Autumn Seasonings for Grandparents

October in Review~

I've enjoyed sharing grandparent things I've done in October with you. And I've really enjoyed hearing from YOU........that's what I hoped this blog would come to--an exchange of ideas with other grandparents.

I started this month with my costume box. October seemed such a good time to share ideas for costumes, what with it being the month of Halloween and all. One reader shared that she wasn't too shy to ask neighbors and friends after Halloween if she could have their costumes for her costume box. She also reported that at some of the local retail stores, those same costumes go on sale after Halloween. She managed to snag some fairy wings and crowns for bargain prices that way. Be on the lookout!

Another October idea was my SCARE package. A friend said she had so much fun collecting items for her care package mailed to grands in California. It hadn't occurred to her how much fun it would be in the collecting. And then the pictures that were texted to her when they received the package--PRICELESS!

My own grandson opening the SCARE package he got in the mail from me.

One last Halloween idea...

And one I'm sure a lot of you grandparents do. SAVE THOSE PICTURES! Print them out and frame them! Then stash them away with your Halloween decorations. I do this myself. It's a mostly selfish thing--I simply enjoy those pictures year after year. The local craft stores have some precious Halloween frames or you can make your own. Yesterday we had a birthday party for all our family's October birthdays. My grandkids were over and love looking at all the old pictures when they were younger and dressed in their costumes. Who doesn't enjoy a walk down memory lane. I've even framed pictures of my own kids when they were young at Halloween. Grands enjoy seeing their parents dressed up. 

I know...I know. It's too much! But it makes me smile and my grands seem to enjoy it every year.

I just keep adding year after year.

Here's an oldie but goodie. A picture of two of my sons from those thrilling days of yore.

More on those sensory bins~

To finish out the month (and when I was gone on vacation), I asked my friend Gail to write for my blog. She chose her sensory tables. I got a lot of response to that one and not just from grandparents--from parents too. It had me exploring the concept as I had never done a sensory table for my grands. I do have a sand table, so I'm not totally lacking in offering a sensory experience to my grandchildren when they come. As I said, it got me to exploring online.

One of the sites I discovered was happy hooligans.ca. There were beaucoup of ideas for sensory tables, and one that I wanted to explore was using a mirror on your table. She reported that she took it outside and braced it on a sturdy table (of course......need to be super safety-conscious with those dear grands). One thing that she and her children couldn't get over was the reflection of the sky on their table. It was like working in the clouds. Then they took it over and set it up under a tree. They loved the reflection of the leaves and branches and GREEN in their table. I had to try this for myself. 

Deep blue color of the sky on this cool October day. They are truly sensory tables as we loved the click of our sensory items on the mirror glass. Important for auditory awareness.

Look at that sky and those leaves and branches!

My friend and guest blogger for sensory bins also said: "I forgot to mention an 'aroma therapy' sensory table we've explored. I put lavender essential oil on raw rice. The goal was calm grandchildren. We all enjoyed the sensory experience, but made a sizable mess with the rice. So, we changed the goal to just having fun and enjoying the 'aroma'."

Who knew all you could do with SENSORY TABLES! She also added another activity she does with them. Take some of the items from the table and make a pattern--see if your grand can copy the pattern. And then vice-versa. Have them create a pattern and you copy! I'm telling you--I'm thinking there are hours of fun with this. Turn off the TV and the IPads and give those kids a chance at some real 'hands-on' activities. 

Copy the pattern.

And this one.

As always, I sign off saying that this is a blog about going through the seasons with your grandchildren and finding the delights in each one. Thank you for sharing ideas this month. Made me enjoy it even more.

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are OCTOBERS." Anne of Green Gables 

Here's that great website:

​happyhooligans.ca/sensory-play-mirror/