Crashed out, exhausted, and barely able to keep your eyes open! Is this how you feel after a visit from the grand kids?
Well, it’s not surprising as they are often bursting with energy and desperate to spend some entertaining time with you! Luckily, there are some smart methods of keeping the little ones amused that won’t tire you out. Read on to find some creative ways to keep the grand kids entertained when they visit!
Outside Play
One way that you get to keep the grand kids entertained and get them to burn off some energy as well is to encourage them to play outside, depending on the climate and season, of course, as well as the ages of your grandchildren.
The best thing about this is that you don’t actually have to get involved in this play, but instead can pull up a chair, soak up some sun, and keep an eye on them to make sure they are safe.
Of course, it can help if you have some game ideas already decided so you can keep them amused for as long as possible. One that can work particularly well is writing a list of items that can be found in the yard and asking the kids to search for them all, like a treasure hunt!
Need some inspiration? Here are some easy and fun outdoor games for kids.
Suggesting a good old fashioned bike ride can be fun. That is why it can be a worthwhile purchase to buy a bike and keep it at your home for your grandchildren when they visit.
Oh, and don’t forget to include to get some first aid ointment as well, for those inevitable scrapes and bruises that happen when playing outside.
Activities to do Together
Next, if even these activities sound a bit on the strenuous side why not find something fun to do indoors with the grandchildren.
In fact, watching their favorite children’s TV show or movie, and providing some snacks, and a blanket to snuggle under can be as enjoyable for them as racing around outside! There’s nothing to compare with cuddle time. 🙂
If you’re so inspired, you may even want to build a blanket fort to watch TV from!
Of course, you need to make sure you buy the right DVD’s of programs you know they’ll like to watch, or alternatively invest in cable TV that offers best premium channels including the kid-friendly ones. Then you’ll have an even bigger library of shows and movies to choose from for this activity!
Reading to a child never goes out of style, does it? I have many fond memories of my parents reading to my kids, and I think that time made a lasting impression on them.
As a good Nana, I keep a supply of children’s books on hand and let the grand kids pick the ones they want to read.
How about baking some cookies? You know…the kind with just a few ingredients, possibly even no-bake? Here are some fun cookie recipes for kids, to get you started. I know…it could get messy, but will probably be great fun for the kids.
Board Games and Puzzles
Board games and jigsaws can get a bad rap these days! In fact, many kids will immediately dismiss them as boring without even ever having tried them. The younger ones really love them, though, as long as they are age appropriate. If I can’t figure out how a puzzle goes together, my 4 year old probably can’t either. Although, my grandson showed me how to use their TV remote when he was 2 years old, so I might need to rethink that statement!
Regarding board games, it’s worth looking at some of the new ones, as there are some ingenious and exciting products that the kids will love to play either on their own or along with you.
Just make sure that you spend some time explaining the rules and how things work before they get to play, and you can get hours of relatively peaceful and relaxed entertainment from this option.
Ultimately, it’s all about making memories, isn’t it? My kids gave me this wood plaque for Christmas and it’s hung in a place of honor in my home. I hope that I can always be that Nana to my grandchildren.
How do you like to spend time with your grand kids? Let us know in the comments below!
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Great post!! You are a wonderful Grandma.. A blanket fort is always s9 much fun! In blessed to have one grandchild living with me in our multi-generational home and they can be exhausting..thank you for such an inspiring post!
Thanks Holly…yes, kids seem to have unending energy, don’t they! But I love my grand kids so much, and enjoy every minute spent with them. xo
Omg blanket forts! Reminds me of the good old days! Love these suggestions, though I need kids before I can get to grandkids haha!
Yes, a little one of some sort would be necessary 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and having a read, Lynn…save the post for a later time!
Thanks for the “Blanket Fort” reminder!!!! A perfect rainy day activity :). We have an old small VHS /TV combo and the grands LOVE when they can watch thrift find movies right inside their self designed and decorated fort. Memories indeed!!!!!
Hi Laurie, yes…forts are awesome for the little ones! Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