Babysitting your grandpa is super fun! When you hear the doorbell, it’s time to play a game. Hide somewhere and try not to giggle too much. Be as quiet as a sneaky shark or a pirate on a secret mission. When Grandpa says, “I give up,” jump out and shout, “Here I am!”
After your mom and dad leave, give Grandpa a pat and say, “Don’t worry, they always come back.” Then, ask him if he’s hungry. Grandpas love snacks like ice cream with cookies, or anything dipped in ketchup!
After snacks, it’s time for a walk. If it’s cold, wear warm clothes. If it’s sunny, put on sunscreen, especially on Grandpa’s head. Hold his hand when you cross the street and remind him to look both ways.
Jump over sidewalk cracks, look for lizards, find cool rocks, and blow dandelion puffs. If you see a puddle, show Grandpa how to splash!
When you get home, ask Grandpa to close his eyes while you get ready to entertain him.
Do somersaults, put on a play, or show off your muscles. Grandpas love to clap and cheer! Soon, he’ll want to join the fun, so play together.
March with a drum, give him a kazoo, and build a pirate cave. Pretend there are sharks in the water and keep your feet off the floor!
When Grandpa says, “Nap time,” help him fall asleep by reading a long book. Even if you get sleepy, stay awake while he naps.
Draw something special like a pirate shark battle, your favorite dinosaur, or you and Grandpa splashing in a puddle.
When it’s time to wake him up, try lifting him with your muscles, tickling his nose and toes, or singing a song louder and louder.
Ask Grandpa, “Will mom and dad be home soon?” He’ll check the clock and say, “Yikes! Soon, very soon.” Clean up any messes with some bouncy music playing.
When you hear your mom and dad, hide with Grandpa behind the couch and whisper, “See, Grandpa? They always come back.”
Surprise Grandpa with your drawing, give him a big hug and a kiss, and ask, “When can I babysit you again?”
*Bye!*
Grandpa’s Snack Adventure: Create a fun snack time with Grandpa by exploring different food combinations. Ask children to think of creative snacks they can make with Grandpa, like mixing fruits with yogurt or making funny faces with vegetables. Encourage them to observe which snacks Grandpa likes best and why. This activity helps children understand preferences and encourages them to try new things.
Nature Walk Discovery: During a walk with Grandpa, turn it into a treasure hunt. Give children a simple checklist of things to find, such as a smooth rock, a colorful leaf, or a bird. Encourage them to describe what they find and why they think it’s special. This activity enhances observation skills and appreciation for nature.
Creative Storytelling: After reading a book to Grandpa, ask children to create their own story about an adventure they could have with him. They can draw pictures to illustrate their story and share it with the class. This encourages imagination, storytelling skills, and confidence in sharing ideas.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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**How to Babysit a Grandpa**
*By Jean Regan, Illustrated by Lee Wildish*
Babysitting a grandpa is fun if you know how!
When your grandpa rings the doorbell, what should you do?
Hide! You might wiggle and want to giggle, but don’t yell, “Grandpa, not yet!”
How to stay quiet:
Pretend you’re a shark waiting for lunch.
Act like a pirate spy.
Be as still as a lion statue.
As soon as your grandpa says, “I give up,” pop out and shout, “Here I am!”
When your mom and dad leave, pat your grandpa’s hand and say, “Don’t worry, they always come back.”
Then right away, ask him if he’s hungry.
Snacks for a grandpa: ice cream topped with cookies, all served on fingertips, anything dipped in ketchup, cookies topped with ice cream.
After snacks, it’s time to take your grandpa for a walk.
When it’s cold, bundle up; when it’s sunny, put on sunscreen, especially at the top of his head.
Remember to grab his hand when you cross the street and remind him to look both ways.
What to do on a walk:
Step over sidewalk cracks, look for lizards, cool rocks, and dandelion puffs.
If there’s a puddle or a sprinkler, show him what to do.
When you’re back at home, have him shut his eyes while you get ready.
How to entertain a grandpa:
Somersault across the room, put on a scary play, show off your muscles.
You may want to have some extra tricks; grandpas always clap for more!
Pretty soon, he will want to join the fun, so play with your grandpa too.
How to play with a grandpa:
March with your drum, give him a kazoo, build a pirate cave (make sure you can both fit), watch out for sharks in the water, and don’t let your feet touch the floor.
When your grandpa says, “Nap time,” it’s time for his nap.
The best way to put him to sleep is to have him read a long book over and over, even if you’re sleepy too.
Babysitters have to stay awake while he naps.
Draw a picture for his fridge.
What to draw for a grandpa:
A pirate shark battle, your favorite dinosaur, you and your grandpa splashing in a puddle.
Then wake up your grandpa!
You might want to try lifting him with your muscles, tickling his nose and toes, singing “On Top of Old Smoky” softly, then louder and louder.
Now ask, “Will mom and dad be home soon?”
Your grandpa will look at the clock and say, “Yikes! Soon, very soon.”
Good babysitters can’t leave messes, so turn on some bouncy music and get to work!
When you hear your mom and dad, grab your grandpa’s hand and pull him behind the couch.
Show him how to be quiet.
Whisper, “See, Grandpa? They always come back.”
Now comes the hardest part: goodbye time.
How to say goodbye to a grandpa:
Surprise him with the picture, give him a hug and a kiss, a hug and a kiss, a hug and a kiss, and ask, “When can I babysit you again?”
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*Bye!*
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any unnecessary or repetitive elements.
