- Goals
This letter will help you and your grandchild get to know each other better. By showing interest in the child and revealing some interesting things about yourself, you can begin to build a rewarding relationship. Children are interested in you. They would like to learn about your past and your current interests and activities. They also want you to know about the big events in their lives. These children want to reach out to others but need patient, accepting adults who can support their efforts to do so. Also, keep in mind that no matter how well you know someone, there is always something interesting you can discover in him or her.
- Prepare your Special Letter:
Talk about things you like and dislike. Describe your life as a child. What did you enjoy doing then? What were your friends like? Describe your current friends. What qualities do you look for in a friend? Anything you think is important!
- For your grandchild's scrapbook:
On a piece of typing paper draw a picture of you and your grandchild doing something fun together. On the back or the bottom of this picture describe what you are doing together. Why is it fun? Maybe you could also mention some other things you would like to do with your grandchild.
- In your journal (After completing letter 1)
Keep in mind that the journal provides you with an opportunity to speak to your grandchild as an adult. For what reasons did you decide to try this correspondence program? Describe your reactions to the activities you did. What kind of feelings did you experience? What thoughts went through your mind? (After receiving your grandchild's special letter): How did your grandchild respond to your special letter?
- Optional Activities (Choose as many as you want to do):
- Me Mobile. Construct a mobile of symbols of special things--things you treasure (family, friends, foods, special treasures, favorites, etc.). To make a simple mobile, take a coat hanger and tie your objects to it with string or yarn. Use small objects, drawings, pictures, etc. for your symbols. Attach these objects with glue or tape to cardboard or heavy paper cut into different shapes. Punch a hole in the top of each symbol and attach a piece of yarn or string to it. On the back of each symbol, write a brief description describing why it is special. Attach a note telling the child how to make the symbols into a mobile.
- Home Tour. Draw or attach one or more pictures of your home on a sheet of paper. Take your grandchild on an imaginary tour by describing your home in detail. Do you live in an old house? Does it have an attic? Is it small or large? Talk about and describe other places you have lived.
- Mail what you have created directly to your grandchild. Ask your grandchild to respond with letter 1 on his or her instruction sheet.
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http://www.ksu.edu/wwparent/courses/gl/gp-1.htm-- Revised: December 26, 1999