(Yep... affiliate links are included which means, if you buy through me, I get some coffee money ... though not enough for the raisin toast as well. Full disclosure listed below.)

A guide to relaxation techniques for anxiety and stress in kids and teens.

​The doctor leaned back in this chair and watched us as we settled into the padded seats opposite him. I glanced quickly down at my son, smiled, and squeezed this arm. We'd run the gauntlet of doctors and tests with no definite answers.

"So..." I began, "Any idea what's causing his ongoing cramping pains and distressing nausea?" I wasn't hopeful.
"Yes. Your son suffers with abdominal migraine."
"Oh.." I felt a little stunned. "I've never heard of it."
"There are various triggers but it's often stress-related. We don't medicate. But regular exercise, maybe swimming, and diet can help. I'll give you a follow-up referral with a specialist who can discuss it with you and formulate a strategy plan."

I hadn't been aware that my son was even stressed. He was quiet but seemed to have no problems at school or with his friends. Mmm..... more talk-time with us and sharing his concerns were in order.

​Stress is a real and growing issue for both kids and teens.
After all, their lives are not exactly easy. They’re trying to get good grades, make friends, handle the ever-present social media in their lives and adapt to the changes that are part of growing up.

Most kids have experienced stress at some time, especially in relation to school and test anxiety. And, of course, some stress is a natural response to life changes or events. But stress that is too intense or too prolonged becomes a problem.
​

Not sure if your kids or teens are stressed or why? 

Signs of stress in kids and teens can usually be detected through changes in their behaviours, emotions and reactions. Unfortunately, families today seem to operate on routines and schedules that are full to overflowing with busyness. And that contributes to stress. Additional overstimulation through technology and social media can pile the stress on, too. 

How can I help my stressed child?
In general terms, there are simple practices that will help everyone, not just your kids, tweens or teens to handle the stresses of everyday life.

A big one is sleep. Ensuring your kids had sufficient sleep was easy when they were little. And their behaviour certainly let you know if they were over-tired. But this can be an issue for your older kids, too. Although they may want to stay up later and later, they still require a good night's sleep.

​Insufficient sleep for these tweens and teens can express itself in stress and anxiety. (Actually, it's not good for anyone.)

A healthy diet is another factor to consider. And this makes a big difference, too. But if your teens are out with friends, the tendency is to grab a fast-food option.. not good for their health or dealing with stress. 

Stay connected with your kids. Use meal times to talk about their day and discuss situations that may have been stressful. Maintaining positive relationships with your kids, even if they roll their eyes, helps them deal with stress.

Many people are delighted with the results obtained with relaxing essential oils. Twig+Petal produce a relaxation kit.. (Relaxation Multi-Purpose Oil +Deep Relaxation Bath Salts +Relaxation Room Spray + De-Stress Blend) ...haven't tried it yet, but I do love their Allergy roller. It's so easy to use. (I also like Twig+Petal's focus on producing quality products in small batches with ongoing testing.)

So, essential oils might be worth considering. 

But... there are other helpful, specific, age-appropriate activities suitable for any stage of development, from preschoolers to teens... ideas you can use to help kids and teens deal with stress.
​
Check out the following ideas to help your children develop relaxation techniques to relieve anxiety and stress.

​
​Sharing Relaxation Practices with Younger Children

Sure, it would be tough (almost impossible)  to train a toddler to relax for a half hour when they can barely sit still long enough to eat. But even small children can relax and focus if you use movement and sound to make it interesting. It also helps if you provide an inspiring role model by managing stress constructively yourself.

Try these techniques:

1. Make it fun.
Be sure to present relaxation practices as a helpful tool rather than punishment. There is no point in telling our kids to just go to their rooms and rest. Instead, we can encourage them to read or maybe read to them (even better). Books like Flurry of Worry for your young ones are fun to read and help them handle stress and worry. Play some quiet games together. Work on a zigsaw puzzle together or a board game. Don't expect them to spend hours on these more restful activities. Pay attention to your child’s limits so they’ll stay engaged.

2. Keep it brief.
As little as one minute of seated quiet activity can be an achievement for a preschooler. Plan multiple activities so you can switch things around if your child seems to be losing interest: playdough, sticker fun, colouring in, puzzles, lego. Try to plan some restful, quiet family time throughout the week to enable everyone time to relax and reconnect with each other.

