The relationship between kids and their grandparents is special. As parents, our role is one of constant caregiver, teacher, and disciplinarian. It is a job that is both rewarding and overwhelming. By the time parents become grandparents, the hard days are long gone. Time spent with their grandchildren is more carefree.
A Grand Date is the perfect opportunity for kids and their grandparents to spend time together without mom and dad.
Not only does it allow for a special bond between the generations, but it also gives mom and dad a much-needed break. Now hand over this issue to the grandparents for great ideas that might work for a Grand Dates!
Get Some Exercise
There are so many options for grandparents interested in athletics to share with their grandchildren. Find new places nearby to hike, rent kayaks or canoes at the local river, or go on a bike ride to a destination like an ice cream shop. For the competitive family, consider a round of golf (or mini golf), bowling, or even pickleball.
Head to the Kitchen
Make use of the fresh Valley produce by baking zucchini bread or canning some tomato salsa. Roll out some homemade pasta or pierogis. Make a batch of homemade ice cream with a hand crank or electric ice cream maker. Even if you are not an expert in the kitchen, you can take a cooking class made just for families.
Put Something Together
Creating projects is a great bonding activity. You can put together a block set, make a no-sew blanket, or build a birdhouse or Little Free Library. Other ideas include building a fort, creating a scrapbook, or planting a garden. Not crafty? Putting together a simple puzzle is a great way to spend the afternoon and talk.
Play a Game
Games are not only fun, but they are beneficial to the mental health of kids and grandparents alike. Younger kids can play simple card games. Older kids will enjoy classic games like dominos, chess, or board games. On nice days, you can even move the games outdoors to play cornhole or basketball.
Share Your Love of Music
If you know how to play an instrument, you can pass on your knowledge. Or if you like to dance, learn a new dance together—maybe one from your generation and one from your grandkids!
Volunteer with Them
Choose something you both love like walking dogs at an animal shelter or sorting books at a library sale. You can also help out organizations close to your heart by volunteering at their events— like pancake breakfasts, marathons, or walks.
Be a Hometown Tourist
There are so many sites many of us don’t see in our hometown because we are so busy living day-to-day life. Consider visiting local libraries and museums. Take a food tour to try restaurants and enjoy their special events like live music or book signings. Don’t forget to check out small theaters in your hometown to see local people in your favorite plays.
Don’t Let Distance Deter You
There are still ways to have a Grand Date when you don’t live nearby. The benefit of technology allows families to see each other as if they were sitting across the table. You can play Pictionary, explore virtual museums, take an online painting class, read books together, or host a watch party of a show you both love.
For those kids whose grandparent has passed on, they can still enjoy a Grand Date with someone who can share stories about their grandparents, like a parent, great aunt or uncle, and of course, their surviving spouse. Take a day to visit their grandparents’ favorite restaurant, old neighborhood, or final resting place. Be sure to do something that they enjoyed like going to a ball game or decorating sugar cookies.