Kids look forward to spending time at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house. To prepare for a visit, it’s a good idea to have some ideas up your sleeve. Just think: the things you do together might someday become part of their most treasured memories of childhood.
But how long has it been since you were thinking up things to do with your own kids? Do kids these days like to do the same things? What if you hear those dreaded words, “I’m bored!”?
If you are spending time with grandchildren, you may need an action plan. The good news is, kids still love to do many of the same things: explore, discover, spend time outdoors, play board games with a worthy opponent, and learn cool things about the world around them.
Here are five ways you can connect. Each is designed to help you get the most out of your time with your grandchildren.
Get Back to Nature:
- Fly a kite in the nearest park.
- Bring a picnic lunch and toss a Frisbee.
- Play catch.
- Blow giant soap bubbles.
- Make a game of searching for animals and birds.
- When it gets dark, collect fireflies and put them in a jar.
Plan the Ultimate Treasure Hunt:
If it’s been a while since you participated in a treasure hunt, here’s the basic gist:
- Kids read clues – one clue leads to the location of the next clue.
- If you have more than one grandchild, have them take turns reading the clues.
- Multiple grandkids mean you’ll need to have multiple treasures at the end.
- If kids are too young to read well, read the clues for them.
- The clues can be written as rhymed riddles, such as, “You don’t have to search very long or far, this is where you keep the car.”
- Puns add to all the fun, too.
Ideas for treasures:
A literal “treasure”, like a sack of coins; Dollar store toys; Jellybeans
Make it a Date (For Lunch!):
Kids these days watch the adults in their lives eating out all the time. One way to make your grandchildren feel special is to make a luncheon date with them. They’ll be honored that you are doing something “grownup” together. For extra points, let them order whatever they want.
Beat the Weather at a Museum:
Sometimes outdoor fun is appropriate, but other times call for the comfort of indoor activities. Visiting a museum with your grandchildren can be an excellent way to form new bonds over an appreciation of art and culture. Some museums have programs just for kids or days when admission is reduced or free for them. There are countless ways to enjoy a museum with your grandkids. Remember, their minds are like sponges and chances are they’ll absorb so much more than you realize.
Spark Their Inner Entrepreneur with a Garage Sale:
Kids love it when they feel like they are in charge. Let them have free reign with planning a garage sale. There are several stages to this classic activity.
- Sorting through your things together, choosing what to sell.
- Deciding on prices.
- Tagging the items.
- Setting up a cash box.
- Planning the display.
- Making posters.
- Hanging signs around the neighborhood.
- Deciding together how low you’ll go on certain big-ticket items.
- Setup on the day of the sale.
- Donating the unsold items together.
These five ideas for bonding with your grandkids are just a taste of what you can do. Now that you’ve got an idea of what can work, your own ideas are sure to start flowing. Just remember: kids are adaptable and open-minded. Whatever you have planned, the most important outcome is that you’re spending time together doing fun things!
by Tammy Vaughn, Aging Services, Inc.