3. Deep breathing.
Focusing on their breathing is an excellent starting point at any age. 
Ask your child to imagine filling their stomach and chest with air and then releasing it like a balloon.​ There's also an app to help kids relax and breath deeply- Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame. Calm for kids is another app that focuses on helping kids relax, unwind and fall asleep.

4. Play music.
Does your child have some favourite songs? Take turns singing different parts or ask them to listen for certain notes. There has been plenty of research done and reducing stress is just one of the benefits of listening to music or singing. (Birde media player, designed especially for kids, produce a guided relaxation pack.)

5. Share some physical activity
Exercise helps to burn off the stress hormone 'cortison'. So..take a walk. It's a wonderful opportunity to appreciate your surroundings while you’re moving around. Go to the park and identify as many different kinds of flowers, trees or birds as you can. Take a frisbee with you. A large skipping rope is another simple but fun physical activity.  Just a simple walk along the beach works wonders. Doing simple exercises together can be fun as well as helpful for reducing stress.

If you’re still looking for something more, see what’s available in your neighbourhood. Check event listings at your local library and other resources to find courses; maybe less physical but equally fun,  like photography or gardening classes.  

6. Time to journal or colour
Colouring is a rhythmic activity that, regardless of the age or abilities of those involved, will calm the brain and provide relaxing fun. Printable pages or books are available or store-bought options can be easily found.

​Sharing Relaxation Practices with Teens

With teens, you can build on the techniques designed for younger children and introduce some new lessons. But the causes of stress can be very different for teens. You will be well aware of the growing stress that teens today experience. Changing relationships with friends can fuel stress. There may be a growing pressure to experiment with drugs or alcohol. They may even be bullied at school and online. They may feel the pressure to achieve high scholastic results especially if they look toward university requirements. They may feel expected to make far-reaching decisions, such as career choices, even though they don't have the life experience to do so.


There are still things you can do and strategies to implement that will help.

​7. Set a limit on your teen's activities.
Sure.. it's great if they have skills and interests that they enjoy and may wish to develop. The activities may be wonderful opportunities. But too many activities that take up too much of a teen's time and will result in stress.

Sit down together and list those activities and the time per week/day each activity requires. Determine how much time for rest is needed. Work out a reasonable daily schedule. It may mean that some changes will need to be made. Maybe some activities can be discontinued for a time. But setting time aside for fun and relaxation is crucial.

8. Model Philippians 4:6-7

Talk with your teen/s and encourage them to ask for God's will and direction for their lives and the individual challenges they are facing that lead to stress. Pray with them. Talk about times when you have struggled yourself with stress in your life and how God has helped and enabled you to handle it. If your teen can see how you cope with stresses, they will be encouraged in their own lives. Remind your teen that God has promised us peace that seems beyond our understanding. A copy of Reflecting on the Names of Jesus: Jesus-centred colouring book and devotion might be something that might benefit your teen, too.

​9. Work on basic problem solving skills.
Stress often results when lots of small problems are unresolved. These, then, can cause mounting stress. Help your teen take a serious look at the problems and identify the underlying issue- why does your teen have difficulty confronting and handling the problem? Then work on the steps needed to resolve each problem. Your teen will develop strong problem solving skills to handle future issues by working through these current problems in a logical and thoughtful manner.

10. Take time to journal 
Numerous studies have shown that 15-20 minutes of writing, done daily or a few times each week, reduces stress. Encourage your teen to write about their thoughts and concerns. Take time to reflect on those things that have brightened their day, the unexpected highlights and blessings, and the small but important 'moments that matter'.

A journal is also the perfect place to record and track goals. This can boost your teen's sense of achievement and lessen the stress.
​
11. Give thanks
 It sounds easy. But it's something that needs practice, for all of us. Giving thanks, taking note of the big and small things that have brightened your day or lightened your load is something that we all need to remember. And your teen is no exception.

But it's an activity that really does reduce stress and add joy to your life. It's so easy for us all to focus on problems ahead and stress. We need a regular reminder to stop, discover the gift of the present, thank God... and trust Him for the future.

Nothing seems to help?
Now, you may find that, no matter what you do and how you try to help your teen to instil helpful strategies for handling stress, nothing improves. When that happens, you may need to seek professional counselling services for your teen. 

Kids, tweens and teens can benefit from relaxation practices whether you use a modern app or an old-fashioned teddy or cushion to cuddle. Introduce your sons and daughters to positive habits that can help them grow up to be happy and peaceful. Help them see that everyone struggles with stress at certain times in their lives.

