D didn’t watch a lot of TV when she was very small, but S was not only “busy” he required little sleep. He was an early riser and by mid morning I needed a break, so he got TV.
He excelled academically, never interested in gaming and as an adult he doesn’t watch that much TV. He reads and works out a lot.
GD likes TV (including sports), but if given an option she prefers to go outside and play. Just turned 2 and while she is very social , she has no problem entertaining herself with her toys.
My S was up by 4:30 or 5 am when he was a toddler. He really liked a video tape about big construction equipment. I’d pop that in, lay on the floor, and let him climb all over me in a well baby proofed room as I attempted to stay awake. I don’t regret it … we may never have made it through otherwise! He is fine despite it.
My son is a morning person unlike me back then when I could sleep until noon. Unfortunately not anymore. So he was six or seven years old when he would close the door of my bedroom so noise from TV would not wake me up and would be watching TV until i wake up. He was very considerate back then and is the same way now.
I’m helping my son-in-law while my D is traveling for her job. My GD (3.5 years) is really active. I thought I’d be able to do my regular yoga/pilates/barre (online) classes but I’m too tired by the time she goes to bed. We do walk to the playground and the park (about 2 miles) every day, so I do get to walk.
GD’s parents really limit her TV time (she can watch Masha and the Bear and Paw Patrol). She doesn’t have any video games but does play with puzzles, coloring books, and picture books, Legos, cars, and a kitchen setup, etc. Also, they have her enrolled in Kindermusic, toddler gym, and soccer.
We didn’t have a TV when I was growing up. In fact, my parents didn’t buy a TV until I was in high school. In grade school I always felt like an outsider.
I play some candy crush games on my ipad. GD has participated a few times. 
I think she is pretty good at it. I haven’t told her parents.
Whether you buy into these guidelines or not…for what it’s worth, here are the American Academy of Pediatrics screen time guidelines - remember this is SCREEN time - so that includes all devices including tv:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following screen time limits for children and teens:
Youngest daughter is a pediatric occupational therapist. I work in pediatrics too. She was telling me a story the other day of taking a walk in her neighborhood and seeing a family - 2 adults - and a child about 2ish in a stroller. It was a gorgeous day and of course this time of year in the midwest, so much to see - green trees, flowers, birds, animals, other people outside, etc.
Well the child in the stroller had an ipad. Was totally focused on that and NOT the natural stimulation and environment around her. I tell ya, it took all of her professional muster to not intervene and suggest they engage their child in the walk they were taking!!!
I was a nanny to 3 kids (twins and a brother who was 3 years older). They were very busy and had a lot of activities, birthday parties, school. The parents went on a long trip (10 days or so) and had me, the other nanny and the grandparents covering. There was a long timeline of the 10 days and who should be where and when, for both the kids and the caretakers. I think the kids were 3 and 6? I came in the house one day and everyone was sleeping. The grandparents were exhausted. I told the grandmother that it was okay if a 3 year old missed a soccer practice or ballet lesson, or if the 6 year old didn’t make a playdate! She was so concerned with the schedule that she was running herself ragged.
After that we all relaxed a little and everyone survived.
I have helped out DD1 twice this year, one month on first visit, and two weeks at second visit, while her DH was OOT/OOS. One Saturday, DD1 took the oldest for grocery shopping and other stops – was gone way extended time. I had continuous children’s program or an approved movie on and I fell asleep - the kids were fine and the older two would have woken me up if I was needed (I believe the baby was sleeping in her crib). M - F I had early morning and then pick up from school/afternoon for 2 kids so plenty of time for a retiree’s home schedule (including nap if desired). Since I had aggressive cancer in 2009, I have not been a good nighttime sleeper - some of it is psychological, wanting to get the most out of each day, and some of it is bad habits like watching late movies.
Two weeks from today, I will be having dinner with the grands!
Moving date keeps getting closer and closer. I’m sorting, packing, cleaning out cabinets and pantries, and doing as much of the final walk thru stuff as I can for D1 and SIL’s house. Did a walk thru with of my apartment with the project manager yesterday before the start of drywalling and discovered they missed a few things (The biggest is they forgot to put outlets/boxes for light fixtures beside the garage door. Uh oh! Because it’s too late to add switches for those lights, they will have to be motion sensor activated. Not ideal but better than no lights next to garage door at all.)
Talked to all the grandkids over the weekend. Mom says they’ve been especially whiny and rambunctious lately, prone to meltdowns over trivial things-- possibly because the twins are getting anxious about starting preschool in 3 weeks. And little brother is picking up on their anxiety.
The CA house is across the street and 3 houses up from the local elementary school. School here starts tomorrow. I was watching the new K4s and K5s head in and out today for their one-on-one meet the teacher meetings.
