GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects Reading Activity

Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects Reading Activity 

Children are often curious about understanding the death of a pet or family member. You can read your child an age appropriate book or the story below about the death of a father when a child is a preschooler or early elementary student. When children lose a young parent to death, they can become very fearful that they may lose other significant family members at a young age. It is critical that we reassure our children when they hear about a friend or family member.

The story below is written by Michele McDevitt, a GenParenting guest blogger, who sadly has significant experiences working with grief and young family members. After reading the story, you can answer the comprehension questions and submit a comment to GenParenting.com. [Read more…]

Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects

Talking About Death and Difficult Subjects 

Preschoolers and early elementary children are very interested in talking about death and difficult subjects. Typically, children will ask parents a variation of one of these questions:

  1. Why did the insect die?
  2. Did my cat go to cat heaven? Can I see her?
  3. I know great grandpa was very old and sick? Why did he die? Where did he go? Will I see him again?
  4. Will you die soon?

A Parent’s Response

When asked these questions, parents are typically overwhelmed about how to simply answer the question. When their great grandparents died, we told our preschoolers and early elementary grandkids that their great grandparents were very sick for a long time and that they died from old age and being very sick. We assured them that we would not die tomorrow and are taking very good care of ourselves. We also do not project fear and were very loving about the fun times the grandkids shared with the older relative. [Read more…]

Get Ready for School with Siblings, Twins, and Multiples Reading Activity

Get Ready for School with Siblings, Twins, and Multiples Reading Activity 

Yikes! Brandon’s Twin Sisters Get Ready for Big Girl Preschool!

Hi! My name is Brandon and I have twin sisters who look alike. Their names are Anna and Maria and they love to follow me around and be my best friends! When they were toddlers, their grandma took them to school because they were naughty. Both liked to chew rocks, Maria chewed the arms off her baby doll, and Anna would run and hide from grandma when it was time to eat. Finally, my grandma said they had to go to baby school to learn how to listen and play with others.

Now my twin sisters are turning three and they are getting ready for big girl preschool. Both are excited about what they will learn. They can sing their ABC’s, they know their colors, they can count to 10, and they love to do projects. I have taught them how to draw, paint, and use shaving cream for finger-painting and coloring Easter eggs. We have painted rocks, cooked with plants, and enjoyed many hours of waterplay throughout the summer. We camp, hike, ride trikes, and climb in the park.

Although my sisters have lots of fun with me, my parents want them to go to school to learn how to play with other children. They are best friends and at times get angry at each other. Although they still look the same, they now have very different personalities. Anna likes to explore and wander off while Maria loves to follow me around and play imaginative games with me. Anna will finish her art projects quickly so that she can explore on her own while Maria wants to do projects all day!

[Read more…]

Get Ready for School with Siblings, Twins, and Multiples

Get Ready for School with Siblings, Twins, and Multiples 

Each summer families are busily preparing for the new school year for their children. Various rites of passage include:

  • Having your children complete summer homework assignments to submit to teachers on the first day of school
  • Completing all new school year registration forms
  • Taking your children to the doctor to complete any physicals and immunizations
  • Visiting the school to locate the grade level classroom and learn more about the newly assigned teacher
  • Going shopping for school supplies
  • Taking your children shopping for some new school clothes

[Read more…]

Transportation and Construction Play Activities

Transportation and Construction Play Activities 

When learning about various types of transportation vehicles and how they can be used in the community, suggested materials and activities include the following:

Materials:

  • Stories or books on transportation and construction that can be discussed include:
    • There’s a Hole in the Road (by Mary Ann Burke published on GenParenting.com)
    • Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
    • Wheels at Work Construction book
    • Find it: Things That Go
    • Spot the Difference Building Site
  • Foam bath vehicles
  • Transportation and Construction vehicles (i.e. TOMY TOOMies dump truck)
  • Building materials (i.e. Roylco Straw Connectors)
  • Vehicle speedways (i.e. Blu Track)

[Read more…]