Everyone longs for the holidays so that they can relax and spend time with their loved ones. The holidays present the perfect opportunity to inspire some family bonding across the generations. This time of year is a great time to connect children in grade school to grandparents, especially those who live in continuing care retirement communities that they may not see all year. Involving grandparents is not only fun but therapeutic and gives them a chance to bond with their grandkids. Let’s discuss some fun activities grandparents and grandkids can do together:
1. Share Stories
Grandparents can be founts of knowledge and experience. They often have stories about their careers, relationships, and adventures that they can pass on to their grandchildren. Despite some of our grandparents suffering from memory loss conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s, you’ll be surprised at how far back they can remember into events of the past. Kids can lead to these stories by asking questions about their upbringing, how they celebrated holidays, the mode of communication back then, etc. The list is endless on topics they can share, and the stories only get juicier every time they’re narrated.
2. Bake Together
Grandmas have some of the most exquisite recipes of all time, and one of the places to bond is in the kitchen. While it is nice to share some family recipes, kids can also try out new recipes and participate actively, especially in mixing all the ingredients. You can also bake treats that are geared towards celebrating certain holidays. For example, when celebrating holidays like Thanksgiving, you can bake treats made of pumpkin, chocolate, strawberry, etc. You’re not limited to creativity as long as you find joy and fun in it.
3. Make Holiday Crafts
There is no better time to get creative and indulge in some crafts than the holidays. You can create crafts from different materials like wood, yarn, canvas, or whichever other choice you decide on. From them, you can make simple holiday decorations, handprint ornaments, amongst other items. Crafting could be a fun new way of discovering the creative side of your family. Luckily, you can research online for more ideas on stuff that you can make together.
4. Have an Indoor Picnic
No rule states that picnics must be held outside your home. All we want is to have some fun within the places where we are comfortable. The older children can help prepare the snacks, while the younger kids can help pack them into the baskets.
After everything is packed up, get outside your front lawn and gather around as you enjoy the treats. Don’t forget to add some sweet treats like chocolate and other baked accompaniments to complete the picnic. The kids will get to have a new experience with their grandparents for as long as they want.
5. Volunteer Together
One of the most fulfilling things in life is to be able to give back to society. Would there be a better time to also do this than with grandparents and grandkids over the holidays? You can look out for a charity organization in your locality and offer to volunteer work in your area. Alternatively, you can also prepare dishes at home or get other holiday gifts and distribute them to the needy in your area.
The holidays are filled with opportunities to explore our creative side, and they are the perfect time to bond with family and friends. Don’t let the holidays pass without making new memories.
About the Author
Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
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