Many families in the United States observe National Grandparents Day on the first Sunday of September after Labor Day. This day honors grandparents.
When was the last time you called, messaged or visited your Grandparents? If you can’t recall, you aren’t the only one. And it isn’t because you don’t care about them. We all get caught up in the day to day and forget to check in with the people who are oh-so-dear to us. But that needs to stop. Right now.
Family members wear the same family shirt and together celebrate Grandparents Day with meaningful activities. It’s awesome.
Let’s read!
1. Pass down a tradition.
Ask Grandma to share something from her childhood with your children. Whether it is a game, recipe or book, sharing with the next generation rekindles Grandma’s memories and creates new ones for your kids today.
2. Get to know each other better.
Ask the kids and Grandma to make a list of questions that they don’t know about each other in a journal. Take turns asking questions and record Grandma’s answers in the journal. Then, have each person to share a memory from a common time in their lives (ie: kindergarten, the first day of middle school, 16th birthday, etc.).
3. Shake up your family tree.
Ask Grandma to tell you the names of her parents, grandparents, and siblings. You may discover family names that have been passed down for generations. Find out what part of the world your family comes from and when they arrived in this part of the country. If Grandma speaks another language, ask her to teach you a few words. Does your family have any traditional clothes or music that has been hiding in the attic? Pull them out and tell their story.
4. Be aware of your grandparent's hobbies and habits.
Especially if your grandparent has health issues or is past the age of 80, for example, he likely has some limitations for accepting visits. Avoid planning your visits during these times.
· Know if your grandparent sleeps late in the mornings or takes naps around a certain time every day.
· Know if your grandparent has a regular doctor appointment each week or has a medical routine to do at the same time every day.
5. Help grandma in the garden.
Digging into the soil and working with plants has a relaxing and uplifting effect. Spending time with grandma in the garden might feel like work, but really you'll be creating something beautiful while you and grandma receive the benefits of working in nature.
· If your grandma doesn't have a garden, you could buy her some potted plants and help her care for these. A small indoor herb garden can add color and life to her home while still being useful.
· If grandma doesn't have space for potted plants, you might consider making her a living wall. This can be given as a gift, and then you both can enjoy caring for it together.
6. Go to the library.
Many local libraries have story time once or twice a week for younger kids. This is a perfect activity for Grandparents to take their kids to because it doesn’t cost anything and kids love books!
7. Bring out the old family photos and home movies.
You can throw it back with a photo. Dig up an old childhood photo and include it with your Punk post card. Pop and Nana will fondly remember that day, even if you were being a little stinker.
Set up the projector to flip through old slides, or snuggle up on the couch for a home-movie marathon. It’s a fun way for your grandchildren to steal a peek at their own parents as children (“Mom used to look like that?!”), and you’ll get to blow their minds with the knowledge that there was once a time when iPhones and digital cameras didn’t exist (“Say what?!”).
8. Make a Grandparents Day Card Together
A fun Grandparents Day activity would be to print out a Grandparents Day card and then grandparents and grandkids can decorate the card together.
When they're finished with the activity, the grandchild can present the grandparent with the card that they made together.
You can choose the best picture to print on a shirt. It must be a great family shirt.
How about wearing a family member shirt? You can prepare some for them and have surprising gifts for family members.
9. Spend Time Together Outside
Physical activity is a great way for a grandparent and grandchild to bond.
Spend some time together outside taking a walk, going fishing or visiting a park.
Moreover, you can find more meaningfully DIY Gifts for grandparents to spend time together and enjoy the day.
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