As a grandparent, there’s nothing like spending quality time with your grandkids. With the warmer weather upon us, there are so many opportunities for fun intergenerational bonding. From outdoor adventures to creative indoor crafts, here are some of our favorite activities to do with grandkids this summer.
1. Have a picnic in the park.
Pack a basket filled with yummy sandwiches, healthy snacks, and a special dessert, and head to the nearest park. Spread out a blanket, lather on your sunscreen, and enjoy intergenerational bonding as you and your grandkids share stories, ideas, and fun. Don’t forget to bring some games or activities like frisbee, kites, bubbles, card games, or board games to keep the fun going after you’ve finished eating.
Let GoGo Rides bring you to the park, so you and your grandkids can focus on having fun!
2. Get creative with arts and crafts.
Unleash your inner artist! Creativity knows no age, so arts and crafts projects are fantastic intergenerational activities that both you and the grandkids will love. Set up a designated crafting area in your home with paints, markers, construction paper, and other art supplies. Then let your imaginations run wild! Here are a few creative and artistic things to do with grandkids:
- Paint rocks
- Construct handmade greeting cards
- Create DIY popsicle stick crafts
- Decorate paper plates into animal masks
- Capture handprints and footprints on canvas or paper
- Make DIY slime at home
- Go on a nature walk and collect organic materials to make a collage
- Repurpose old socks into puppets with googly eyes and yarn-hair
- Tie-dye old t-shirts
- Use recycled materials like cardboard tubes or egg cartons to craft something new
3. Host a movie marathon for intergenerational bonding.
Transform your living room into an exciting at-home theater. Let your grandkids choose their favorite films or introduce them to classics you love. Don’t forget the popcorn, candy, and other snacks for the ultimate movie-watching experience. Cuddling up on the couch offers relaxing intergenerational bonding, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
4. Cook up fun in the kitchen.
Cooking together is a wonderful way to bond while teaching your grandkids valuable life skills. Let them measure ingredients, stir the batter, and have fun decorating their treats. The best part is enjoying the delicious results together! Some popular treats to make with grandkids are cookies, cupcakes, pizza, and pancakes.
5. Have a game night.
Board games are one of the easiest things to do with grandkids when it’s rainy or hot outside. Gather around the table for a night of friendly competition with your favorite intergenerational bonding games. Popular board games include Scrabble, Pictionary, Apples to Apples, Go Fish, Sorry!, and Uno. If your grandkids are more into video games, try family video game night on a computer or console, like Super Mario Party, Just Dance, or online Monopoly.
6. Organize a family talent show.
Encourage your grandkids to showcase their talents by organizing a family talent show. Whether they love singing, dancing, acting, telling jokes, or just being silly, give them the opportunity to shine. You can set up a makeshift stage in the living room or backyard, and let the show begin! Talent shows are beautiful intergenerational activities that boost confidence and self-expression in your grandkids.
7. Plant a garden for continuing intergenerational bonding.
Teach your grandkids the joys of gardening. There are many ways to enjoy gardening together, like growing flowers in the backyard or herbs on the kitchen windowsill. Let your grandkids choose their favorite plants and involve them in every step of the process, from planting seeds to watering to caring for the garden. This beautiful long-term intergenerational bonding idea will allow you and your grandkids to share in the remarkable experience of watching your shared garden flourish.
8. Write a story.
Gather around the table with pens and paper to write a story together. Encourage your grandkids to come up with characters, settings, and storylines, and take turns adding to the story. Once you’ve finished writing, read the story aloud and enjoy your creative masterpiece. You never know – you may even be encouraging the next great author in your grandchild!
9. Create a time capsule.
A time capsule is a special intergenerational bonding project guaranteed to excite your grandkids. Have each family member contribute photos, drawings, letters, or trinkets that represent the present moment. Dig a hole in the backyard or find a safe place to bury the time capsule. Set a date in the future to unearth it together. (One year is usually a good time period for kids.)
10. Volunteer together.
If you’re looking for things to do with grandkids that will positively impact society, volunteering is a great way to teach the importance of giving back to the community. Choose a cause that means something to you and your family, like helping at a local food bank, participating in a beach cleanup, assisting at a dog shelter, or planting food at the community garden. Volunteering provides opportunities for intergenerational bonding while instilling important values like empathy, compassion, and kindness in your grandkids.
11. Play in the sprinklers.
Beat the summer heat with outdoor water fun. Set up a sprinkler or kiddie pool in the backyard to splash in or have a water balloon fight! If you have access to a pool, you could play pool games like Marco Polo or dive for pool toys. Water intergenerational activities are fun for all ages and will keep you cool in the summer heat.
12. Build a fort.
Building a fort is one of the most exciting things to do with grandkids. Use blankets, pillows, and furniture to create a secret hideaway where you can share hours of imaginative play and creativity. A fort is also a great place to do art, watch movies, play board games, read books, and eat plenty of snacks! This is one of the simplest yet most memorable intergenerational activities that will feel truly magical to your grandchildren.
Fun things to do with grandkids
There are so many fun things to do with grandkids this summer that will create lasting memories and strengthen your bond as a family. Whether playing in the sprinklers, getting creative with arts and crafts, or organizing a family talent show, these intergenerational activities will foster meaningful connections for a summer filled with fun, laughter, and love.
If you want to safely transport yourself and your loved ones to intergenerational activities across town, use GoGo Rides. We offer convenient, easy rides for all ages, so you can focus less on the headache of travel and more on the fun of spending time with your loved ones. Learn more about GoGo Rides here.