​But there are many strategies that can help them deal with stress. 
​What relaxation techniques work for you? ​

​Disclosure: At Grandma's Place is committed to high standards of integrity and quality. I do not promote any brand I do not believe meets these standards, and I only promote brands I would purchase myself. If I don't love it, and don't think you'll love it, it won't appear on my blog.

Amazing ways you can still connect, share and build memories with your grandkids despite the problem of long distance

(Yep... affiliate links are included which means, if you buy through me, I get some coffee money ... though not enough for the raisin toast as well. Full disclosure listed below.)

"Don't go, Nannie! Stay wif us!"  'Please!"

Yes, it's wonderful visiting with grandkids especially when they live miles away and the visits can't be frequent. But leaving to return home does break your heart.. sigh......  But there are amazing ways that you can continue to connect with your grandkids even across the distance that separates you.

Today with all the wonderful technology that exists, there is no reason why long-distance grandparents need to be out of the loop. Children can still bond with grandparents long-distance if you make them part of your daily life using the technology available.

Don't think that you can't learn new technology. Hey, you learnt how to use a slide projector, didn't you? You can use a referdex to navigate across town. You can total eight 3-digit numbers with just a slip of paper and a pencil. Come on..it's not that difficult and the reward for learning is more time with your grandkids. Let's face it, most grandparents today are actually pretty tech savvy. After all, the internet has now been here as we know it for more than 20 years. 

So here are some great bonding tips for keeping the relationship close in spite of the distance.
 
1. Read Stories 

​Send your kids an iPad, then use the technology such as Facetime, Skype, Facebook or Zoom.us to connect with sound and picture to your grandchild live at story time. Try to do it at least weekly.

They can watch you read to them and talk to you and ask questions, almost as if you're there. As they get older, they won't even need their parents' help.

Not sure how to set up Facetime to use with your grandkids? Check out the simple instructions in the video below. 

BONUS OPTION: 
​
​I've also taken out a subscription to Epic, the leading digital reading library for children 12years and under and... they can access the 35,00+ books on any device at any time. It's very affordable and, since you will receive updates on the books they read, you can talk about the books and discuss them on Facetime together. Check it out... 

2. Do a Project Together 

​Using the same technology or even email or a special private Facebook group, work on projects together. You can teach your grandchild all sorts of things using this technology, from sewing to cooking. With a little help from mom and dad when they're little, and then on their own as they get older, it's a great way to stay connected and build that bond.

BONUS OPTION:

​A subscription toKiwiCo delivers amazing age-appropriate kids' projects each month.  Science- Technology- Engineering- Art- Maths.... KiwiCo makes STEAM accessible, engaging, and fun. Their goal is to inspire kids to see themselves as scientists, artists, and makers.
​
​As grandparents, you can be a part of that, while building amazing memories for your grandkids.

​3. Help with Homework 

​Are you good at a subject that you can tutor your grandchild with, such as math or science? Using technology such as private Facebook groups, Zoom.us conference technology and more, will enable you to work alongside your grandchild on almost any type of school work. ​

And, of course, you can sign them up for fun learning sites like Reading Eggs, Maths Seeds and Literacy Planet. They're not that expensive but check with parents first so that you don't step on toes. But usually everyone is happy to use programs that are fun and help with learning, too. And if you can afford it for your grandkids, it's something that doesn't have to come out of their family budget.

​If you can't manage the expense, send through interesting clips from sites like ABC Education. They have a heap of clips and games that are great for kids of all ages.

​4. Play Video Games 

Today, many types of video games are interactive. This means you can play games alongside your grandchildren that you never thought possible. You can talk to each other and see each other during the games, making them even more fun and exciting to both of you.

Here are some apps to try:
* Words with Friends .   Free word  game that will test your vocabulary, spelling and brain power. :)
* Tic Tac Toe .                  Yes, it's that classic game and now you can play it on your iPhone/iPad
* Draw Something Classic .   The idea is simple- draw something and the other person guesses it. 
* Super Stickman Golf 3  Play golf with your grandkids-- have fun!

5. Share Recipes 

Are you a good cook and the keeper of the family recipes? If so, the internet is a wonderful way to share these with your grandchild. You can set up a YouTube Live or even simply record yourself cooking a recipe and share it with your grandchild via email or your private Facebook group. It doesn't even have to be live; it can also be asynchronous, allowing your grandchild to learn from you when they have free time.

