Many times, it can be hard to persuade small children that visiting Grandma and Grandpa is “fun.” Whether it’s because of the vast age difference, a limit to how active grandparents can be, or simply a lapse in attention span, there are a few ways you can engage children and make the most of family time for Grandparents’ Day. Here are three ways you can teach your children to not only appreciate grandparents, but also enjoy the time spent with them:
1. Get Kids Excited for Family Table Learning!
Grandma and Grandpa know a lot more than children realize! Be sure you make children aware of how many stories and bits of wisdom grandparents have and how willing they are to share. Come up with questions beforehand so that children will be excited for the answers, whether it’s how things were done “in the old days” or expressed interest in a world with limited technology. One great way to enjoy relatives’ company is through dinner conversation. Find over 365 mealtime conversations you can engage your children in with Around the Family Table. Here are a few examples of the questions you can find in the book:
- “Life is full of memories. What is the earliest memory you have?”
- “Whether we know them or not, we all have grandparents. They can be a wealth of wisdom. If you can or could, what three questions would you like to ask them?”
- “Describe what you think the Earth will look like in 50 years.”
- “If you are a child, what do you most want to be when you grow up? If you are an adult, what did you most want to be when you were a child?”
Having conversation starters is a great way to learn a lot of things about your family that you never knew before! A recent study shows it can also help kids feel more comfortable with addressing important issues like cyber bullying, which they may not have had the proper opportunity to discuss before. Wherever your conversation takes you, hopefully lots of laughs and memorable moments will come of it!
2. Turn Your Visit into an Occasion!
Newness and growth can come in every family, whether it’s the start of a new school year or the birth of a sibling. Plan a celebration for your visit on Grandparents’ Day and let your child help decide what the celebration will consist of and how it will be organized. What is Grandpa’s favorite food? Will Grandma want to help cook? What kind of card or gift do they want to bring? Making your visit into an occasion is a great way to get little ones excited about time well spent with loved ones.
3. Make Gifts into Works of Art!
Bringing a gift for grandparents is always a great idea, but allowing your child to make their own is an even better way to keep them engaged! Whether it’s hand painting, searching for old pictures to create a scrap book, or even bringing veggies from the garden at home, letting kids give something they have created on their own will bolster self-confidence and teach them to place value on what’s made. For a simple gift your little one can create to show grandparents how loved they are, find step-by-step instructions for creating a Lift-the-Flap card for Grandparents’ Day!
For even more inspiring ideas for on how to get your family involved, check out Around the Family Table or sing along to Me, My Family and Friends!
Author(s)Pam Schiller, Ronda Coleman
Brianna Blackburn
A graduate of Western Carolina University with a BA in English, Brianna served as a marketing and editorial Intern with Gryphn House in the Summer 2018.
