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From a child health perspective, older Canadians are vitally important family members and an important resource to parents, children, and the community.
Supporting younger families as caregivers, as voices of wisdom, as links to history and culture, and as sources of parenting information. The best way for
older Canadians to have a positive impact on the healthy development of grandchildren and young children in their care is to get involved. For some, getting
involved will be as easy and as natural as breathing! But for others it may feel like treading on eggs. If that is how you feel, here are some ways that grandparents
(and surrogate grandparents) can play an active role and stimulate development at the same time.
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| Language Development |
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| Talking Together |
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Share your family history with your grandchild. Talk with them about their feelings, wishes, fears, hopes and dreams.
Use simple sentences and language, but talk normally as if you were talking with any friend. Even chatting over milk
and cookies becomes a precious memory for both of you!
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| Singing |
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Singing The "oldies" are usually the "goodies", traditional songs, lullabies, and hymns help build an appreciation
of the texture and cadence of music: music's repetitive qualities are also soothing and comforting. Sing what you like,
perhaps your wee ones will enjoy the music you loved as a youngster too!
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| Poems and Stories |
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The development of a child's sense of rhythm can be positively encouraged through rhythm and rhyme, especially when
accompanied by eye contact, smiles, gestures, and "sound effects".
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| Reading |
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An early introduction to the wonderful, magical world of books is one of the great gifts that can be given to
any child. Reading to children can begin before they're even sitting up!
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