Episode 57 of the Adventures with Grammy podcase is an edited version of Episode 8 that features Kaitlyn Jain, author of Passports and Pacifiers Traveling the World One Tantrum at a Time.

 

I am putting that interview on replay because I am caring for four of my grandchildren while their parents are away. I chose playing with my grandchildren instead of creating a new episode. This interview was popular last year, and I think new listeners will like it, too.

 

Before we listen to my interview with Kaitlyn, I have three important announcements. All links are in the show notes.

1. Sign up for my newsletter by visiting my website: https://adventureswithgrammy.com and clicking the newsletter signup link, or text to join! Start by texting Grammy to 22828.
2. I interviewed Manny Oliverez, the author of 100 Things I love about Grandpa on Episode 52. We will be giving a copy of his book to one of the Adventures with Grammy newsletter subscribers when he and his daughter are guests on an upcoming podcast. You may recall that Manny is a HUGE Disney fan and regularly vacations there with his family. His daughter owns a Disney concierge travel service; they will be here in time for spring vacation to give us tips on how to best navigate the Florida theme park.
3. A quick reminder that my family history storytelling journals are available for sale on my website. Family history is important, and your story is important, but you must “write it down to pass it down.” (TM) The journals are filled with tips to do just that. To learn more visit adventureswithgrammy.com.

Kaitlyn Jain says of her book, “Welcome to the true story of two crazy parents traveling with four small children…on a budget. Part memoir, part guide, this travelogue serves as an inspiration to new and seasoned parents alike. Starting with two bumbling parents taking their Never-Sleep infant to Italy and ending with an adventure across Scandinavia, Passports and Pacifiers follows a naïve, baby-wearing family on eight memorable, and nap-centered trips.”

 

Here’s the replay of my interview.

Kaitlyn Jain
Passports and Pacifiers: Traveling the World, One Tantrum at a Time

Website: www.kaitlynjain.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PassportsandPacifiers/
Instagram: @kaitlyn.jain                                                                                                                               Twitter: @KaitlynJain

 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmR9hMgAAdR2GeOE7CnT0Lg

Rob Gorski’s three sons are on the Autism Spectrum. When he first learned about autism, he was angry, bewildered and often felt alone. He poured his thoughts and feelings into a blog he never imagined anyone would read, but they did. In 2020, he launched his podcast … the Autism Dad. Rob is with us today to share his journey, to introduce us to his sons, and to assure families who enter the world of autism they are not alone.

His website is https://listen.theautismdad.com/

App:

Books:

It Takes a Village: How to Build a Support System for Your Exceptional Needs Family 

by Amy Nielsen

Your Defiant Child: 8 Steps to Better Behavior

by Russell A. Barkely, PhD and Christine M. Benton

Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents

by Russell A. Barkely, PhD

Winning Cooperation from Your Child: A Comprehensive Method to Stop Defiant & Agressive Behavior in Children

by Kenneth Wenning, PhD

BLOGS:

Debunked Vaccine Study

https://www.vox.com/2018/2/27/17057990/andrew-wakefield-vaccines-autism-study

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/autism-vaccine-link-debunked

Meltdowns:

Episode 13 How to Handle a Child’s Meltdown with Doug Noll

TV and Film

Tyson’s Run (released 3.11.22) starring Major Dodson, who has autism

Rain Man starring Dustin Hoffman

The Good Doctor starring Freddie Highmore

To learn more about this podcast, Adventures with Grammy, and books by Carolyn Berry, visit

https://adventureswithgrammy.com

Sign up for the Adventures with Grammy newsletter by texting Grammy to 22828 to get started!

 

My guest today is Anieke Lamars, the co-founder & CEO of Peekabond — an app that helps families across the world build bonds with young children at a distance. The app combines asynchronous video connections, with playful, science-based inspiration, including games, stories and songs to help long-distance grandparents connect with their grandchildren.

