OT entertaining a 6 year-old?

Make a small quilt, of course, if she's interested in quilting. Cut some
squares -- 5-6" might be a good size -- and help her sew them together.
Sandwich it, tie or quilt, and bind. Make it small for dolls if she's a
doll-playing girl or a bit bigger for her. It can be a memorial to her
grandfather and a memento of a day with you.

Julia in MN

On 10/3/2010 10:13 PM, Polly Esther wrote:
Friday a beloved relative had foot surgery and died from a blood clot.
He was only 57. We are stunned and hurting. His 6 year-old granddaughter
has asked to come stay with me during the church and cemetery rituals.
It's pretty tough to put our grief aside, let her parents and
grandparents grieve and try to shelter the young one at the same time
and good that she thinks I'm a comfortable person to visit with.
Hard to put all that into a preamble . . . but - I have a few ideas on
keeping a 6 year-old occupied - cookies, drawing, learning some simple
tune on the child size piano. Will probably let her drive the golf cart
in the pasture. The pickup truck quilt is underway and she can choose
some faces from my I Spy stash for looking out the truck's windows.
Help me. Our youngest grands are in their twenties and I am badly
wanting reminding of the attention span and needs of one this young.
What do I do for distraction and/or comforting? Polly


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On Oct 3, 11:13*pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:
Friday a beloved relative had foot surgery and died from a blood clot. *He
was only 57. *We are stunned and hurting. *His 6 year-old granddaughter has
asked to come stay with me during the church and cemetery rituals. *It's
pretty tough to put our grief aside, let her parents and grandparents grieve
and try to shelter the young one at the same time and good that she thinks
I'm a comfortable person to visit with.
* * Hard to put all that into a preamble . . . but - I have a few ideas on
keeping a 6 year-old occupied - cookies, drawing, learning some simple tune
on the child size piano. *Will probably let her drive the golf cart in the
pasture. *The pickup truck quilt is underway and she can choose some faces
from my I Spy stash for looking out the truck's windows.
* * Help me. *Our youngest grands are in their twenties and I am badly
wanting reminding of the attention span and needs of one this young. *What
do I do for distraction and/or comforting? *Polly


Oh Polly I am so sorry....

I'm so sorry for the loss Polly. That is really sad.
I am in the 'get them outside for fun' group. Always
lots of adventure in the back yard. Thanksgiving is a good time to paint a
handprint into a turkey. A trip to the library if that is an option. Do
kids make macaroni necklaces any more? Cards? I think I showed my neice
how to run the treadle at about that age, with close supervision and help.
I have no doubt you will do fine and she is a smart gal to opt for staying
with Auntie Polly.
Taria
"Polly Esther" wrote in message
...
Friday a beloved relative had foot surgery and died from a blood clot. He
was only 57. We are stunned and hurting. His 6 year-old granddaughter
has asked to come stay with me during the church and cemetery rituals.
It's pretty tough to put our grief aside, let her parents and grandparents
grieve and try to shelter the young one at the same time and good that she
thinks I'm a comfortable person to visit with.
Hard to put all that into a preamble . . . but - I have a few ideas on
keeping a 6 year-old occupied - cookies, drawing, learning some simple
tune on the child size piano. Will probably let her drive the golf cart
in the pasture. The pickup truck quilt is underway and she can choose
some faces from my I Spy stash for looking out the truck's windows.
Help me. Our youngest grands are in their twenties and I am badly
wanting reminding of the attention span and needs of one this young. What
do I do for distraction and/or comforting? Polly

So sorry for the loss of a family member. It is good she wanted to stay
with you during the church services. Why not let Yogi help her pass the
time. Dogs always sense what a child needs.
Barbara was in SC, now in FL

On Oct 3, 10:13*pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:
Friday a beloved relative had foot surgery and died from a blood clot. *He
was only 57. *We are stunned and hurting. *His 6 year-old granddaughter has
asked to come stay with me during the church and cemetery rituals. *It's
pretty tough to put our grief aside, let her parents and grandparents grieve
and try to shelter the young one at the same time and good that she thinks
I'm a comfortable person to visit with.
* * Hard to put all that into a preamble . . . but - I have a few ideas on
keeping a 6 year-old occupied - cookies, drawing, learning some simple tune
on the child size piano. *Will probably let her drive the golf cart in the
pasture. *The pickup truck quilt is underway and she can choose some faces
from my I Spy stash for looking out the truck's windows.
* * Help me. *Our youngest grands are in their twenties and I am badly
wanting reminding of the attention span and needs of one this young. *What
do I do for distraction and/or comforting? *Polly

