Southwest Florida's grandparents personalize relationships with grandchildren

Free day for grandparents at Sun Splash

What: Each grandparent who pays admission for a grandchild will get in free on Sunday
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Sun Splash Family Waterpark, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral.
Cost: Admission for kids ages 2 to 12 is $12.95 for Cape Coral residents, $15.95 for others
Information: Call 574-0558

Ideas from grandparent to grandparent

The grandmothers and grandfathers we talked to for this story had some ideas that begged to be shared.
Rent car seats and other equipment for a visiting grandchild from a reputable rental company, rather than buying new ones. Dotty Morrison said she has paid far less than the purchase price to rent a car seat from a Sanibel company. Since a child needs a different seat at different ages, it makes sense to rent. Make sure you know how to use the seat and can install it in a car properly.
Comb thrift shops for sports equipment and other items to amuse a grandchild on a visit, whether long or short.
Pass on your talents. Marian Davey makes American Girl doll clothes and has taught her granddaughters how to use patterns, even by sending photos from a distance.
Use recording devices. Cards are available in which you can record your own voice reading to a grandchild.
Give them photos of times you spend together and mark them with ages and dates. Put them in a scrapbook that spans years, if you can.
Learn to text, said Peter Nanfelt. Just when you thought email was enough ... Dotty Morrison uses Facebook and Face Time as well. Ralph Jimenez finds that phone calls and cards work well, too.
Write letters to mark significant days and events in their lives. Use that opportunity to tell them how important and special they are. Do that for the parents, too.
? From Jerry and Peter Nanfelt, Marian and Jim Davey, Dotty Morrison and Ralph Jimenez

Getting a GRIP

Grandparents who have complete custody of and are raising grandchildren may find help locally with GRIP, which stands for Grandparents Returning Into Parenting.
The nonprofit group was founded a decade ago by Yolanda Beckworth, the grandmother of 13 who found herself in those shoes.
For help or to make a donation, call 368-6666 or email Myolanda4@yahoo.com.

Source: http://www.news-press.com/article/20120906/LIFESTYLES/309060020/1002/RSS01

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