 

I like the app because I can record a video my grandchildren can watch when it is convenient for their parents. Links to learn more about the app and download it are in the show notes.

 

Download the Peekabond App

Learn about Peekabond

Watch a video about Peekabond

 

To provide feedback about the app, send a e-mail to Anieke@peekabond.com

 

To learn more about this podcast, Adventures with Grammy, and books by Carolyn Berry, visit

https://adventureswithgrammy.com

 

 

Sign up for the Adventures with Grammy newsletter by texting Grammy to 22828 to get started!

Our guest today is Dr. Judith Van Hoorn, a grandmother, educator and expert on young children’s play. In addition to numerous college textbooks about play, she has written a book for grandparents, which we will discuss today.

 

The title is

The Gift of Play: How Grandparents Enhance the Lives of Young Children by Dr. Judith Van Hoorn, Author

 

 

To contact her, send an e-mail to grandparentsgiftofplay@gmail.com    

 

To learn more about Adventures with Grammy and books by Carolyn Berry, visit

https://adventureswithgrammy.com

 

 

To leave feedback about the podcast and to suggest guests and topics, send an e-mail to carolyn@adventureswithgrammy.com

 

Signing up for the newsletter is easy! Start by texting Grammy to 22828 to get started.

 

Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Judy Van Hoorn.

 

Do you know that playing a musical instrument is the only thing we do that exercises the entire brain at once? When a child learns to play a musical instrument, the entire brain exercises. Music involves the left, right, front and back portions of the brain making music the most powerful brain-building activity.

Children involved in music are better at reading, writing, math, language arts, spelling, vocabulary, and memorization because music builds the three areas of the brain necessary for learning: auditory cortex, visual/spatial cortex and motor cortex. 

Follow Sharlene Habermeyer, the author of Good Music Brighter Children, to learn more about how music supports these areas of the brain and increases learning. Click here to buy her book. 

Follow her on Instagram @GoodParentingBrighterChildren (@goodparentingbc) • Instagram photos and videos

and https://goodparentingbrighterchildren.com/

Read her blog posts about music: Good Music Brighter Children Archives — Good Parenting Brighter Children

Sign up for the Adventures with Grammy newsletter by texting Grammy to 22828 to get started!

To learn more about Adventures with Grammy and books by Carolyn Berry, visit

https://adventureswithgrammy.com

To leave feedback about the podcast and to suggest guests and topics, send an e-mail to carolyn@adventureswithgrammy.com

Our guest this week is Gene Rice, one of the writers of Grad to Grown-up: 68 Tips to Excel in Your Personal and Professional Life. To learn more about his book, go to https://www.gradtogrownup.com/

Click here to order Grad to Grown-up:

68 Tips to Excel in Your Personal and Professional Life

To learn about his foundation, visit https://plantaseedfoundation.org/

Congratulations to Linda with Kasten Copywriting, who is the winner of a copy of Gene’s book.

He also will be giving a t-shirt to the 10th person to download excerpts from his book:  https://www.gradtogrownup.com/for-free

Sign up for the Adventures with Grammy newsletter by texting Grammy to 22828 to get started!

To learn more about Adventures with Grammy and books by Carolyn Berry, visit

https://adventureswithgrammy.com

To leave feedback about the podcast and to suggest guests and topics, send an e-mail to carolyn@adventureswithgrammy.com

Today’s guest is Denise Gruzensky, the author of Not Like the Others: Harley’s Story, the first book in her series “Life Lessons from Fur Friends.”

Harley’s story is one of unconditional love … the story of rescue and adoption … and the story of living with diabetes. A family nurse practitioner, Denise, who has a passion for rescues, also is a mom to four little humans. Her forever family through adoption started when she rescued Harley.

