Grandchildren can be the greatest joy you have in your senior years. So please make the most of their visits, whether for a full day or several nights. Here are 23 fun activities for grandchildren when they spend a few days with you. Please take the opportunity to get to know them better and to teach them about something new. And have fun at the same time.
Yes, they can color coloring books, play in the backyard, go swimming in their pool, and play with the neighbor kids next door, but why do the same old thing. Instead, try something different and see how much fun trying something new might be for them.
If you have never had them overnight, I would try one night the first time. Grandchildren can wear you out.
Your House or Theirs?
Our grandchildren live a few hours to seven hours away. When their parents are out of town, we decide to have them stay at our house or theirs. We usually pick ours. The two that are seven hours away have grandparents that live close, so we haven’t cared for them overnight, but because of the distance, I’m sure we would pick their house if they ever needed us to watch the grandchildren overnight. Here is a list of pros for each location to help you decide.
Your house:
- You get to sleep in our own bed
- You know where everything is in your house
- It’s a change of scenery for the grandkids at your home. You have different toys and games.
- In our case, we have our own television where we can watch our pre-recorded shows after they are asleep
- We also have a few children’s movies recorded that they can watch, sparingly
Their house:
- They get to sleep in their own beds, in their own room(s)
- Everything they need is in their home. No forgotten underwear or toothbrush
- If pets need to be fed, you are there to feed them
- They can play with their own toys and swim in their pool if they have one
- If they need to practice piano or guitar, the instruments are there
It would be best if you made the decision that will be best for the grandchildren. And maybe slightly better for you.
“Grandchildren: my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye.”
– Author unknown
Keeping Them Happy and Entertained
Now that you have decided to care for the grandkids while their parents are out of town, what do you do? It has been some time since you were a child and your body has a way of reminding you of that. The last thing you want is for them to be bored and want their parents to come back. So you must prepare a few ideas ahead of time for them to do. Keep in mind their age group. Newborns and toddlers may require lots of holding, playing, and napping. School-age grandchildren present many opportunities for fun, both at the house and away.
Bake Cookies
Do they have a favorite cookie that you make? Let them help you make the cookies, and then eat one or two when they come out of the oven. I make peanut butter cookies they love, so I always have them available and take them along as a snack if we go away. Young children can help you by handing you the ingredients you have already laid out on the counter. The older they get, the more they can help, like using measuring cups and the mixer.
Be sure to give each child an apron. And, if needed, a step stool for them to stand on. Another essential thing to do is ensure you have the ingredients ahead of time.
Make Smoothies
Most children like smoothies. Let them pick out the flavor. Take them to the freezer to pick out frozen fruit. I would keep blending the smoothies, a grandma’s job, until they are old enough to do it.
Smoothies are especially nice on a hot day. On a cold day, make hot chocolate and let them throw in a few mini marshmallows.
Puzzles
Buy some puzzles ahead of time. Be sure to get puzzles that are easy for the younger ones. I have several large piece puzzles under 50 pieces for my 4 yr old. I start the seven and 9-year-old out finding the edges or working on one section of the puzzle, such as a dog, a checkered table cloth, a snowman, or a butterfly. We usually have 500 – 1000 pieces in the puzzles they work on. I am there to help them so they don’t get frustrated.
Play Board Games or Card Games with them
Our favorite used to be the different Memory games. Our grandkids usually win since my memory is not that great. Other favorites are Candyland, Candyland, and Candyland. That seems to be the only game our granddaughter wants to play. She doesn’t have it at home. We do have Shutes and Ladders, Hi Ho! Cherry-o, Sequence, Yahtzee, and more.
The boys are old enough to play card games with PaPa. They can do that for hours.
Read to Them or Have Them Read to You
Young children enjoy being read to at bedtime or in the afternoon. Let them pick out the book if you have a lot of books. Older grandchildren that read can read to their younger siblings or read to their grandparents. This is good practice for them to read out loud.
Go to the Library
When we lived closer to a library, I took our grandkids to the library. I limited them to three books each. Plus, grandma must approve the books. If your library has a story hour, go to that. Libraries sometimes have interactive toys that the children can play with at the library.
When you get home, let each child pick one book and read it to them. Save the rest for later.
Chalk Drawing
Target sells a bucket full of fat sidewalk chalk for $3. Allow your grandkids to write on the sidewalk in the front or backyard. For safety reasons, I would keep them out of the street. Suggest they draw their family, a horse, their cat, etc. Stars and hearts are easier for the younger children. Even the alphabet and numbers 1-10 are great practice.
Bubbles
Blowing bubbles is a great activity. Bottles of bubbles with a wand inside are inexpensive toys. If you can spend a little more, go for the bigger bubble makers. You may have to play along with them if they are too young to create the bubbles. They can run and catch the bubbles. I recommend this be done on the grass, in case someone falls.
Make Christmas Ornaments
Hobby Lobby carries a large variety of Christmas ornament kits in the fall. Stock up on ones that your grandchildren can glue and paint. This makes a fun activity. Let them pick the ornament they want. This can be done any time of year, but it might be difficult for your grandkids to put them away for months before they can hang them on the tree. I especially like the ones that they paint, that look like stained glass.
