Happy Grandparents Day!

by John Riggio

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed that we would celebrate National Grandparents Day on the first Sunday following Labor Day every year. We have received many requests for a song to use in conjunction with this holiday. And while we do have a number that are certainly pertinent (for example, "I Love You," Music K-8, Vol. 11, No. 3), we have never had a song with the word "grandparents" in it. So now we do!

This song is short and sweet. And very easy, so every student should be able to learn it quickly and sing it exuberantly! It's the kind of tune where you might have each student hold up a poster board with a letter on it spelling out "HAPPY GRANDPARENTS DAY!" Maybe have them bob to and fro as they sing it. Hopefully it will bring a smile to a grandparent or two. How could it not? Especially when they sing the word "happy" some 16 times through the course of the song! Be sure they shout out the letters "G-R-A-N-D!" and the final "Grand!" with lots of enthusiasm!

Text is taken from Music K-8 magazine.