Activities with Your Grandchildren

To your grandchildren, you’re the greatest. (And let’s face it. The feeling is mutual.) Every day you spend together is special, no matter what you do. To make the most of your time with your grandchildren, you don’t have to go far. Here are some ideas for things to do with grandchildren right at home that can help give them skills—and memories—they’ll have their whole lives.

Go out and garden

Mow the grass. Pull weeds. Dig for worms. Plant flowers. Or pick out a fruit or vegetable that you and your grandkids can plant from a seed and nurture together—and then eat!

Get crafty

Crochet a sweater or scarf. Press flowers. Needlepoint. Sew a family quilt. Make scrapbooks about your family history, or just about the time you and your grandchildren spend together.

Discover the world

Get out the globe or the atlas. Have your grandchildren pick a country and tell them all about it: what language they speak there, what time it is there, what the climate’s like, what’s special or different about this place, and so on. (If you don’t know, you and the kids can research it together.) Then, move on to the next country. Focus on one continent at a time, or just spin the globe and see where in the world you land.

Get cooking

Start simple. Teach the grandkids how to scramble eggs, cook pasta, or whip cream (and of course, lick the bowl.) Show them how to follow a recipe and use measuring cups, how to mix ingredients carefully so everything blends together. Eventually, you can plan, shop for, and cook a meal for everyone to eat together.

Teach them how to use tools

Show your grandkids all the tools in your toolbox and what they do (and how to use them safely!), and then come up with a project where you can use the tools together. Build a birdhouse or a dollhouse, or just do a little home improvement.

Wash the car

Everybody grab a rag and get scrubbing! Get wet and have fun outdoors while your grandchildren learn how to wash a car. If the grandkids like doing it, it can become a frequent activity. You may end up with the cleanest car in the neighborhood.

Gaze at the stars

Learn the constellations together. Then, go out and identify them in the night sky.