Activites with Grand-Children at Home During the Pandemic

One year into the pandemic,  there is still no in-person school and the children must do distance learning at home using a computer.  

Most week days, I take care of the grand-children because their parents work.  On holidays, I am challenged to find activities for them that are active and safe during this "stay-at-home" period.  On the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday last Monday, their mom provided me a cool book called "The Adventure Challenge: Family Edition".

We did the yarn (we used string) maze.  The kids had to navigate the maze without touching the string or they would get a spray of water in their face.

 

Next, we made paper airplanes:

   

In the past summer, I set up an artist's studio in the garage and the kids painted:

  

In December, we made Cookie Mix in a Jar gifts:

Click here for the recipe and printable labels.

Also, we made Gingerbread Houses with graham crackers, icing, and assorted colorful candies supplied by their mom and dad:

  

Jigsaw Puzzles are always a good family activity:

If the weather is nice, the kids can look outside for animals, birds, amphibians and insects in your yard or neighborhood.  They can take a picture or video of them, and look up a few facts about them from the computer or a book.

  

If you can drive to a park or trail, you can spend hours exploring nature, walking and having a picnic:

  

What are some of your activities?  Share in the comments.  Thank you.

The Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Looms Large in Georgia Today

 

Almost 53 years since his life was cut short by an assassin, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s words and life are on my mind this morning as his Georgia has elected its first Black U.S Senator ever with Rev. Raphael Warnock winning a run-off election  held January 5, 2021.  This is truly an historic  accomplishment and a paradigm shift in politics.  

So, too, does the spirit of the late Congressman John Lewis 

fill the hearts of all justice-loving Georgians. 

 

It has been 144 years since the hopes for democracy for ALL southern citizens was smashed with the elimination of Reconstruction.  After years of voter suppression, "Jim Crow" laws, and intimidation and violence committed by white supremacists, democracy has prevailed in Georgia.  

The Rev. Raphael Warnock (D) is the Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta Georgia, the same church Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once pastored. He narrowly defeated an appointed wealthy white woman, Kelly Loeffler who was never elected by the citizens of Georgia.

Rev. Warnock (D) and Sen. Loeffler (R)

I was only 17 years old when the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.  Because of our "original sin" of slavery, I have watched this country go through some of the most bloody conflicts during my whole life.  Today, I am filled with joy in Rev. Warnock's victory.  Hallelujah!