Dear Grandparenting: Ever notice how the makers of toys or play activities you buy for your grandchild would have you believe it will help the little rascal get admitted into some Ivy League college like Harvard or Princeton? I’m talking about ordinary things like a little paint set I just purchased. The advertising on the box was “provides children with an opportunity to do original planning and thinking while creating expressive art.”

Original planning and thinking? Gimme a break! How many people take this advertising mumbo jumbo seriously? Whatever happened to good old-fashioned fun? — Deb Edwards, Waynesboro, Penn.

Dear Deb: Fun is optional, but who has time for it? Hey, it’s a rat race out there, even if you’re only six years old! Marketers and advertisers of products like you describe are playing to the fears and ambitions of the primary buyers - the parents and grandparents who believe that in today’s hyper competitive world, it’s never too early to develop the skills needed to succeed, or gain admission into society’s privileged class.



Grandparents are grand spenders when it comes to their grandchildren. According to a 2007 survey by Sacramento State University faculty members, America’s 56 million or so grandparents spend $27.5 billion annually on their grandchildren, an average of nearly $500 per child. But 72 per cent of the grandparents surveyed wished they could spend more, or borrow to do so.

Grand Remark    

Tom Shade of Frederick, Md., and his 3-year-old grandson Aarden were shooting the breeze, just like any other day.

“What’s in your head, Pop-Pop?” asked Aarden, somewhat suddenly.

Tom, thinking a great educational opportunity was at hand, replied, “Well, Pop-Pop has a brain in his head, just like you.”

Aarden pondered this for a while, and then said, “Gramma (Tom’s wife Delores) told me she has a cold in her head!”

(Dee and Tom, married more than 50 years, have eight grandchildren. The Hardies and cousin Key Kidder welcome questions, suggestions and Grand Remarks of the Week. Send to P.O. Box 27454, Towson, MD, 21285.)