Imagine this blog post featured a human-traveller map, much like google traffic, showing the different paths and pauses park users take on their visit. The thick layers of footsteps can be read as trails and a series of faint wisps as detours to sitting boulders, and pocket beaches. Then, superimposed in a different colour are the routes taken by children imaginatively playing and exploring they way they would if they could spend the whole day playing in the park without instruction, or cues as to how to use the space. Picture your grandchildren exploring in nature, eyes aglow- what would their human-traveller line look like?  

Autumn has a way of telling the story of the winter season ahead. Wildernook facilitator, Jana Miller, believes it is important to get children immersed in biodiverse spaces regularly during autumn to experience the seasonal changes gradually over time. For many adults the earthen smell of the air and hearing the sounds of sandhill cranes bugling overhead signal the clock is ticking for species to finish their preparations for winter.

The Nature Grandparenting program is designed for grandparents to experience nature with their 3-5 year old grandchild.  Many grandparents are in an ideal position to act as a nature mentor in the lives of their grandchildren. With practical ideas and age-appropriate activities shared each week, grandparents will have fun weaving a connection to nature into the special relationship they have with their grandchild. 

Participants will need to dress for the weather and should be comfortable being active outdoors for an hour.  Public washrooms are available on site for use. An information package will be sent out to  participants before program start-up.

This is program is hosted by SaskOutdoors and faciltated by Wildernook Fresh Air Learning.

Grandparenting happens informally in families. Whatever form grandparenting takes in your family, know that your time and intentional involvement is a gift to both child and parents. I can't speak for grandparents, but I'm guessing it can be pretty darn rewarding for you! 

Nature Grandparenting is when grandparents prioritize spending time with their grandchildren outdoors and interacting with nature. Sadly, the combination of urbanization, scheduled activities and parents working full time has led to children having fewer opportunities to build comfort and connection with nature in their early years. Thankfully, Grandparents can be an important nature mentor in their granchildren's lives - someone who makes space in their life to explore, dream and play in biodiverse spaces.  

If the years of adulthood responsibilities have worn away at your sense of wonder and play, you might consider participating in a Nature Grandparenting program. Programs like the one offered by Wildernook Fresh Air Learning are designed to be a fun intergenerational nature outing, while also providing grandparents with practical ideas on how to hook their grandchildren on nature at a young age. 

Spending the day with grandpa could mean helping with any number of tasks.   There always seemed some small role for us to take part in such as flouring the counter for baking or looking for trains on our walks to get groceries.  Where other caregivers could have easily plunked us down in front of the TV, grandpa would get upset if he thought we were spending too much time inside. Grandpa loved to walk, and although we grandchildren slowed him down, I think he enjoyed our company.  When we visited him in the city, he thought nothing of taking us on hour-long walks at his brisk ‘going somewhere efficiently’ pace to buy groceries downtown.  I think he viewed it as a chance to show us how to get around and look after our basic needs. 

Does the term ‘babysitting’ serve much purpose in describing what you do with your grandkin? Perhaps for the rare occasion where the parent(s) are out and the kiddos are tucked soundly in bed. It could also apply when tending to a sickly, bed-bound child. Either way, the term conveys a caregiver offering a sedentary service to a dormant little darling. How often does that happen?

The term 'babysitt'ing' must be old as the hills, right? After a little digging this Gen X-er was surprised to learn 'babysitting' only became a household term in the 1950's alongside 'suburb' and 'baby boomer.'  

Curious...  

 The article History of Babysitting asks the question, "Why didn't your great-great grandma babysit people?" The answer is fascinating:

Treating your beloved grandchild to a shiny new toy or piece of technology is bound to garner initial squeals of excitement, but does regular gift giving affect how you and your grandchild are able to relate to one another? Breaking from this pattern could prove difficult because you care about your grandchildren so darn much! You just can’t help yours---

Stop!

Step away from the stuffy.

“What type of work would you do if money were no object?” As a teacher, I’ve asked this question of my students, but never fully clarified what I'd put my energy into if money were no object.

The birth of our son and the time I've taken off teaching to spend with him have been an incredible gift-- he renews in me a love for experiencing life. He teaches me to be present, to be humble, and to toss out all the 'shoulds' camped out in my pockets. My version of if money were no object doesn't exist on a job board. Join me as I recalibrate my journey and engineer my own job description.