National Grandparents’ Day – celebrated on September 12 – is quickly appoaching and you and your children may be looking for some fun, last-minute things to do with Grandma and Grandpa to remind them how special they are to your family. These easy crafts and hands-on activities to do with grandparents are a great way to let them know just how you feel and will create cherished memories for years to come.
National Grandparents’ Day honors those special grandmas and grandpas in our lives. Marian McQuade — a West Virginian elderly advocate — founded National Grandparents Day in 1978 after eight years of campaigning. McQuade asserted that the point of the holiday was not to bestow presents on grandparents, but to help alleviate some of the loneliness some older adults experience later in life as their children are busy with work and chidren of their own.
“Nobody loves children like their grandparents,” geriatrician Preeti Malani told the Washington Post. “They are such an important part of the lives of children, something that is so fundamental and important for both grandparents and grandchildren.”
Easy crafts for kids to make and give for Grandparents' Day
Things to do with grandparents when you can't be together
If you’re unable to be together for Grandparents’ Day this year, there are still a number of ways to stay connected on this special day and throughout the year. If you’re miles apart or staying socially distanced for safety, these crafts and activities are perfect for kids and grandparents who can’t be together.
Keeping a journal together is one way to make lasting memories from a distance. Sharing Stories, Making Memories: A Journal for Grandparents and Grandchildren, is designed for grandparents and their grandchildren to work through together. The pages allow for creativity and provide writing and journaling prompts that can be mailed back and forth throughout the year for what is sure to become a treasured keepsake.
Make a regular virtual date. “This is a great time for grandparents to connect with grandkids virtually. Need a break in your day? Schedule a regular FaceTime story time where grandma reads them a book,” Meredith Gordon previously told Mom.com. “Have a digital show-and-tell with grandpa showing off the million and one crafts your child already made that day.”
Grandparents Day is the perfect opportunity to focus on your parents and their relationship with their grandchildren whether celebrating together or across the miles. The memories made are sure to be cherished for years to come.