Before I welcome Denise to the podcast, I need to update you about my family. I mentioned a few episodes ago my mother has been diagnosed with vascular dementia. I had realized she was becoming more forgetful, but I shrugged it off because she is 89 years old, and I figured her forgetfulness was part of the aging process. Unfortunately, it is much more serious. I am devastated for my mother. Within the past year her primary care doctor had declared Mom the picture of health. He had predicted she would live past 100 years old. I never ever suspected my mother might one day receive this diagnosis.

I recently drove to South Carolina to spend time with my mother and help her put a few things into place, and I plan to spend more time with her. I love my mother very much and want her to live the happiest and most stress-free life possible. I have decided to pause my podcast for a short while. My plan is to remix earlier episodes with new introductions and to continue to interview guests. I just cannot commit right now to new episodes for the next several weeks.

I am so very thankful for each person who has listened to the podcast. You have helped the podcast grow and you have helped me grow personally. Thank you!

I will remain active on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. You can follow me @grammyadventure. If you have not subscribed to my newsletter, please do so by clicking on the link in the show notes or by texting the word Grammy to 22828 to get started.

Enjoy my conversation with Denise!

Denise’s Dish – Dishing family & dog life. (denisegruzensky.com)

Not Like the Others: Harley’s Story by Denise Gruzensky

Love Languages

The Connected Child

Social Media

https://www.Instagram.com/denise_gruzensky

(11) Denise Gruzensky | Facebook

Sign up for the Adventures with Grammy newsletter by texting Grammy to 22828 to get started!

To learn more about Adventures with Grammy and books by Carolyn Berry, visit

https://adventureswithgrammy.com

To leave feedback about the podcast and to suggest guests and topics, send an e-mail to carolyn@adventureswithgrammy.com

Episode 68 is a rebroadcast of Episode 12 of the Adventures with Grammy Podcast. This episode features Mehreen Tenvir, who is known as Mom at the Museum on Instagram.

This rebroadcast is timely because museums across the United States are opening their doors once again and welcoming visitors despite the ongoing threat of COVID.

A former docent for the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., Mehreen Tanvir shows us how to turn trips to museums into enjoyable learning adventures for children and adults. She carries a “bag of wonders” with her when she and her children visit a museum, and she reinforces the art they view by reading children’s books written about artists and their art. She says there is a strong correlation between art, music and children’s literature. They also says museum gift shops are her children’s favorite stops.

Please do me a favor and take a quick survey to help me learn how I can improve the podcast and find interesting guests for you to meet. The link is at the top in the Show Notes. I hope you enjoy this rebroadcast!

https://www.instagram.com/momatthemuseum/

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/
https://www.nga.gov/education/kids.html

#MomattheMuseum

#Smithsonian
#Hirshhornmuseum
#FreerGalleryofArt
#NationalGallery
#NGAkids
#HirshhornInsideOut
#booksforchildren

Sign up for the Adventures with Grammy newsletter by clicking this link or by texting Grammy to 22828 to get started!

To learn more about Adventures with Grammy and books by Carolyn Berry, visit

https://adventureswithgrammy.com

To leave feedback about the podcast and to suggest guests and topics, send an e-mail to carolyn@adventureswithgrammy.com

 

Episode 69 is a rebroadcast of Episode 32 of the Adventures with Grammy Podcast. This episode features Amy Tilk, an engineer and the host of the Geocache Adventures podcast. Amy will give us insight as to the game’s origins, its worldwide popularity, and why it’s a good activity for grandparents and grandchildren.

 

Tips

Download the geocaching app; create an account (it’s free)
Always bring a pencil or pen with you
If you want “SWAG,” bring SWAG to swap!

 

E-mail: Geocache.adventures.podcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/shadowdragn1
Screen name: shadowdragn1
Podcast: https://geocacheadventures.org/

 

Learn more about geocaching:

https://www.geocaching.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAMDxjeeaJU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJqjfNE9nbs

https://www.instagram.com/geocaching/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/410405635699854

 

Books:

https://shop.geocaching.com/default/clothing/kids/sean-and-friends-go-geocaching-activity-book.html

***************

Sign up for the Adventures with Grammy newsletter by clicking this link or by texting Grammy to 22828 to get started!