Check out these 12 recipes that kids can make.  You'll find Sherbet recipe, 90-second oozy Nutella mug cake, easy apple roses and many more. And.. there are plenty of other sites with great ideas for kids and cooking.
Just send the link through to your grandkid and create it together with Facetime.

6. Write Letters 

Don't forget the good old-fashioned letter sent via email or snail mail. Both are much appreciated and great ways to stay in communication with your grandchildren as they age. Check out the other fun ways you can create snail mail mania fun with your grandkids.

Another thing to consider is texting technology. Currently, younger people prefer texting over other types of communication. If you want to really know what's going on, you need to enter this arena.

Remember, these are just new tools for communication; they're not better or worse than what was before.

7. Create a Family Photo Album 

Today with technology, everyone takes a lot of pictures, but often they get lost. Create a family photo album using software like Dropbox.com. With Dropbox, you can pay a small monthly fee to get more storage and create one account for everyone to upload their images to, so that you can organise them. Or. create a beautiful photo book including artistic touches and features from Mixbook. Use the same sign-in details to add photos, captions and work on the layouts together. When everyone is happy with they way it looks, you're ready to finish and have it posted to you.

8. Schedule Get-Togethers 

Even with technology it's important to find a way to spend time together in person. Consider hosting or scheduling a trip to visit the kids. If you go visit them, consider staying in a hotel to make it less work for your kids. Several shorter visits throughout the year can make up for a lot of time.

Staying close when far apart is easier than ever before in history. If you need to get more confident with technology, check your local Apple store for classes on using the great technology available. Tell them that you want to learn how to use technology to communicate with your long-distance family. They'll be happy to show you what you can do. 

Are you a long-distance grandparent? How do you ensure your connection to your grandkids, long distance? Share by commenting below. 

Disclosure: At Grandma's Place is committed to high standards of integrity and quality. I do not promote any brand I do not believe meets these standards, and I only promote brands I would purchase myself.
​If I don't love it, and don't think you'll love it, it won't appear on my blog.

(Yep... affiliate links are included which means, if you buy through me, I get some coffee money ... though not enough for the raisin toast as well. Full disclosure listed below.)

"What? I didn't know that? When did we do that?" My youngest daughter was totally mystified. We'd just enjoyed an extended family dinner and my kids had started talking about some of the activities and fun that we had enjoyed as a family when they were young. We laughed a little since we'd had this discussion on previous occasions. As the youngest, there were often things that she had forgotten, memories that she had been too young to take in and remember. 

Family memories are important. There are so many lessons and truths that are a part of learning and growing together. But memories are fickle. While some loom large and bright there are others that remain tucked into little recesses of our mind, lost and forgotten. Every so often, a comment or a photo or even a smell will pry those forgotten recollections out into the light. While it's great to remember those fun family activities, those special moments that matter, it's also great to share them with your kids and your grandkids. 

Why start a journal?

As you probably know, journaling is the practice of writing down your thoughts and feelings in a book, similar to a diary. As a grandma, a journal serves a special purpose. It provides the opportunity to journal about your life, your grandchildren, the quality time you spend with them and your family, faith and life lessons you've learned, and the ways you seek to build a legacy of faith for your kids.

There are many ways to journal and many different types of journals, from keeping  a gratitude journal you write in just 5 minutes a day, to choosing something more complex like a bullet journal.

Why start now?

While it is great to use a journal during any time of the year, there are some unique benefits to starting one in the new year. A new year feels like a new start, where you feel like you can start over, be better, and do better. This is why many New Year's resolutions are about getting healthier, being more organised, or trying to keep up with your personal and professional obligations.

But what better time to begin a Grandma's Legacy Journal! You might want to focus on those great times you spend with your grandkids and family building connection and creating memories. You might like to create your journal as a gratitude journal of those daily moments that matter for you and your grandkids. You could also create your journal as a comparison of your childhood memories and present day family life.

​What do you include? 
​
Many important events, both good and bad, happen in our lives, but unfortunately our minds can't capture every single one of those experiences. As a grandma, journaling is a great way to record your own significant memories, including life milestones such as a graduation, births of your children,  buying a first home, reaching a certain age, or becoming a grandma. Journal about the fun times with your grandkids, the funny things they do, the food they love (and hate), the book they want you to read to them over and over again.

What does creating a journal achieve?

A journal provides the opportunity to record your life and tell your life-story to your family. While it's important for you, it's equally important for your kids, keeping track of those important family memories- those moments that matter. Keeping a journal has also been found to increase your creativity.

