Grandparent Discoveries Blog

Led by retired Kindergarten teacher and grandmother of four Cheryl Beaudoin, Grandparent Discoveries explores the joys and challenges of grandparenting. Featuring a mix of Cheryl’s first-person perspective and the thoughts of child development experts, we hope to prompt a lively exchange of stories, questions and ideas. Leave us your comments or email gpdiscoveries [at] gmail.com (gpdiscoveries[at]gmail[dot]com). 

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a grandmother and granddaughter work on a crafting project together

One-on-One Time with Grandchildren

Cheryl Beaudoin
relationships
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of spending quality time with each of my grandchildren individually, and how best to do it. As they are growing up (way too quickly!) they are. . .
two young girls stand on a large rock

Camp Gigi: Changing with the Times

Cheryl Beaudoin
camp
Welcome back! Thank you for your patience as I’ve been on a little hiatus to plan my daughter’s wedding. It was definitely all-consuming! I’d like to share how Camp Gigi evolved last summer. As those. . .
very large statue of a bright green dinosaur, outdoors

Grandparents, we'd love to hear your ideas!

Cheryl Beaudoin
Discovery Museum has long recognized grandparents as an essential element of our community. That is why we launched this blog three years ago...it’s been a lot of me talking to you. Now it’s your turn!
a grandmother pushes four young children in a large swing, outdoors

Live longer—play with your grandchildren!

Cheryl Beaudoin
activities, health, play
Recently, a friend sent me an article that appeared in The Washington Post last summer, “Want to live longer? Play with your grandkids. It’s good for them, too.” The article discusses research that suggests that having playtime with grandchildren keeps grandparents active and healthy longer and can extend their lives. What great news!
a young boy and girl kneel down to pet the head of a brown cow that is lying in the grass in front of them

Camp Gigi, Year 3

Cheryl Beaudoin
books, camp, memories
This summer was the third year of Camp Gigi and again it was different from past years. This year my two grands who attended camp were five years old and getting ready to enter Kindergarten. As they. . .
a grandmom smiles with her two grandchildren

How To Plan a Summer Camp

Cheryl Beaudoin
books, camp
It's the time of year when I begin planning for Camp Gigi, and I thought it might be helpful if I pulled together in one place all the advice I've given in various posts on how to plan a camp for your. . .
a grandmother speaks with her two grandchildren

How To Tell Stories to Children

Cheryl Beaudoin
relationships, storytelling
Last November, Discovery Museum hosted authors Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy to talk about their podcast, teachings, and book entitled, How To Tell Stories to Children as part of our Discovery. . .
a grandmother holds her grandbaby, smiling and singing to her

All About Lullabies, Part 2

Cheryl Beaudoin
music, relationships, singing
Have you ever started rocking your little grandbaby to calm them and have some nice cuddly time with a lullaby...but your mind goes blank? It happens to me all the time! In my wonderful discussion. . .
two young children in hooded rain jackets stand in a rain puddle together

Camp Gigi, Year 2

Cheryl Beaudoin
books, camp, memories, nature
I’m happy to report that Year 2 of Camp Gigi was a big success! This year, the second year that I held a week-long summer “camp” for my grandchildren, our schedule was much more free-flowing than the. . .
A grandmother squats down, holding a dandelion in front of her toddler granddaughter

Grandparenting Through Tragedy

Cheryl Beaudoin
I have been sitting with all the feelings associated with another school tragedy in our country. As a former teacher, it especially hits hard. Going through the safety drills with kindergarteners was. . .

Leaving Legacy

Cheryl Beaudoin
memories
I frequently think about the kind of “legacy” and memories I will leave with my grandchildren. I would guess that many grandparents think about this at some point or another. For me, this hit close to. . .