Few things feel better than that first big smile of recognition from a new grandchild. It kicks off a relationship that will fill your heart with love and your head with pride for many years to come.
There are a number of ways to show your admiration for your next generation of family members. One of them is to be an important—and entertaining—part of their lives. It’s mainly a parent’s job to put a child on the right path and keep them there; it’s a grandparent’s job to make sure there is love and fun along the way!
One way to make your grandkids feel loved? Ensure their safety in your presence whenever they are with you, whether you’re home or out and about. From infancy to adulthood, providing your grandchildren with a sense of security is a gift they may not immediately understand but will feel right away, and will one day will truly appreciate.
Here are some ideas for navigating grandparenthood to help your grandchildren have fun and be safe.
Things to Do with Baby and Toddler Grandchildren
Playing with grandbabies is such a joyful experience. Here are six ideas that will only add to the pleasure:
Love the library: Libraries are perfect places for grandparents and grandchildren—with story and craft hours, or just a comfy place—to enjoy the world of ideas. You don’t have to have a library card, but if you can get one, you also can borrow some of the books and other media to enjoy later.
Be the crafty grandparent: Pull the kids away from their screens and help them appreciate their creativity by making something simple and fun. Tin can stilts are fun and easy, and good for several hours of exercise and entertainment.
Encourage the Cookie Monster: Baking with your grandchildren is pure fun. Buy or unearth some simple cookie cutters and choose some sprinkles to decorate with. Let the kids choose the colors and the flavors. Don’t be surprised if they love playing with the whisk as much as they enjoy eating the cookies.
Be sure to follow all safety measures when baking or cooking alongside a little loved one. Remember these tips to tame that kitchen flame.
Make a tradition: Going to special holiday events—Halloween parties, Thanksgiving walks, and Christmas and New Year’s celebrations—are fun for everybody. But having grandparents along will only make things more memorable… Especially if you dress-up in a fun costume as a surprise!
Take them to swim lessons: Taking a young child to swim lessons can be time-consuming, but it also can be a priceless gift that’ll help keep them safe for the rest of their lives. Organizations like the YMCA offer adult-child swim classes for children as young as six months. Both of you hop in the water, blow bubbles and kick, kick, kick.
Rock the park: Regular trips to climbing structures and other play areas at the park strengthen muscles and make memories. The benefits of climbing, swinging, and sliding are more than physical. These structures also are good for the brain, experts say, as children explore, follow their curiosity, and socialize with peers.
Be Cautious With Your Grandchildren That Are Babies and Toddlers
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) outlines three particularly dangerous areas for babies and toddlers. If it’s been a while since you’ve had small children around, make sure you brush up on modern safety concerns:
- Unstable chests of drawers are a major culprit, especially when there is a TV on the top. Hang your flat screen TV or, if that isn’t possible, securely anchor it to the stand.
- If your grandchildren are going to be near the pool, lake, or any body of water, designate a “water watcher”—someone whose primary responsibility is to pay close attention to children who are anywhere near water.
- The CPSC says children have required surgery and at least one died from swallowing magnetic building sets. Although high-powered magnets have legitimate industrial and entertainment uses, they can be dangerous if swallowed and should be kept away from children younger than 14. Even building and play sets with small magnets that are suitable for older children should be off limits to small children, who are inclined to put things in their mouths.
The key to making sure the relationship safe and exciting for both of you is to keep them close, even if they’re just hanging at your house. And, when you take young children somewhere, especially where there is a crowd, dress them in a distinctive piece of clothing—a bright hat or outfit—so they are easy to spot. Teach older children their name and address. If they aren’t old enough for that, pin your name and mobile phone number someplace where it will be noticed.
Activities to Do With Elementary-Aged Grandchildren
Soon, children reach a stage where they are young enough to still worship their grandparents while being old enough to engage in a variety of activities. You two can relate to each other on a new level:
Be fun!: Do activities with your grandchildren that are also fun for your inner child. Bonus if they’re fresh activities that their parents aren’t often doing. Take time for an engaging nature hike with binoculars or play with the sprinkler in the yard and cut your own bouquets to gift to others. Introducing kids to nature and the outdoors can be a purely pleasurable experience for everyone involved. Weather isn’t cooperating? Bust out an old record and teach them about your music… and your style of dancing!
What’s old is new again: Hopscotch, jump rope, four square and playing jacks or pick-up sticks are all still fun. Card and board games are perfect for rainy days and overnight visits.
Show up with support: With their busy schedules, it can be hard for parents to be there for all of their kids’ events, but grandparents usually have more flexibility in how they use their time and may be available to cheer on soccer players, ballerinas, musicians and other budding stars.
Point Your Grandchildren Toward the Safe Path
Children at this age don’t always make good decisions, use the opportunity of time together to help them avoid trouble.
Let them know what’s OK and what isn’t: Kids this age have an abundance of energy. They want to run and climb. Teach them to be smart about things that are potentially dangerous. Jumping on the bed is one thing—jumping off the porch roof is quite another.
Get the right car equipment: Take the kids on errands or plan a special day trip. Just make sure that if they’ll be in your car, you have the right equipment. The laws are different in every state, but, in general, children should use a car or booster seat. Keep your grandchildren in a car seat up to age four and a booster seat at least through age 12, always in the back seat.