Movie Night
If you are watching your children for several nights, designate one of the nights as a movie night. Be sure to confirm with their parents what would be acceptable for them to watch. Some movies made for children can be scary to a small child. Have everyone bathed and in their pajamas before you start the movie.
Look Through Photo Albums Together
I have most of my photos in albums. I used to make them myself, but have since started ordering photo books with my pictures on my phone. The grandkids like to look at themselves and their siblings when they were younger. We tried something new the last visit, showing them our pictures in our yearbook. Our oldest grandchild was amazed at how much I didn’t look like my high school senior picture.
Looking through photo albums give you an opportunity to talk to your grandchildren about their history and remember the good times they may have forgotten. Plus they get to see their own parents when they were younger.
Ride Bikes Together
If they are coming to your house you might want them to bring their bikes, if there is room. If there isn’t room, buy a few Big Wheels, scooters, or bikes at garage sales or on Facebook groups where people sell their used toys and bikes. That is how I got a lot of the toys that my grandchildren play with at my house. Plus the books that I have at our house.
If you are at their house, you may be able to ride their parent’s bikes or bring yours along.
Nature Walk
Find out where the closet nature walk is located ahead of time. You may want to take a walk there yourself ahead of time to make sure it’s not too difficult. Also, check if there is enough shade for bright summer days. Pack up a picnic lunch and go for a walk. Read any signs or markers to your grandchildren. Almost every outdoor activity can be turned into a learning experience. You can also go in the middle of the day and bring water bottles along instead of a picnic lunch.
Visit Your Local Museum
Every city has a museum or exciting place to visit. For example, we have a museum displaying animals and their habitat. Also, there is a planetarium. Since this would be inside, you don’t have to worry about the weather. Museums are usually relatively inexpensive, but they are full of learning opportunities.
Go Bowling
Our grandkids were 4, 6, and 8 when we first took them bowling. Bowling is a family activity. Bowling Alleys have a few lightweight ball for the smaller kids. They also have bumpers that come up from the floor to block the ball so they don’t get gutter balls. That way they have a better chance of hitting pins when they are not really aiming very good.
Fishing
Buy some children’s fishing poles or use yours and take them fishing at a local lake or river. If they catch a fish be sure to take a picture. I still have the picture of the first fish I ever caught. It might be the only one I ever caught. Be sure to get fishing licenses if they are required in your area.
Go to a Park
Whether it be a park with the best swings and slides or a water park, the grandkids will enjoy getting out of the house and doing something they can’t do at your/their home.
Go Out to Lunch or Breakfast Together
Going out for breakfast is special if they have never done it before. Even if breakfast is a muffin or donut and juice. If you choose lunch possibly pick their favorite place. If you go to Burger King ask for a crown. In ‘N Out Burger has signature hats that look like the ones the employees wear. McDonalds has their Happy Meals with a small toy included. Also if they give away stickers be sure to get some. If you don’t remember, your grandkids may help remind you. I know that when my grandkids go out with their mom they have water or milk to drink. Grandma treats them to a small chocolate shake. Remember you are making memories.
Pick Fresh Fruit or Vegetables in Season
Let your grandchildren help look for ripe fruit like cherries or tomatoes if you have a garden. They can carry a basket to help hold the produce you pick. Also let them help water the garden with a spray nozzle on the hose or with a watering can, depending on their age.
If you have a rural are near your home take the grandkids to a farm where they can pick fresh fruit and vegetable by themselves. Our favorite choice is blueberries or strawberries. Be sure to explain what a ripe piece of fruit looks like or you might end up with green blueberries and strawberries.
Take them to a Local Festival/Carnival
This is a seasonal one, that is most likely available in the summer. This can be an expensive one, also. Take them to a carnival or state fair or festival near you. They get to ride on rides, try to win prizes in games, and eat things like cotton candy and fried donuts.
Horseback Riding
Find a local horse ranch that provides lessons for young children. And be sure to take a lot of pictures. My grandchildren learned how to brush and ride a horse in theirlessonsn.
Firepit to the Rescue
If you have a built-in firepit in your back yard, or a portable one that you take camping, make a special lunch or dinner for the grandkids. First let them fry hot dogs over the firepit. Or if you want to make things a little fancier use a sandwhich maker made for firepits to make bread with pizza sause and cheese and mini pepperonis for a quick kid size pizza. For dessert save some room for smores. (graham crackers, milk chocholate and marshmallows.)
Buy Tickets to a Local Play or Theater Performance
For special times, buy tickets ahead for a local performance. One that most kids enjoy is The Nutcraker. That one is seasonal, but you may find ones like Disney on Ice or Poohs’s Corner.
It will definately be a memoriy they will not soon forget.
“I wouldn’t change my granchildren for the world. But I wish I could change the world for my grandchildren.”
– Author unknown
Do you have your grandchildren over night on occasion, or for days in a row. Maybe you opt to watch them at their house. What do you do with them? What do they seem to like the best? Do they have a favorite type of cookie that only you make? Let me know in the comments below. Thank you. I hope some of these ideas have helped give you some new ideas. Most of all I hope you have a great time with your grandchildren. Use your time to learn more about them and help them learn more about you.
