money for different projects. If you find a library sale, be sure to make a note of it so you can pick up a few books without spending a lot of money! Until you can make it to that sale, you can pick up a few children’s books at our Family Favorites Shop.

Memories In A Box

This activity is related to the information found in the article, “When You Were Little.” If you haven’t read it yet, go check it out so you’ll better understand the references. Spring means getting out and visiting more often so there are bound to be more kids around who are looking for something to do. This is one of many activities that will help you fill that bill.

Your children, grandchildren, and even the neighborhood kids love spending time with you and talking about “the good old days.” To make this natural curiosity more fun, write a note or draw a picture of something you’d like to share with the youngsters. It could be something about your grandparents, something you found tucked away in a box, or anything that brought back a fond memory for you. Put the bit of paper in a box like the one below.

Make a special time to share these things with the children. Allow them the honor of pulling out the piece of paper that holds an untold remembrance from your past. The more pomp and circumstance that surrounds this activity, the more fun it will be for the kids. It will also teach them to value the past. Enjoy!

More Memory Resources:

Memory Lane Tile Box