To learn more about Adventures with Grammy and books by Carolyn Berry, visit

https://adventureswithgrammy.com

To leave feedback about the podcast and to suggest guests and topics, send an e-mail to carolyn@adventureswithgrammy.com

 

Adventures with Grammy Newsletter

To sign up, visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/7ZleyB4

 

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/grammyadventure

https://instagram.com/grammyadventure

 

Music:

https://audiojungle.net/user/play_m

Let me know your thoughts about the podcast: send a Tweet to @grammyadventure or an e-mail to carolyn@adventureswithgrammy.com!

 

#grammyadventure

#adventureswithgrammy

 

 

Welcome to the Adventures with Grammy Podcast. I am your host, Carolyn Berry.

 

My guest for Episode 73 is Greg Payne, the host of the Cool-Grandpa podcast. At 48, Greg learned he soon would become a grandfather. He felt a bit panicky. He didn’t know a thing about being a grandfather, so he asked questions and embarked on a journey to build a community for grandfathers. I began our conversation by asking him about his podcast.

 

 

Welcome to the Cool Grandpa website – The Cool Grandpa – (cool-grandpa.us)

 

 

Sign up for the Adventures with Grammy newsletter by clicking this link or by texting Grammy to 22828 to get started!

 

To learn more about Adventures with Grammy and books by Carolyn Berry, visit

https://adventureswithgrammy.com

 

 

To leave feedback about the podcast and to suggest guests and topics, send an e-mail to carolyn@adventureswithgrammy.com

 

Social Media

https://instagram.com/grammyadventure

 

Music:

https://audiojungle.net/user/play_m

 

Let me know your thoughts about the podcast: send a Tweet to @grammyadventure or an e-mail to carolyn@adventureswithgrammy.com!

#grammyadventure

 

#adventureswithgrammy

End Gun Violence; Learn How.

Welcome to Episode 74 of the Adventures with Grammy Podcast. I am your host, Carolyn Berry.

Today’s podcast is a different format from the usual guest interview. I, alone, will be speaking, and the topic is my views about gun control, specifically the guns used during school shootings.

If you are a hard-right, gun-toting person who believes high-velocity guns and ammunition designed to inflict mass carnage on people should continue to be legal, this episode is not for you. Sadly, if the riddled bodies of little children don’t change your mind, I know nothing I say will do so either, so don’t listen.

My audience for today’s episode are those grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and the public at-large who are tired of politicians extending their thoughts and prayers to the victims and the families of those killed at Columbine, Sandy Hook, Uvalde, Buffalo, Boulder, Atlanta, Dayton, El Paso, Virginia Beach, Virginia Tech, Thousand Oaks,  Pittsburgh, Parkland, Sutherland Springs, Las Vegas, Orlando, Roseburg, Oak Creek, Tulsa and elsewhere.

Thoughts and prayers mean nothing without action.

I know the power of people who join to make things happen. Think soccer moms. Think parents of children with autism.

If you are as enraged as I am that day after day the news is filled with reports of the slaughter of innocent people who should have been safe learning in their schools, praying at their houses of worship, shopping at their neighborhood grocery stores, and performing their duties in their work environments, then you can make a difference.

If you are as irate as I am that Congress has not passed legislation to minimize these killing fields, then you can make a difference.

If you are as furious as I am when you hear politicians say, “Guns are not the problem. Mental health problems are,” then you can make a difference.

Please continue to listen and I will show you how.

There is no doubt the lack of mental health services in the United States is a huge problem, but Guns ARE the issue I am addressing today. In particular, the AR-15, which is designed as a semiautomatic version of the military-grade M16. In fact, the AR-15 first was marketed to the military as a lighter weight version of the M16. It is the AR-15 … gunmen used in the most recent attacks in Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tulsa.