 If you’ve never considered keeping a journal, reconsider today.
​

Getting Perspective

It's a sad fact that we don't remember all events equally. We tend to remember bad things more clearly than good things, and our emotional responses to events can change the way that we remember them over time. You can avoid that problem by writing things down in your journal and looking through them later. 

It will help you paint a picture of events as they really happened, which can give you valuable perspective on the balance of good and bad things in your life. It's just like looking at history to get a better grasp on how well the world is doing at the moment, but at a personal level.

Tracking Success

Your journal can also help if you find yourself getting discouraged when you try new things. That often happens when people focus on their failures and ignore their successes. If you write down your victories as they happen, you will get a clear record of your success. Sometimes, growing old can be discouraging. A journal can help you track everything- experiences, lessons learned, failures and triumphs- and help you remember all those things you have achieved. That will act as proof that you can succeed at things, and looking at that proof will be a powerful motivator when you feel discouraged in life.

It is a really amazing way to keep track of your New Year's resolutions or new habits that you may aim to develop, too, no matter what they are, so that alone is a good reason to start your journal now.

​Still with me? Convinced? Well.. you may be wondering just how to start.

​

Here are a few great suggestions for your new journal: 

Check out the following ideas but don't just stick with these. There are other options and ideas that may suit you. Just decide your needs, and what is the most comfortable and convenient format for your needs.

1. Grandma's Memory Journal

Most people forget things far more often than they realise. Keeping a journal will give you an opportunity to take notes on your life while you still remember things clearly. You can check back and add more details later. At a practical level, this will make sure that you can remember any good ideas that you have for when you have time to pursue them. At an emotional level, it will keep a record of the good times in your life so that you can look back on them when things are a little bit harder. And it will be a practical way to share your memories, life lessons and moments that matter with your family.

Use your journal to boost your memory and create a journal that becomes a legacy to pass on to your children and grandkids. This is the traditional type of legacy journal- and it's a wonderful family legacy to hand down to your kids and grandkids. You can buy a simple notebook or one of the the beautiful writing journals available in newsagents or bookstores. You can also find journals that are specifically designed as legacy journals and often include questions or ideas to prompt your writing and help you include meaningful recollections and family content. (see samples below)

Get started now with a FREE journal.. Just click the image below to download your copy of this Grandma's Memory Journal from AtGrandmasPlace. You'll find 30+ lined pages. Print and slip into a folder, ring binder or take to the printers for spinal binding.
​

​2.  A Day with Grandma Legacy Journal

Want to lose a few kilos or start a new business? How about something simple like, cooking biscuits for your grandkids. Writing down personal goals, including step by step lists of how to reach those goals, combining a planner with a journal, is a great way to make use of a journal in the new year. ​Even favourite family recipes and when you prepare them is a great memory and a wonderful feature to include in your journal How about how you spend your day? What about recording your creative talent? Here's a journal that you can use that will do all that and more.
​

3. Grandma's Gratitude Journal

In the midst of life's challenges, maintaining a journal listing of all the things you have to be grateful for can be especially helpful. But hardship or trials aren't required to keep such a list; jotting down expressions of gratitude, no matter how small, on a daily or weekly basis can help keep life in perspective through good times as well as bad. 

​Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have amassed a body of research on the benefits of gratitude exercises. Being grateful can be an incredible way to cope with stress, making you more resilient to begin with when facing stressors.

There are simple strategies to nurture and increase feelings of gratitude in yourself, which can be easily be incorporated into your daily schedule by taking 5 minutes each day to document your progress in a gratitude journal. 

​And these journal entries are a wonderful part of your legacy to share with your family.

4. Grandma's Journal of Quotes

Kids say such funny things. They mix up words. They mispronounce words. They say things that are cute, endearing and sometimes, amazing. Although we often think that we will never forget a funny  or cute memory, sadly, we do- often. Get in the habit of writing them down in a journal so you can reflect on them whenever you need or want.

Don't just stick to kids' quotes. There are a wealth of memories built into simple yet meaningful, or humorous, comments made by family. Take time to record these in your Journal of Family Quotes.

5. Grandma's Bible Journal

A Bible journal is another option that you might like to consider. This style of legacy journal involves a journal Bible with areas for writing or art journaling to record, illustrate and share your inspiration, ideas and memories. It's a wonderful way to create a legacy, not just of memories and experiences, but also how verses and Bible passages became real in your life. While the life stories of Bible characters unfold, your own journal entries can show God's love, care and protection within your life and your family. This makes a legacy journal that has special meaning for you and your family. You can write your story within God's Bible story.

