1. Baking Together: Make cookies, cakes, or pies. Let the grandchildren help with measuring, mixing, and decorating. A bonus: wrap the baked goods up and give them to friends and neighbors as just-for-fun gifts.
2. Gardening: Plant flowers, vegetables, or herbs. It's a great way to teach kids about nature, patience, and responsibility.
3. Arts & Crafts: Everyone loves them! Create art with painting, drawing, or making crafts like origami animals, tie dye, or papier-mâché. You can also create something more substantial together at your local pottery studio.
4. Storytelling: Share family stories or read books together. We happen to have a great one to recommend (click here)! 🥰
5. Get Outdoors: Go for nature walks, hikes, or bike rides. Explore nearby natural treasures like state parks, or make it into a road trip adventure!
6. Board Games and Puzzles: Kids do love their screens and video games, but trust us, they still love analog games too! Play the classics like checkers, chess, or cards, or get a great puzzle. You can even create your own puzzle!
7. Have a Movie Night: Whether you watch one of their favorites, they watch one of yours, or you discover something new together, your Grandchild will love the quality time with you. Make it extra fun: pop some corn, pour some beverages, grab some candy, and/or use a portable projector to create your own big-screen anywhere!
8. Cook Together: Teach your Grandchildren how to cook your traditional family recipes. These are the kinds of experiences that stick with them forever. If you're feeling generous, you can also let your Grandkids "cook" by combining whichever ingredients they want from your pantry and fridge. Try to only use ingredients that are inexpensive or nearly expired. We don't want to encourage wastefulness, but this kind of activity could be a great opportunity for a child to learn about what happens when certain ingredients are combined. Ask them if their experimental recipe seems sweet, sour, whether it would be dinner, or dessert, etc.
9. Music: Sing songs, play instruments, have a dance party, you name it! Ask them what their favorite songs are, and learn about the music that's out there today. Then, share your favorites with them. You may introduce them to their new favorite!
10. Show Them New Places: Road trips are the best! Packed full of great opportunities for bonding, including your Grandchild in a day trip, overnight, or better yet, a weekend getaway is sure to be an experience they will never forget.
11. Look At Family Photos and Knick-knacks: Your Grandchild will love seeing photos of you and/or their parent as a child. These are often coupled with family stories, both of which help to enhance their identity and sense of belonging. They will also love exploring your home artifacts and hearing about how you got them, when, etc. Your shelves are often the most fascinating playground for your Grandkids.
12. Building Projects: Choose a model kit to assemble, build a birdhouse and welcome the birds together, or create your own craft at home.
13. Visit Museums or Zoos: Explore local museums, zoos, or aquariums. It’s a great way to learn and have fun.
14. Seasonal Activities: Plan activities that reflect the seasons. If you live in the appropriate climate, go apple picking in Fall, make snowmen in Winter, etc. If you live in a more temperate climate, you can plan crafts to make paper "snowmen," plan Holiday activities, etc.
15. Take Photos: We may be biased, but this is one of our favorites! Take photos as much as possible. You can't get these moments back.
16. Get Involved: Explore community or volunteer activities to get involved in. Volunteer at a local pet shelter, help clean up your beaches, do a community clean-up, plant trees in your local park, etc.
17. Do Science Experiments: There are many child friendly, safe experiments to do together. Try an online search or check out the super popular Kate the Chemist Books for project inspiration!
18. Scavenger Hunts: Create a treasure hunt with clues and small prizes. It's a super fun way to explore and solve puzzles together.
19. Cultural Exploration: Explore different cultures by visiting restaurants featuring international cuisine or learning a few words in another language. It’s a fun way to broaden horizons and learn together. One of our favorite things to do is a digital "spin the globe," and wherever we land on we have to learn something new about that place. This is also a great opportunity to tell your Grandchild of any travels you've had, or want to have!
20. Imaginary games: Imaginary games are a fantastic way for kids and adults alike to engage in creative play. These games encourage creativity, teamwork, and storytelling. While the list is (of course) endless, some of our favorites are:
