Fun Things To Do At Home With The Grandkids
Looking for activities to do with the Grandkids at home? Here are some ideas from toddlers to teenagers to not only keep them amused but to make memories with them that will last for their lifetime.
Littlies (Ages 3 to 7 years)
Build a pillow fort – little ones love making places to hide and there is nothing safer than pillows to ensure they don’t hurt themselves. Include the couch in the fun and some throw blankets and they’ll be busy for hours.
Movie Sing-A-Long – these days we are spoilt for choice when it comes to musical movies. Disney has an extensive range on offer, including the catchy Frozen tunes and Dwayne Johnson rocking out in Moana. There’s a good chance they will already have a favourite one they will request, over and over and over and over…
Art Activities – spending time drawing and colouring in with kids opens up a world of creativity for them and interesting conversations. Also good for their fine motor skills.
Baking – basic baking such as cookies and cupcakes where the children can contribute by combining the ingredients and mixing and of course, the best part, decorating!
Simple Games – memory games such as collecting 10 items and then covering them up for a few minutes and asking them to see how many of the items they can remember or simple board games are a great source of fun and entertainment.
Hide and Seek – a oldie but a goodie, a classic game of ‘hide and seek’ is always a hit. Hint: offer to be the ‘finder’ – it’s easier than finding places to hide and it gives you a series of ‘mini breaks’ while you count.
Gardening & Bug Hunting – a simple activity like watering the garden is loads of fun for a little one. Or better yet, turn the garden into an exploration and see what bugs and worms can be found and identified.
Pre-Teens (Ages 8 to 12 years)
Board Games – Monopoly have so many varieties these days of their popular board game and it’s great for kids to work on their math skills and basic money principles. Scrabble is a game that is excellent for literacy and Cluedo helps with analytical skills. If you are not one for board games than card games are also a fun way to interact and spend quality time.
Movie Classics – why not share one of your most favourite classic movies. Microwave some popcorn and get comfy in front of the TV.
Dance Off – if you have more than one grandchild, challenge them to have a dance off where they each prepare a dance and then perform it for you OR they improvise a routine on the spot. Kids love to dance and recent video games have really escalated the popularity of this.
Nerf Challenge – if you are not opposed to nerf toy guns (with soft foam bullets) then set up targets for the kids to practice hitting. You can also time them on this and score them on accuracy. This way they are less likely to shoot at each other!
Crafts – sharing any crafts you enjoy with your grandchildren is a great way to bond with them. If you aren’t particularly crafty, a piece of cardboard and some coloured pencils and task them with creating their own boardgame.
Write a Story – spend time helping them construct a short story or poem and enjoy the sense of achievement they experience when it’s completed.
Teenagers (Ages 13 to 17 years)
Cooking – older grandkids are useful around the house and in the kitchen. Arm them with the ingredients and a recipe and observe from the sidelines as they prepare a meal for you all.
Photo Albums – now they are older, you can show them photo albums, a great way to share family history.
Selfies and Snap Chat – ask them to take some photos with you, snapchat (they will know what this is) has many filters that will have you in stitches and capture photos of you all.
Learn Facebook – ask them to teach you how to use Facebook, it’s a fantastic way to keep up to date with what friends and family are doing.
Reading – listen to an audio book together or spend time reading.
Make A Movie – the technology on phones these days means there are ways to make mini movies, slow motion, time lapse or stop motion videos. Brainstorm funny ideas and film something together that they can keep. It might seem silly now but they will cherish these videos for years to come.
The most important thing to remember is to spend time with them and to do activities that spark conversations and interactions and of course, to spoil them rotten!