Check out theIncourage Devotion Bible. This journal Bible provides plenty of space for your journaling at the bottom of each page. There is also a Bible art journaling kit available to use with this devotion Bible if you want to illustrate and write your legacy. 

BONUS....
​
Oh.. and for something a little different, check out below for a sketching/journaling idea for those of you who are artistic and like to include a bit more of just who you are in your legacy journal-   Draw your Day and include journaling for an amazing creative legacy journal. See below/
​

​Disclosure: At Grandma's Place is committed to high standards of integrity and quality. I do not promote any brand I do not believe meets these standards, and I only promote brands I would purchase myself. If I don't love it, and don't think you'll love it, it won't appear on my blog.

​When my youngest daughter was about four, she would quietly watch and listen to her brother and sister reading books aloud. As soon as the book was finished, she would bounce up and down, calling "Again! Again.. read it again." She listened until they were tired of reading.

And then she would take the book over to me and, opening to the first page, she would begin 'reading' it to me. She 'read' it perfectly, hardly missing a word. But sometimes she would turn the page too soon for the words. 

​
​Learning to read can be a challenging adventure for some children. Everyone is excited, ready to encourage and help with those first steps into reading. Whether it's the teacher, mum, dad or, if you're like me, even the grandma- everyone is ready to jump in and help them progress and develop a life-long love of reading.

But sometimes, all the pressure and expectations from the adults can put a damper on the excitement of reading for your child. And, too, some kids expect to be able to read after just one day at school.

​I remember my son telling me, after his first day at school, that he didn't have to go back 'cause he'd done that;  he could read now. So I know how very disheartening it can be for children to discover that learning to read takes a lot of time. The subsequent discouragement and loss of excitement can lead to a child who loses the desire to read.

If we, as parents and grandparents, can find ways to make reading fun and enjoyable, our children will be more willing to sit down with us and read a book together. And... excitement is catching. If you're having fun reading with your child, they'll catch the excitement, too.

Here are a few ideas you might like to try make reading fun for your child.

​1. Popcorn Reading

This is a fun way for a child to be able to read the words he/she knows and pass on the words that are causing frustration. While reading a book together, each of you take a turn reading aloud. When the one who is reading says the word popcorn, it is the other persons turn to read. For even more fun, have a bowl of popcorn to enjoy together.
 
2. Reading Buddy

​Pair your reader up with an older reading buddy and have them read a book out loud together. We all have had times where an explanation of something made more sense coming from one of our peers or a sibling. This gives your child the opportunity to practice reading without an adult's watchful eye.   

​Another alternative, and one that is increasingly being used in schools, is to encourage your child to read the story to a friendly pet. You can be sure that your dog will watch and listen attentively throughout the book... and might even reward your child with an encouraging lick.

​3. Highlight Delight

Grab an older book and a highlighter and have your child highlight every word one the page that he/she can read. After all the words your child knows are highlighted on the page, take a moment and have your child look and see how many words he/she can actually read. This is quite a confidence booster. (Don't do this with school readers or library books that must be returned.)

4. Torchlight Reading

​Before your child is too tired at the end of the day, take some time and read in a dark room- maybe even on a blanket outdoors. Take a torch with you and read the book by the light of the torch. Little boys especially like this one.

​
​5. Secret Hideout

What child hasn't built a fort at one time or another? If you don't already have a fort in your house or outside in the yard, help your child create one. It can a blanket fort, a small tent, a plywood fort outside, a tree house, or even a simple under to bed fort. (Just make sure you both can fit...being able to get out once you're in is helpful too!) Bring your child's favourite reading book, get comfortable and read away. 

6. Reading Corner

​Make a reading corner somewhere in your home. Let your child be a part of decorating it and picking just the right spot to place it. Add some bean bags or pillows, maybe a favourite poster on the wall or even some family pictures.

​7. Picture Detective

Have your child flip through a book and look at all the pictures and tell you what he/she thinks is going to happen in the story. Read the story and see how close he/she was.

8. Pop-up word

Pick one word that your child particularly has a hard time with and every time your child reads that word, both of you stand up. This will help him/her remember the word because an action is associated with it. This works particularly well with kinesthetic learners. (A child who wants to move all the time and likes to touch and feel everything.)

