Grandma’s Camp – Memories made here!
No parents allowed! That’s so Grandma can get down and play with her grandkiddies, act silly, sing and just have fun with no one to tease or chide. Oh, the kids may still brush their teeth, but outside, it’s no holds barred. Get dirty, play in the mud or pick the flowers….it’s all allowed in Grandma’s garden. And don’t worry, lessons will be learned…
Interesting children in the joys of gardening can be fun. They’re eager to learn and amazed by seeds sprouting and flowers blooming.
How to plan Grandma Camp
- Send some fun invitations!
- Grandma’s Camp is usually 2-4 days, any more and you’ll be exhausted!
- Choose a theme and plan around it:
- A book you’ve read together, Secret Garden?
- Build a bench or a project
- Plant a vegetable garden
- Plant a Stack a Pot
- Pirate’s Treasure
- Campout, make a firepit, cook hot dogs and s’mores
- Plant seeds, Radish, Sweet peas or Zinnias
- Harvest the garden and make a garden pizza
- Night Time Bug Hunt, if you dare…
- Pick flowers and arrange in vases
- Make hopscotch with stepping stones, then show them how to play! What?
Plans for Pony Tire Swing …Grandpa?
Glossy garden art using bowling balls
Create a wildlife habitat
Provide water, bird seed feeders, and a small pile of brush for birds to hide in. Plant flowers like butterfly bush and sages and lavender to attract birds and bees. Arrange these a certain distance away from a cozy comfortable spot where you can sit with your grandchild and watch the creatures come and go. It will become a tradition to come here and talk. Bring out cups of tea on a cold day.
Jeanie Merritt says, “A stepping stone my granddaughter Kayli made me a few years ago, with some help from Mommy… Next year at ” Mamaw Camp”, when all of my grandchildren come for three days( NO parents) of fun, crafts, making cookies, and going to the movies. I think I may make this one of our projects.. a stone for all 8 grandchildren, well, Tyler and Jacob are in college and high school now, We might have to make theirs!”
Plant a child sized garden
With your child, mark out a plot about four feet square in a sunny spot and build a trellis fence on two sides. Mix up a bag of concrete together to make a small pond or birdbath. You can just shape it with your gloved hands. Go to the nursery and let your grandchild pick out some blooming flowers. Plant seeds like sugar snap peas and zinnias, radishes and marigolds. Hang a bird feeder nearby and you have your own little wildlife habitat. Make a sign with your grandkids, saying ‘My Garden’ or with their name.
Things Grandma says
- “Anything your heart desires, dear”
- “When Grandma was your age…”
- “If Mom says no…”
- “Well, why the heck not?”
When you create a children’s garden, you can do whatever you like in it, no matter how U-Neek or whimsical.
Kids in the garden: 11 projects!
Rusty barrel hoops and spheres in the garden
WHY NOT make your own sign and begin your Grandma Camp sessions this summer! The children will only be young enough for so long… What other activities would you add to your Grandma Camp!? Let us know in the comments
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“Don’t pass up any teaching moments when your children are young. When they become teenagers, shut up, because they don’t listen to you anyway.”