Written by: Michael Dinneen, Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
Bonding time between grandparents and grandchildren is important. However, if you’re a grandparent suffering from limited mobility, scheduling a fun-filled day with the little ones can prove difficult. Thankfully, you don’t need to pencil in high-octane activities to keep little ones entertained. From card games to arts and crafts sessions, there’s plenty you can do to keep little ones enthralled for hours at a time. Anticipating the arrival of the grandkids and struggling to think up engaging activities to keep them occupied? Read on for a few tips to help you pack out an enjoyable day.Create Photo Albums and Family Trees
Bridge the generation gap by introducing grandkids to their ancestors. Chances are, you have a few family photo albums around the house gathering dust. Reach for these for an enthralling afternoon as you introduce little ones to generations, they’ve only ever about in passing conversation. Once you’ve spent an hour or two leafing through photos, build upon your genealogy journey and create a family tree.
As a grandparent, you’re a font of knowledge for information regarding previous generations. Even if information about your elders is limited, you can seize the opportunity to uncover new insights about generations past with the youngest additions to your bloodline. Once you’ve drafted a preliminary family tree on paper, combine your oral histories with your archives of photos to create a one-of-a-kind scrapbook that details the ins and outs of your family legacy.
Pass Down Family Recipes to the Next Generation
If you’re suffering from limited mobility and don’t want to stray too far from home, cooking can be a great way to spend time with the grandkids. If you want to keep things simple, grab a few basic ingredients and bake a batch of cookies. Alternatively, think about delving into your recipe collection to pass on some old favorites to little ones.
This is a great exercise for passing on family history to the next generation. Think about what dishes you enjoyed during childhood and shape your shared mealtimes around them. If historic recipes aren’t all that lean, it’s easy to make a few substitutions to make them fit with a healthier lifestyle. As you’re preparing ingredients and putting together a recipe, you can share family histories with the grandchildren. Tell them about the person from your past who first taught you this beloved recipe or regale them with tales about your elders in the kitchen.
Introduce Little Ones to Your Favorite Musical Artists and Albums
Listening to music is a great way to unwind. It’s also the perfect opportunity to introduce the grandkids to your favorite artists. Spending an afternoon listening to your most treasured albums is the perfect nostalgia trip, made even more special by being able to share the experience with your nearest and dearest. Unless your personal picks are big hitters who’ve weathered the decades to remain top of the charts, these listening sessions are an ideal way of introducing your grandchildren to new musical avenues.
Are your favored artists resigned to your vinyl collection? Watching little ones attempt to properly drop a needle on a 12-inch record is bound to raise a smile. Once they’ve been introduced to your musical heroes, make sure they’ve been allotted plenty of time to play their choice picks. Who knows, you might find yourself adding a few tracks from the Billboard Hot 100 to your playlists.
Organize a Games Night
If you’re hosting your grandchildren for a sleepover, think about organizing a game night. Nowadays, board games tend to be designed for the occasional festive get-together, but there’s no reason these old favorites should be gathering dust on the shelf.
Chances are you; you have a good selection of classic board games waiting to be enjoyed. Let the little ones have the first pick of the pile, before introducing them to your personal preferences. If your grandkids have yet to learn the board game basics of chess, draughts, and backgammon, now is the time to familiarize them with the fundamentals.
Once the tried and tested classics have been played to death, reach into your repertoire for more unfamiliar formats. A simple deck of playing cards provides you with a huge range of playing options. Use a game night to introduce the next generation to games like Rummy, Poker, Hearts, and Cribbage.
Why Building Bonds with Grandchildren is So Important
Grandparents play a vital role in the upbringing and wellbeing of their grandchildren. In the United States, it’s estimated that more than 30% of families depend on grandparents as primary providers of childcare.
Beyond alleviating pressures on working parents, these childcare arrangements provide youngsters with an additional level of nurturing and emotional connection. To fully engage youngsters, activity selection is crucial. If you’re a grandparent putting together a schedule to keep little ones entertained, avoid simply pandering to expectations. Even if you’re suffering from limited mobility, there are plenty of activities you can organize to keep little ones entertained. Think outside the box when planning your days and put the focus on introducing little ones to new experiences.
Author Bio: This article was written by Michael Dinneen of the NYC Nanny AgencyNannyCity. NannyCity is a leading Nanny Placement Agency with locations in both NYC & CT.