Supervise the home gym: You may want to keep the door to your home gym locked unless you are right there with the kids. Doctors warn that these can be particularly dangerous for users who aren’t paying attention.
Monitor your home: Make sure there are smoke and carbon dioxide monitors near spare bedrooms where grandchildren might stay. Some of these devices only last a half-dozen years, so be sure yours aren’t expired and test them once a month to check that they’re working. It is also a good idea to have fire extinguishers, especially in the kitchen. They, too, need routine checks to help ensure they’re still functioning.
The Hartford’s Junior Fire Marshal program is fun way to teach your grandkids about fire safety.
Teen Grandchildren
This stage can be a challenge for parents, but grandparents can have a special connection with this age group. That’s because they know from experience that teens eventually grow up, so grandparents can offer comfort and understanding under trying circumstances.
Here are five ways to connect with your teen grands:
Teens love to eat: Cooking and eating together is a wonderful way to keep a teenager coming back for more. Supervising and teaching while the teen learns to make your family favorites is fun, and makes it more likely that your family food traditions will outlive you.
Be tech-savvy: Ask your teen what their favorite app is or who their favorite content creators are. Show interest and watch their favorite clips with them. Offer to make your own TikTok’s based on the latest trends. Chances are, your teenage grandkiddo is well-versed in social media, but that doesn’t mean they have to be scrolling in solitude when they’re at your house. Meet them where they are at, and find fun and creative ways to engage with them while they’re online. This can also include video games, which studies show, are more fun when played with a buddy.
Listen to them: Having someone listen—really listen—is a gift at every age. But at this age it is especially gratifying. Besides making your teen grands happy, listening will give you special access. If they are doing something that you feel is unsafe, then you can be a voice of reason without shaming. If you can, make these conversations face to face. A big hug can say a lot more than words.
Pass down family history: If there are school assignments about events that you and older relatives have participated in, share that information and photos if you have them. Let them know that Great Grampy was in the war.
Go on vacation: A trip with grandparents can make memories for both of you. Amusement parks, state parks and big cities are always fun, but you might also consider being more adventurous—whitewater rafting down the Grand Canyon can instill a love of nature that never fades and memories that’ll last a lifetime.
Be a Good Role Model for Grandchildren
While being a good role model is important to portray with kids of all ages, at this age, teaching your grandchildren how to be safe takes on another dimension.
- Always use your seat belt and turn signals, and come to a full stop at signs and lights. Lead by example.
- Don’t drive distracted! Help your grandchild understand the dangers of distracted driving, which extends further than just texting and driving. Chatting with a friend in the passenger seat, quickly rummaging through a bag to look for chapstick or even eating all take your attention off the road.
- Curb your drinking. Be mindful if you’re grabbing a glass or wine or bottle of beers—or multiples—every family dinner with your grandchildren. Iced tea and soda are enjoyable for everybody. If you do drink, don’t take the keys.
Before handing your keys over to your teen grandkid, make sure to check with your car insurance provider to ensure you understand the ins-and-outs of what is—and isn’t—covered. If your grandchild will be driving your car often or even co-living with you, you’ll want to update your policy to include them.
Adult Grandchildren
It can require real commitment to extend your relationship with your grandchildren into their adult years, especially if they fly far away from home—both physically and emotionally. Here are some things to think about:
Share the memories: Go through old pictures of them and people they know and create a simple book as a keepsake. If you have old videos, make a memory movie.
Pass on important things now: Look at what you have around the house that you would like for them to have later and do it now while you can still pass along the reason you love it and why you want to share it. This can include art, jewelry and other keepsakes.
Take them with you: If you love the lake, invite them there for a fun weekend. If you delight in the Grand Canyon, show them your favorite parts. Make the trip just them and you, or encourage them to bring their significant other. If they have kids of their own, help them find a babysitter all of you can trust or bring them along for the ride, too. Multi-generation vacations can be particularly fun.
Everybody needs a friend: This is especially true for young adults who are making decisions that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Giving your grandchildren a safe and nonjudgmental place to vent is a tremendous gift.
Help out around their house: Whether they’re renting an apartment with friends or own their own home with a partner or solo, pitch in to help out around the house. Even if it’s just doing the dishes or helping to spruce up their patio. The gesture will go a long way. (Plus, while you’re there, you can keep an eye out to ensure their home is safe.)
Remember important occasions: Call on their birthday. Send a Christmas gift. Congratulate them on their new jobs, big promotions, new apartments and new cars.
Love the ones who love them: Get to know their friends and significant other and appreciate for yourself why your grandchild thinks they’re special. Plus, it’ll make your grandchild feel even more welcome around you.
Provide support. This doesn’t have to mean money. A good meal, a listening and non-judgmental ear, a place to sleep and household goods are all valuable and appreciated at any age. At the end of the day, being a safe space for your loved ones is a gift that’ll last a lifetime—for both of you.
“Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation,” wrote Lois Wyse, the author of Funny, You Don’t Look Like a Grandmother. The joy of being a grandparent is great. And you can enjoy it at every stage with these tips, and your own learnings along the way.