2009 Calendar
We still need a host for our Sept 13 meeting and presenters for May 3, Sept 13 and Nov 1.
Host Presenter
March 1 Susana Marilyn A
May 3 Dee open
July 12 Cheri pending
Sept 13 open open
Nov 1 Sandy open
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January 4, 2009 Meeting
Storytelling From
Top to Toe
Our guest speaker, Nancy Mellon, is an art therapist, author and storyteller from New Hampshire. In her program we'll learn how stories can help develop our grandchildren's physical and spiritual foundation. She'll help us discover the joy of liberating the creativity inherent in our bodies. We will explore how our own stories as well as inspirational stories from around the world can help us have a well-grounded, creative, and healing presence to meet the New Year!
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Greetings!
Waiting can be one of life's greatest little challenges - especially when grandchildren are involved. So this month I'm offering some new ways to have fun while you're waiting.
On December 7 the GaGa Sisterhood was five years old!
Happy Holidays to you and your family. May all your waits be wonderful!
In Sisterhood, 
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After you've exhausted the standard games: "Tic-Tac-Toe," "I Spy with My Little Eye," "Rock, Paper, Scissors," "Simon Says," and "20 Questions," you may want to try some new ones. Here are some "Waiting Games" to pull out of your
GaGa Bag o' Tricks to distract your little darlings.
Games for Restaurant
 When Juliet was a year old, we created a game called "The Napkin Hat." While awaiting our dinner at a restaurant, we took one of the black linen napkins and tied it into a bandana on Juliet's little head. She looked so adorable that we tied it in a babushka style next. By the time we finished we'd created eight different looks and were all laughing hysterically. Juliet was such a good-natured child she enjoyed it as much as we did. Last summer we tried it on Amelia. She had just as much fun, as you can see from her photo.
Menu Jumble
Pick an interesting item from the menu and see how many new words you can make from the letters. If your grandchildren are little, chose smaller words.
Guess What's Missing?
Place a number of items on the table (e.g. salt and pepper shakers, knife, fork.) Ask your grandchild to take a look and then close her eyes while you remove one item. Then ask her to figure out which one is missing. Adapt to your grandchild's age with fewer items for younger children.
The Coin Drop
Drop a dime into a water glass. Now try to drop a penny into the glass so that it will completely cover the dime. It's not as easy as you might think.
1, 2, 3, 4, I Declare a Thumb War
Put your hands in a shake position with your thumb up. Hold on after you shake hands with your grandchild. If you can pin your opponent's thumb down for 3 seconds, you are the winner!
Connect the Dots
This familiar classic is fun for all ages but if you need instructions, click here. There are printable templates and lots of other fun ideas like car bingo.
Games for Riding in the Car
I found many of the games below from Diane Laney Fitzpatrick's Suite101 article Waiting Games
Alphabet Game
Take turns looking for words that begin with each letter of the alphabet from A - Z. You can make it easier for younger children by just trying to find the letters in a word rather than at the beginning the word.
Counting Cars
Make a list of all types of vehicles - semi-trucks, mini-vans, sports cars, sedans, SUVs, pick-up trucks, etc. - and count how many you see. This game is good for counting skills for younger children. Before the game starts, have everyone predict which type of vehicle they'll see the most. Who was right?
What Am I?
 Pick
a category (animals, TV show characters, etc.) and start describing
something until your grandchild guesses what or who you are. "I'm long
and skinny,
I have no arms or legs, I live in the earth, I wiggle..."
"A worm!"
I'm Going on a Trip
This is a memory game in which each person in turn tells what he's taking on a trip, going through the alphabet. The first person thinks of something that begins with the letter A, the next person the letter B, etc. Each person has to remember and recite all the preceding things. For example, "I'm going on a trip and I'm taking an anvil." "I'm going on a trip and I'm taking an anvil and a button." "I'm going on a trip and I'm taking an anvil, a button and my cat."
Name that Tune
Sing or hum a song and see how quickly other players can guess what song it is. Try this game with TV show theme songs, nursery rhymes, etc.
Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of things for your grandchildren to look for on the trip. Have them look out the window and check off things as they see them. Some suggestions: a flashing red light, a cow, a horse, a McDonald's, a church, a police car, a sign with a Q in it, a mobile home, a yellow Volkswagen Beetle, a motorcycle, a red fence.
Group Story
One person starts a story and stops in mid sentence. The next person finishes the sentence and adds more to the story. By the end of the story, everyone in the car has contributed and the story has taken lots of twists and turns.
Musical Memorizations
Make up a song, to a familiar tune, with your grandchild's name, address and phone number as lyrics. Sung to the tune of "You Are My Sunshine," you can write lyrics of almost anything: "My name is Billy, I'm 5-years-old. I live at 544 West Main. And my phone number, here it is, 555-6271." Learning the song, practicing it and laughing together over the mistakes will keep you busy for a while!
Family Trivia
Ask each other questions about your extended family. How well does your grandchild know Aunt Pam? Does he know what country his great-grandparents emigrated from? Which cousin is a Jets fan?
Wish I May, I Wish I Might
When you're stuck in traffic, play the "I wish" game. "I wish this car was a giant giraffe and that we were walking past all these cars from our perch between her cute little ears." Take turns coming up with outlandish ways you could get to your final destination. Your grandkids will be delighted.
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