During the next few minutes, I will give you nine facts, I will ask you to think about five things, I will ask you to do five things to protect our children and grandchildren, and I will give you four resources. Don’t worry about taking notes. Links to the resources and support of the facts I cite are in the show notes.

Since I will be mentioning lots of numbers, the complete transcript is in the show notes as well.

FACTS

1. The gunman who massacred 19 young children and two teachers and wounded 17 others in Uvalde took more ammunitioninto Robb Elementary School than a US soldier takes into a wartime battle. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said the gunman fired 142 rounds at the children and around the school.

He legally bought two AR-15 rifles and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition in the days after his 18th birthday at a cost of about $4,000. Some reports say he saved money working at Wendy’s. Other reports say he bought the guns and ammunition on credit

Salvador Ramos took more ammunition into Uvalde elementary school than US soldier takes into battle | The Independent

2. Since the massacre in Uvalde May 24, 2022, there have been 21 mass shootings throughout the U.S. as if June 3, 2022.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/02/mass-shootings-in-2022/

3. According to Gun Violence Archive, from January 1, 2022, to June 3, 2022, 18,346 people have died from gun violence, which includes 222 mass shootings and 12 mass murders.

Of the more than 18,000 killed    , 695 were children ages 17 years old and younger.

During that same period, 15,389 people were injured from gun violence. 1,724 of those injured were 17 years old and younger.

The Gun Violence Archive defines mass shootings as any incident in which four or more people were shot but not necessarily killed, excluding the shooter.

https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

Heartbreaking Photos From the Uvalde School Shooting and Its Aftermath | PEOPLE.com

4. Most models of the AR-15 were illegal in 1994 when Bill Clinton was president. That ban lasted until 2004, then it lapsed. The National Rifle Association and other forces thwarted the renewal of the ban.

The rise of the AR-15: Why America is defending a ‘weapon of war’ | The Independent

5. Bernie Sanders said during the assault weapons ban from 1994-2004, mass shootings went down 43%. After it expired, mass shootings tripled.

The rise of the AR-15: Why America is defending a ‘weapon of war’ | The Independent

6. Experts estimate private Americans own more than 19 million AR-15s, and the high-powered rifle makes up only a fraction of the overall US gun market.

American schools and public places have become ‘battlefields’ says Biden in call for action on gun violence | The Independent

7. Texas has some of the most relaxed gun laws in the whole US.

Last year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott relaxed gun laws even further allowing most Texans to carry handguns openly in public without any training or a permit.

Long guns, such as the weapons used in last week’s attack, already could be carried without a permit.

Salvador Ramos took more ammunition into Uvalde elementary school than US soldier takes into battle | The Independent

8. Abbott blames the mass shooting in Uvalde on mental health issues.

He said, “We as a state, we as a society, need to do a better job with mental health. Anybody who shoots somebody else has a mental health challenge. Period. We as a government need to find a way to target that mental health challenge and to do something about it.”

In April, he announced he would be moving nearly $500 million from state agencies to fund Operation Lone Star, a Texas-Mexico border security initiative jointly being conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department.

Of that nearly $500 million, $210.7 million was from Texas Health & Human Services, which oversees public mental health programs.

If Gov. Abbott believes mental health is the root cause of mass shootings, why did he slash funds from that budget?

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/gov-abbott-places-shooting-blame-mental-health-texas/story?id=84993527

9. According to historian Heather Cox Richardson, a poll shows “huge support” for gun regulations. It showed that 88% of voters support background checks on all gun sales, while 8% oppose such checks.

84% of voters support preventing gun sales to people who have been reported to police as dangerous by a mental health; only 9% oppose it.

77% of voters support requiring guns to be stored in a safe storage unit, while only 15% oppose such a requirement.

A national database for gun sales gets 75% approval and 18% disapproval.

Banning assault style weapons like the AR-15 has an approval rate of 67% of voters while only 25% disapprove.

