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Women's Legacy Project > Blog > KNOW > Culture > Communication > Clever Gifts Of Storytelling Grandmas

Clever Gifts Of Storytelling Grandmas

Written by: womenslegacy
Published: December 22, 2017 -- Last Modified: December 22, 2017
4 Comments

I hope you will consider how the gifts you choose for grandchildren, nieces, and nephews build relationships and generate storytelling, sharing, and yes, even learning.

  • Updated for 2017
  • Originally posted October 22nd, 2015

Disclosure:  Gabrielle Polt Balkan, author of The 50 States  is my step-daughter.  Other than parental pride per the atlas, and the Amazon Associates links, I received no compensation for any items in this review.  All opinions are my own.

 
I suggest a set of gifts that include: an atlas, a board game, and a puzzle.  Classic gifts. Tactile, interactive gifts are perfect for after meals and afternoons during family visits.  And if you are clever about it, no one will ever know that these gifts were all frames for promoting legacy storytelling and sharing family history.
ATLAS 
The 50 States: Explore the U.S.A with 50 fact-filled maps!
I would love this book even if it was not written by a kid whom I first took to many of the spots listed on the Arizona page of the Atlas, such as the Copper Queen in Bisbee, where we made her, as a teenager, stay in a room with her twerpy little sister.

the 50 States by Gabrielle Polt Balkan. This is the Arizona page that is loaded with fun facts and significant dates, people, and places that make the state come alive.

Arizona from The 50 States by Gabrielle Polt Balkan (author) and Sol Linero (illustrator.)


This freshly pressed atlas is so much more than a geography book.  It is fun and interesting.  Just look what honchos in the publishing industry say about it.

“A stylish atlas that evokes the character and diversity of the country, equally suitable for coffee tables or family vacations.” – Publisher’s Weekly

I totally agree with PW; it is a great edition for a Grandma’s coffee table.
Update:  50 Cities is now also available!  As is The Book of Bones.  Yes, both by Gabe, step-daughter extraordinaire.
The Book of Bones is not geographic, but you can talk about all the places you can find the bones or the animals that have the bones.

BOARD GAME
I was lucky enough to discover the the Binkele Family booth at the March 2015 Tucson Festival of Books with their Kickstarter-funded,  Mensa award-winning game, Trekking the National Parks.

The Binkele Family at their booth where they are selling their Mensa award winning board game about trekking the national parks.

The Binkeles and Trekking… at their booth at the Tucson Festival of Books.


Trekking the National Parks is for ages 12 and up, but I suspect there are some younger folks who can handle the demands of the game.  And of course pairing older and younger participants into two person teams allows younger kids to join in the game playing.
Why this puzzle, because it encourages talking about place.  You know, the place where Grandma lives, the place where your mother was born, the places we went to on vacation when your mom was a kid.  National parks are also a wonderful tool for learning geography.  State capitals are okay, but parks and grizzly bear, geysers,  and other park- associated animals and wonders provide memorable links for recalling places.
You may order directly from the family business site too.
Travel is a great subject for story-starting, so if you want a game for another age level or travel subject I recommend starting at this post on the Vamo blog that covers 24 travel-themed games.
PUZZLES
Plan on spending an evening browsing the jigsaw puzzles you will find on Amazon.  For this trio of gifts, you can find a perfect for family fun for all ages with a puzzle.
The items that caught my eye, and interest, when I researched puzzles for this article were not travel-related as much as place- or time-related.  What a great backdrop for discussing life on the farm or a particular city.
Are these not the cutest, retro puzzles for talking to a small child about what life was like when you were their age?
You can do travel-themed, complex, Ravensburger, 1000 piece puzzles or simpler Melissa and Doug puzzles, but if you are going with the suggested geography theme for younger kids, I recommend GeoPuzzles.  Why?

  • They offer varied world and country specific maps.
  • There are maps in multiple languages.
  • Most importantly, the puzzle pieces are the shape of the country.

 
There is no better gift than the gift of conversation, unless of course it is an educational and fun gift given with love.

Categories: Communication, Family, Featured Stories, How To, ReviewTags: 50 cities, atlas, B, board games, book of bones, books, elicitation tools, Gabrielle Balkan, geography, gifts, holiday gifts, jigsaw puzzles, reviews, suggestions, The 50 States, Trekking the National Parks

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol Cassara

    October 22, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    I love these suggestions! Start young, I say. Start young.

    Reply
    • Nancy Hill

      October 22, 2015 at 10:58 pm

      Thanks. I thought they were pretty good too!

      Reply
  2. Lauren Ivy Chiong

    October 27, 2015 at 6:58 am

    Storytelling about family history is so important! These games, etc., are wonderful conversation starters. My daughter is fascinated by family history, and she just turned six. I love this post as a reminder that telling family stories is a wonderful way to connect and bond.

    Reply
    • Nancy Hill

      October 29, 2015 at 9:39 am

      Lauren, I am so happy that you share family connecting stories with your daughter. Glad to reinforce your efforts. What a lucky daughter to have you!

      Reply

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