9. Star of the Story

Have you ever seen a personalised story book where your child's name is printed in the story? This is a unique way to get your reluctant reader excited about a book. In these kinds of books, your child's name and the name of his/her friends are printed in the story-line, making your child the star of his/her very own book! How motivating is that? He/she will have to read the book to find out what kind of adventure he/she will be going on!

To learn more about personalised story books, click the link below.

(Yep... affiliate links are included which means, if you buy through me, I get some coffee money ... though not enough for the raisin toast as well. Full disclosure listed below.)

​I read that quote soon after becoming a grandma myself and, although it's funny, there is some truth in it. Being a grandma is a lot of fun. (Actually, though, I really enjoyed parenting my kids, too- hard work, and it had its moments, but lots of fun- great memories. )

But I love being a grandma. I remember when grandchild number three was small. He would march confidently out of the toddler room at church following the service. As soon as he caught sight of me, he would shout loudly, "Nannie! Nannie!" and race towards me, arms up, ready to be caught up and hugged.

Even though, like me, you love your new role as grandparent, studies show that being a grandparent is important, too. There are essential ingredients in the recipe of a grandparent that your grandkids, your family, needs. 

​Don't underestimate your value. Your grandkids need you, and not just because of the hugs and kisses. I think that, possibly without even stopping to think it through, families have always appreciated grandparents. Now.. because people are living longer, more people have grandparents, and studies are discovering all the benefits that involved, caring, open-minded grandparents offer their children and grandchildren.

Grandparents are good for grandkids if they understand their place and don't try to replace the parents or spoil the kids in the wrong way.

​I've highlighted five of these ways that kids need their grandparents below.

​Grandparents Have Influence

Most adult children who were lucky enough to have grandparents involved in their lives appreciate it, and are thankful they had that opportunity. They often quote the things their grandparents taught them and instilled in them. It's not unusual to hear adults say that their most admired person in their life has been a grandparent. 

The amazing thing is that, without being pushy, grandparents are very much responsible for instilling values into their grandkids. This is true even when parents do things a little differently. 

​Grandparents Reduce Parental Stress

Grandparents who work hard to allow their kids to be the type of parents they want to be, offering support only when needed and asked, tend to reduce parental stress a lot. Most parents get stressed, but if you have a parent you can go to when you need it, without judgment, it makes life a lot easier.

I know it's not easy to sit back and watch your kids struggle in areas where you'd like to step in and help. Sure, you've been there, done that, experienced it all yourself. But, unless you're asked directly to be involved, you have to let your kids work it out themselves. After all, we've been doing that since they first learnt to ride their own bike, haven't we?

And if we don't jump down their necks telling them how they should be doing it, they're more likely to come and ask for advice or assistance. 

​Even if a grandparent can only offer a listening ear instead of money, that's enough to reduce stress. 

​Grandparents Are Great Teachers

​Due to the long life full of experiences a grandparent has lived, they make great teachers. As people age, they tend to get more patient with kids than they were when they were young, and can explain concepts better because of it.

(If you're lucky enough to have a parent in your life who understands new math, you've got it made.)

But for some reason, kids will listen and accept the sage advice or teaching from a grandparent when they'd probably get annoyed with their own parents.

Grandparents Make Kids Feel Secure

Children often worry about losing their own parents but since they know the grandparents were their parent's parents, they feel safer just knowing they are there. Grandparents act as a safe backup if something goes wrong.

​And often kids think their parents know everything (depending upon the age), so obviously the grandparents know even more. This helps children feel secure. 

​Grandparents Offer Affordable Childcare Options

In some cases, a grandparent is a wonderfully affordable childcare option. Childcare is so expensive. Many times parents feel almost as though they are working merely to cover the fees for the childcare centre. Many grandparents are helping out in this way, even if it's just one or two days per week.

This is something that must be considered on a case-by-case basis, though. Even if grandma or grandpa doesn't want to be a babysitter, they can offer help financially so that their child can do more with the limited time they have. Many grandparents help with schooling costs by buying uniforms or books.

​If you're a grandparent who lives close and wants to be more involved, let your child know because often they won't ask. 

​Children need grandparents very much. If you're a grandparent, understand that your role may be very different to what you thought it would be, but if you keep an open mind and open heart it will be amazing and wonderful.

