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September 19th
We’ve been browsing through the possible random holidays to celebrate in September and nothing sounds like it would be as fun with grandkids, or has as many possibilities as National Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Now we know, as do the creators of Talk Like a Pirate Day, that real pirates are not good people and that we should not run around acting like them. But rest assured we’re talking about all the pretend pirates from movies and storybooks, and it can be pretty fun to talk like them!
The Beginnings
How did Talk Like a Pirate day come about? The story goes that in 1995 two guys were playing racketball, and began talking like pirates. At the end of the game they realized that it had made the game more fun, and that time had passed more quickly.
They decided then and there that people needed a new national holiday. Through diligence and a little help in 2002 from syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry, Talk Like a Pirate Day lives on today.
So Aye-Aye fellow Sea Dogs! Set yer compasses fer adventure and explore some fun ways to connect with your kiddies on this fine day!
8 ways to have fun with grandkids on Talk Like a Pirate Day
1. Pirate Names
- Establish your pirate names – make your own, or use this easy What Be Your Pirate Name guide.
2a. Speak Pirate
- If you are long distance, facetime with the grandkids and have a conversation that includes speaking ‘pirate’ with your grandkids. Here’s a list of Common Words Pirates Use. And here’s an additional list of 51 Words Any Good Pirate Should Know from The Red Tricyle.
You could share these lists with them ahead of time and have fun finding something about your day to describe in pirate langauge.
2b. Eye Patches
- For extra fun, pick up a pack of pirate eye patches and send them to the grandkids before your phone call.
You could use one of the eye patches yourself and film a fun pirate themed greeting and text it to them on Talk Like a Pirate Day.
3. Pirate Messages
- Write a text message using pirate lingo.
4. Treasure Hunt
- If you know the lay of the land, and have support from the grownups, send a small prize, such as a gold coin or favorite piece of candy along with a treasure map. Have the grownups do the hiding, and the kids can hunt while you facetime them.
5. X Marks the Spot Craft
- For the crafty grandkids X Marks the Spot! Get out a piece of paper (a brown grocery bag would be great!) rip the edges so that they are uneven, and create treasure maps.
6. Pirate Word Search
- Use some of the words a pirate should know (from the idea above) to create a pirate word search, and complete it together over facetime. Simply google “create your own word search” and you will have lots of options. You can make it easier or more difficult based on your grandkids ages.
7. Read Pirate Storybooks
- For the younger set, read the story of Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map or Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC book. (If you have an unlimited kindle account, these books are free!)
8. Pirate Snacking
- Fill yer bellies with the spoils of your latest grocery store pillage. (Have snack together!) Some ideas might be ‘Grog’ – root beer, ‘Hard tack’ – oyster crackers, or there’s always Pirate Booty! (find it at your local grocery store).
And finally, me hearties, we hope this list doesn’t leave you feeling lily-livered and keelhauled but instead produces memories that are better than a treasure chest full of doubloons! Have fun celebrating!
Do you have some fun ideas for celebrating this day? We’d love to hear how you have fun with grandkids! Just leave us a comment below. Looking for other random holidays to celebrate? Check out other posts from “Connecting with Grandkids Via Technology“