Republicans appear to be doubling down on their support for expanded gun rights, trying to convince gun owners that the regulations under which we lived until 2004 will somehow end gun ownership altogether.

 May 27, 2022 – by Heather Cox Richardson (substack.com)

  

Here are 5 Things to Think About

1. My question is why would someone disapprove? If universal background check and red flag laws create barriers to someone owning a gun, then they must be a person who should not have one.

2. I am a retired teacher. I practiced active shooter drills with my students. Even though students and teachers knew the drills were practice only, we still felt afraid.

Active shooter drills hurt children emotionally, especially since mass shootings occur at least once a week in the United States.

Experts recommend talking openly with your children and teaching breathing techniques to calm their fears. Within the next few weeks, a guest on this podcast will address how to help your children and grandchildren.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/27/health/lockdown-drill-impact-kids-parenting-wellness/index.html

Here is another statistic to think about, and it is shocking.

3. Patrick Sharkey, the William S. Tod Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University, studied the public’s anger and sadness about mass shootings.

His research shows the public’s anger and sadness fade after four days … FOUR DAYS

He says that “doesn’t mean we forgot about the shooting or no longer cared. It just means that we returned to our lives, that the horror of what had happened had moved away from the forefront of our consciousness even as the sadness and anger lingered in the background.”

FOUR DAYS and the raw emotions fade.

How long are Americans sad and angry about mass shootings? Four days. – The Washington Post

4. The fourth point to think about is a 2019 research report from Harvard Business School. It shows gun-related bills increased at the state level following mass shootings. However, and this is what I need you to think about, with few exceptions, the legislation relaxed gun restrictions. I will repeat that: the research shows that In Republican-controlled state legislatures, mass shootings have led to a large increase in legislation designed to loosen gun restrictions.

Why?

Because constituents and organizations who want fewer gun restrictions write letters and donate money to politicians. In other words, money talks.

Microsoft Word – The Impact of Mass Shootings on Gun Policy v29[1].docx (hbs.edu)

5. The fifth thing to consider is that 18-year-old adults, especially males, are not mature enough to own guns. The human brain’s prefrontal cortex does not mature until a person is about 25 years old, which often leads to impulsive behavior. Males, especially, do not understand the consequences of their behaviors. Therefore, young adult males are far more reckless and prone to violence than their counterparts in other age groups, and their leading causes of death include fights, accidents, and driving too fast. An expert who will explain brain function and impulsivity more fully will be a guest on an upcoming episode of the Adventures with Grammy Podcast.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/06/03/why-so-many-mass-shooters-young-angry-men/

What can we do to keep our children and grandchildren safe?

There are five simple steps.

1. Call your congressional representative – senate and the house.

2. Call your state and local representatives

3. Write letters to editors

4. Respond to people on social media with facts.

5. Vote during EVERY election. We cannot be complacent.

What do you say to your elected officials?

What do you write to news editors?

What do you say in your social media posts?

*Ban high-velocity assault weapons and the ammunition that goes with it

*Strengthen background checks

*Pass red flag laws

*Raise the legal age to purchase guns to at least 21. (I personally think it should be 25.)

Here are resources:

!. Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, will hold a hearing to examine the gun violence epidemic in the United States.

The link to watch it is

https://oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/following-uvalde-and-buffalo-mass-shootings-oversight-committee-to-hear-from

The Committee has been examining gun violence in the United States for several years, and in 2019 launched an investigation into gun dealers that sell guns used in crimes.  On April 28, 2022, the Committee released preliminary findings from its investigation, showing that a small number of gun dealers—particularly those in states with lax gun laws—have sold thousands of guns used in violent crimes.

On May 27, 2022, the Committee sent letters to five leading manufacturers of semi-automatic rifles for information related to the manufacture, marketing, and sales of their weapons, to understand how these guns are fueling the gun violence epidemic and to inform gun safety legislation.