​Disclosure: At Grandma's Place is committed to high standards of integrity and quality. I do not promote any brand I do not believe meets these standards, and I only promote brands I would purchase myself. If I don't love it, and don't think you'll love it, it won't appear on my blog.

'This post was originally published January 5, 2015. It was updated in January 2019 to include updated links and information and I hope will be useful. '

​(Yep... affiliate links are included which means, if you buy through me, I get some coffee money ... though not enough for the raisin toast as well. Full disclosure listed below.)

​Each year opens with countless ideas, information and advice about planning, organisation and setting new year resolutions.. and almost as much discouraging data about the chance that you'll fail. 

How disheartening! It's not a great way to begin a new year, let alone each new day.

Danny Iny writes: We have this awful habit of treating resolutions like a wish list of things we feel we're entitled to.. something the universe will magically grant us if only we wished hard enough.

Probably he's right. Certainly, resolutions of any kind need to be built on more than just hopes. You need a plan. But more than that- you need to step out with confidence and energy. You need to start each day well.

Use these simple steps and discover how much more you can achieve each day.

• Stretch.

​I know it sounds so simple. But stretching, when you first wake up, will get your blood flowing and you moving and ready for the day. And it will only take an extra 10 minutes or so. Try these 5 simple stretches. My cat stretches all the time after waking up and she certainly seems to enjoy the day. :) .  Read more

• Breathe.

​
Deep breathing has been proven, not only to relax but also affect the heart, brain and the immune system. So give your morning a lift and a boost with some deep breathing exercises. Read more

• Read from God's Word.

I know, it's a given. But sometimes we just need a reminder. How about starting your day with the devotional material from SheReadsTruth.

​There's also an app if you prefer to access this content on your smartphone or iPad. An attractive wallpaper with verse is often provided to download so that you can continue to think and meditate on the Scripture passage and verse of the day. 

• Pray.

​
​Start the day well by handing it over to God. It will set the tone for the whole of your day. As Corrie ten Boom said, "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tyre?" Read more 

And to encourage you to pray, the Echo Prayer is a free app that helps you keep track of your prayers, reminds you to pray throughout the day, and lets you share prayer requests with others.

​​

• Think of one thing for which you're thankful.

​It's a much better to have a thankful attitude than dwelling on the problems that may be ahead of you and it puts the day's events into perspective. It's actually beneficial if you also take a few moments at the end of the day to remember the events of the day and give thanks. You can turn each day into a gratitude treasure hunt and discover a renewed appreciation for the day.  Read more

• Take a walk.

'
​An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.' - Henry David Thoreau

​Research indicates that walking offers great health benefits, from helping you to lose weight and to de-stress to lowering your blood pressure and BMIs.It doesn't need to be a marathon. Just 15 minutes can make a huge difference.   Read more

• Exercise.

​
​There are some really good reasons to exercise first up in the morning that will help you with the rest of the day. Read more to discover 15 good reasons to include exercise in our morning routine.

​

• Eat a nourishing breakfast.

'Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince and Dine like a Pauper" 

It's a well known phrase, but do you follow it??I know, when you're busy, you often skip this one. But it's important. Read more

​

• Listen to your favourite music.
  

It certainly is enjoyable puts you in a good mood, but studies show it can have even more health benefits. I used to find that music worked wonders with my kids. If I played cheerful, fun music while they were getting ready to begin the day, they would get ready faster and without whinging and complaining. Studies have shown more health benefits, too. Read more

​​

• Develop a morning routine. 

I use an app called Home Routines that can be customised to suit your own needs. Create lists of regular tasks, add reminders and mark each as it's competed.  Then it resets for the next day, which I love. So many other apps simply continue onto the next day if I didn't get time to complete the task and then I had a huge list of incomplete tasks- so discouraging. Use Home Routines and set it up as you'd like. Find it here

• Snack on fresh fruit.

Fruit is filling, high in nutritional value and will give you energy without those empty calories. This is not difficult for me- I love fruit. But if you need some fruit pack ideas you can find a link to helpful suggestions. Find it here.

​

• Complete one task early.

It will encourage you and motivate you to complete the rest of your tasks. Just mark it off on your Home Routines app. Ahh.. now you feel you can handle the rest of the day.

Well .. that's it. Easy. Just remember, you don't have to start with everything at once.

Disclosure: At Grandma's Place is committed to high standards of integrity and quality. I do not promote any brand I do not believe meets these standards, and I only promote brands I would purchase myself. If I don't love it, and don't think you'll love it, it won't appear on my blog.