Summer Reading List

We encourage our grandchildren to read books during the summer. A few weeks ago, we visited a bookstore with them and "helped" them pick out books. Actually, we let them pick out whatever they want, then we add a couple of our suggested reading titles. Doug is going to read Eragon this summer, along with our grandson Gavin. It'll be great for them to talk together about the book, discuss plot points, and enjoy the highlights together.

Here, then, are a few titles that should be on every grandchild's reading list, at some point or another during their upbringing.

The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet
Where the Wild Things Are
Eragon
Big Red


Of course, Newbery Award winning books are usually very good.

The most important thing is that the grandkids read. It'll give them a huge advantage in the coming school year, sure, but it also rounds them out as human beings.

Summer Travel Tip

When going on vacation this summer, it's a good idea to plan for the unexpected.

Practice good safety routines. Always write the names of your grandchildren (actually, this applies to parents and their children as well), address, and several contact phone numbers on labels to place inside both shoes and backpacks. Write down medical insurance information on tags that they have with them. This could save vital time if you have the information handy when a medical situation involving the grandkids arises.

Another Summer Grandparenting Tip

If you're vacationing this summer with your grandchildren, consider giving them the following "assignment." Take pictures for your summer vacation journal.

But one-time use cameras for your grandchildren. Give the cameras to the grandkids before the start of the vacation. Make sure they understand each camera has only 24 (or 27) pictures, so they'll have to make sure each picture counts!

Over the course of your vacation with the grandkids, make sure they capture those special Kodak moments. After the vacation, get the pictures developed and look them over with your grandchildren. Make a vacation journal, and make sure the grandkids know they can have a copy if they want one.

The great thing about the pictures is that the grandchildren will remember that they were the "go to" people in the photojournalism adventure, and at the same time, they'll develop stronger ties to their grandparents!