I think you already have some great ideas of your own and with the
additional ones suggested here, I think you're golden. The little
darling probably won't want to go home. I'd like to add my sincere
condolences to you and your family on the loss of your loved one. I'm
sure you are all stunned....I was when simply reading it. (That's MY
age!) I know you are a source of comfort to your family as you are
to our newsgroup. I hope someone can comfort and nurture you!
KJ

Polly-
you have all the activities covered...I think that just being with YOU
and being able to talk about her grandfather in the midst of all the
activities will be what she goes for.

my 16 yr old and my 8 year old...both still love baking and board
games...usually played while the cookies are in the oven. it creates
a Stop and do this, now back to the game, scenario. Do you have any
pets? i'm betting if you do, she latches on to one of them quickly
g.

My condolences to you and your family. I know the idea of grieving
and having a six year old around can seem contradictory..but she will
remind you of the circle of life...and that both of you will enjoy
yourselves immensley.

betsey

Lucky child to have you to look after her! She probably has questions
that her nearest family might have trouble answering right now, and
she might be sensitive enough to moods that she hesitates to ask. But
if you could bear to talk about it, I'm sure it would be a real help.

And she's old enough to operate a sewing machine.
Roberta in D

On Sun, 3 Oct 2010 22:13:00 -0500, "Polly Esther"
wrote:

Friday a beloved relative had foot surgery and died from a blood clot. He
was only 57. We are stunned and hurting. His 6 year-old granddaughter has
asked to come stay with me during the church and cemetery rituals. It's
pretty tough to put our grief aside, let her parents and grandparents grieve
and try to shelter the young one at the same time and good that she thinks
I'm a comfortable person to visit with.
Hard to put all that into a preamble . . . but - I have a few ideas on
keeping a 6 year-old occupied - cookies, drawing, learning some simple tune
on the child size piano. Will probably let her drive the golf cart in the
pasture. The pickup truck quilt is underway and she can choose some faces
from my I Spy stash for looking out the truck's windows.
Help me. Our youngest grands are in their twenties and I am badly
wanting reminding of the attention span and needs of one this young. What
do I do for distraction and/or comforting? Polly

Thanks and no thanks. The little one has gone to her grandmother's. We had
a happy, busy time. I am Killed. No one mentioned the energy level of the
6 year-old. Someone should have warned me to take a nap before she arrived
and to get help. I think I'll go to bed tonight with the chickens. I may
go before that. Polly

On Oct 3, 10:13*pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:
Friday a beloved relative had foot surgery and died from a blood clot. *He
was only 57. *We are stunned and hurting. *His 6 year-old granddaughter has
asked to come stay with me during the church and cemetery rituals. *It's
pretty tough to put our grief aside, let her parents and grandparents grieve
and try to shelter the young one at the same time and good that she thinks
I'm a comfortable person to visit with.
* * Hard to put all that into a preamble . . . but - I have a few ideas on
keeping a 6 year-old occupied - cookies, drawing, learning some simple tune
on the child size piano. *Will probably let her drive the golf cart in the
pasture. *The pickup truck quilt is underway and she can choose some faces
from my I Spy stash for looking out the truck's windows.
* * Help me. *Our youngest grands are in their twenties and I am badly
wanting reminding of the attention span and needs of one this young. *What
do I do for distraction and/or comforting? *Polly

I'm so sorry for your families loss, Polly. I recommend playing dress
up also. It's a big hit with my little granddaughter. Hats, lots of
jewelry, high heels, and some old prom formals or bridesmaid dresses
are a big hit. I hope you both have fun together. Donna

No one mentioned the energy level of the
6 year-old.

Ummm... It was in there...

On Oct 4, 9:18 am, "Dr. Zachary Smith"
wrote:
....
Polly, *you* drive the golf cart and let her do a nature walk &
collect stuff to do things with later.
.....
She may also
need something more physical (exercise or to wear her down to your
speed - depends on the kid).

My last bit of advice. Think like Yogi. Kids (especially 6 and
younger) are more like dogs than we think.
Kids & dogs are always on the wrong side of a door.
Kids & dogs always need something just as you sit down.
Kids & dogs always need a snack/drink at the most inopportune times.
The list goes on...


On Oct 4, 6:07 pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:
Thanks and no thanks. The little one has gone to her grandmother's. We had
a happy, busy time. I am Killed. No one mentioned the energy level of the
6 year-old. Someone should have warned me to take a nap before she arrived
and to get help. I think I'll go to bed tonight with the chickens. I may
go before that. Polly