Can’t wait to see the twins off for their day of preschool. (Twins won’t be K4s until next year because they have a late fall/early winter birthday.)
They’re three, right? Sounds normal to me!
We are having the 2 plus year old for two nights this weekend. It will be the first sleepover aside from when my daughter went to the hospital to have her 2nd. My daughter is going to be the one having a hard time.
Older GD started kindergarten last week and brought home a respiratory bug. Her mom and sister then got sick, followed by me. The three of us are feeling better, but older GD still has a cough and congestion and looks so worn out. I knew it was bound to happen, but it still worries me. I hate when I can’t fix a problem.
Remind your GD to use lots of hand sanitizer all day at school. She may have stayed home during the height of covid and not have picked up the habit of putting a dab on her hands several times an hour while out in public.
I was teaching at a school and we had shared math materials (counters, dry erase boards, pencils) and I was constantly wiping them down. My sister was a teacher and told me to never share MY pens and stuff, so I did that and declared which ones were mine (the pink ones, of course) and not to be touched (I was working with groups of 3 kids). The kids were pretty good about using hand sanitizer at the start of class, but man when those masks came off I had to double my efforts with the sanitizer. They were coughing and putting their hands in their mouths and all kinds of disgusting things that kids do. Big difference when those masks went away.
Hmmm. I am not sure it is good advice to use hand sanitizer so frequently. A very long time ago, I taught Kinder, and several of the kids liked to sniff it. Nope, I was not handing out extra dollops of alcoholic hand sanitizer for that reason! Perhaps a good handwashing and keeping hands away from face would be healthier.
I have no idea how often GD has access to, or reminders about, hand sanitizer. I just know it was part of the large bin of supplies we bought. She’s at least good about hand washing when she goes to the bathroom, but has only just become consistent about coughing into her elbow. Never having been to preschool or in other group settings, besides a once a month class at a museum or botanical garden, I figured she’s bound to pick up just about every bug that’s going around. Covid is on the rise here, at least according to anecdotal reports from various doctors. As her parents remain staunchly anti-vax, that continues to be a concern.
H and I will get our annual flu shots this fall, and hope to get the new Covid jab, too. We’ll do our best to not be the ones who infect the GDs and hope that we can stay healthy through the fall and winter.
I shared this in a recycling thread but realized I should share it here as these are adorable gifts, environmentally art pieces from Kenya, made from recycled flip flops! Pictured are what I got for my grandkids:
While in Kenya I discovered a wonderful combination art/recycling project there. They take old flip flops and turn them into art pieces! I bought 3 animals for the grandkids, but was able to order them from the location they have in the US so I didn’t have to carry them back or ship from Kenya. Ocean Sole | We Turn Pollution Into Flip Flop Art
Here are the ones I ordered: these are
Size medium if anyone is a needing a measurement:
Probably should have gotten more Africa themed ones (besides the gorilla-- like the elephant, the giraffe, etc, but these were cute and very reasonably priced!)
GS started preschool on Monday. Grandma was super anxious since he has never been in daycare and has only been cared for at home with his sisters.
His parents took him for first day Orientation and he was was just fine. He didn’t hang onto mom & dad’s hand or legs like several other kids did. He helped put his backpack in his cubby, then headed out to the play area where he found Magna-Tiles to build. Then he make pizza ain the toy kitchen and zoomed trucks around the gathering rug. He went outside to try out the playground during recess. He didn’t look to mom & dad for reassurance, just kinda got on with playing and interacting with the other kids and the teachers.
He’s going to be just fine. (Although nap time in a strange place might be an issue when it’s time for that. GS picked out his nap sack and that will arrive next week–just in time for his birthday and for him to go back to preschool full time after Labor Day.)
This grandma is relieved because she will the school drop-off driver for the grands. GS will be the first drop-off (the twins will be attending a different school a half mile away which has a later start time) and the last thing I want to deal with is tantrums when it’s time to leave the youngest one off at school.
Yes she likely will. But the good news is that over time, she will also build up some resistance. I worked in a primary school in a field where I was exposed to a LOT of germs and this was always…not because of COVID. I hope I’m not jinxing myself, but I seldom was sick with what my students had at school.
Don’t worry. The preschool staff will be there to help with the transition…and they have seen plenty of tantrums at school drop off. They know how to deal with these things!
We’re having a really fun summer with GS, almost a second grader, and GD, almost a kindergartener. They take lots of lessons - tennis, golf, skating, and swimming. They also play some team sports - soccer, baseball, and summer hockey. We have lots of time to play outside, go to the beach, pool, or park, play games, create, bake, and do puzzles. I read to them most days and encourage GS to read to us. They do read every night with D and/or SIL.
I am feeling a bit sad 
about them both being in school all day and will miss them very much. I retired when GS was born and have been caring for them whenever both D and SIL are both at work - about 8-10 days each month.