The hearing will examine the urgent need for Congress to pass commonsense legislation that most Americans support. This includes legislation to ban assault weapons and bolster background checks on gun purchases, while respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Speaking at the hearing will be a pediatrician from Uvalde, Texas, and the parents murdered Uvalde student Lexi Rubio, and a fourth-grade survivor of the Uvalde massacre.

Following Uvalde and Buffalo Mass Shootings, Oversight Committee to Hear from Parents of Victims, Survivor at Hearing on Gun Violence Crisis | House Committee on Oversight and Reform

2. Sandy Hook Promise | Facebook

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/

3. https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

4. https://www.bradyunited.org/

Added June 6, 2022

Opinion: Here’s the reason people tell me they want to buy an AR-15. And it’s simply ludicrous – CNN

###

The Bicentennial Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman

Positive Messages are Critical to Raising Healthy Children

My grandchildren love to tie dye shirts

 

Tie Dye simply is a technique of folding or scrunching cotton fabric and securing it with rubber bands or string, then applying dye. It’s easy and lots of fun albeit a bit messy. Most people I know limit tie dye activities to the summertime. No worries, I found a system that reduces the mess and works for when the weather keeps you inside. 

 

I introduced my grandchildren to the artistry of tie dye this summer when my granddaughter and I did this fun activity while on vacation. The boys expressed their creativity this past week.  

 

 

Let’s have fun!

 

Step One

Select a 100% cotton t-shirt, sweatshirt, bandana, socks or more. Keep in mind 100% cotton will shrink. 

Step Two

Buy your tie dye kit. I bought a kit with 18 colors made by Tulip that came in a plastic reusable container. The colors are vibrant and the process is quite simple.

https://www.amazon.com/Tulip-One-step-Tie-Dye-Party-Kit/dp/B01FV60TAS/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=tulip+tie+dye&qid=1635710681&s=arts-crafts&sr=1-4

Step Three

My grandson likes to draw designs on his shirts before applying the dye. He uses a thick black Sharpie. Some people embroider designs into their garments. This step is not necessary, but it adds an extra creative flair.

Step Four

Scrunch and fold your garment, then secure it with rubber bands or string. I discovered thicker ponytail ties actually are easier to use and reuse!  Visit my Pinterest account to see folding tips: https://www.pinterest.com/adventureswithgrammy/tie-dye/

Step Five

Cover your surface with a disposable table cloth or trash bags. Place a paper towel on the plastic directly under the banded t-shirt. It will help absorb extra dye. Keep a roll of paper towels nearby! 

Step Six

Put on plastic gloves, which will be included with your kit. Mix your dye according to the directions. If you use the Tulip brand, all you do is add the designated amount of water and shake. 

Step Seven

Apply the dye. You can squeeze the dye directly onto the t-shirt, or you can dap the tip onto the cloth.  You also can use a paint brush or sponge. Keep in mind the folds and bands will prevent the dye from saturating the fabric, so those places will stay white unless you dap the bottle tip between the folds. Colors placed close together will bleed into each other. Sometimes they will form pleasant colors, and sometimes they will look muddy.

Step Eight

Let the dye set. Place the garment into a plastic food storage bag and seal it closed, or wrap it in plastic wrap. Place the bag in a warm area for at least 8 hours. The longer you let the dye set, the more vibrant the colors will be.

Step Nine

With the bands in place, rinse your garment in cold running water until the water runs clear. Remove the bands. Some people cut the rubber bands. I like to reuse them, so I will pull them off. I discovered the thick pony tail bands are easier to remove and reuse.

Step Ten

Dry on t-shirts thoroughly. When I was a kid, this meant hanging them on the close line on a hot summer day to heat set the colors. If the weather doesn’t permit you to do that now, throw them in a hot clothes dryer until thoroughly dry. You also can iron them or use a heat press to set the colors. I recommend washing each garment individually before wearing and repeating the drying process. I also recommend washing each garment individually for at least one or two more washings to ensure the dye does not run and ruin other clothing.