One of the greatest pleasures about being a grandparent in retirement is having the time to enjoy spending with the grandchildren.
Children share a special bond with their grandparents with studies showing that spending time with grandparents contributed positively to a child’s wellbeing by providing a listening ear and sage words of advice based on the experience of raising their own children. The bonding time can also contribute to a happy retirement.
In the past few decades, due to both parents being in the workforce, grandparents are playing an increasingly important role as active caregivers and many children are spending much more time with ‘nan and pop’ than ever before.
We share some great creative activities that you can do with your grandkids that you’ll both enjoy.
10 Creative Activities to Do With Your Grandkids
There are few things more precious than seeing the delight in the eyes of your grandchildren as they discover something for the first time. And seeing life through a little one’s eyes is one sure way to feel younger yourself.
1. Explore Nature
Spending time in nature has been shown to improve mood and reduce mental fatigue – that’s a great reason to get out into the great outdoors.
Toddlers
Toddlers have boundless curiosity which can be channelled into learning about the world around them. They love to get hands-on, so have fun digging in the dirt to make mud pies or sandcastles down at the beach. Collecting sticks, rocks, leaves and shells provide a great opportunity to help children name different types of objects.
What’s more, these found treasures can be used in craft, such as painting rocks, making collages and other forms of imaginative play.
Children
Turn a trip down to the local park into a grand adventure by turning it into a treasure hunt. Before leaving home, come up with a list of things to find. The task to find something orange could be to hunt for a leaf or a flower, for instance.
Bring along a sketch pad with coloured pencils or crayons and encourage the grandchildren to capture the landscape around them. You might just have a mini-Monet or a pint sized-Picasso in the family.
Teenagers
Teenagers can be notoriously difficult to shift from their electronic devices, but the effort is worthwhile. One way of easing them out of being cave-dwellers is by letting them bring their phones with them. Augmented reality games such as Pokémon Go will appeal to younger teens, while older children might enjoy Geocaching – a modern day, outdoor treasure hunt using the GPS feature on your mobile device.
Note: all GemLife resorts are pet-friendly, so a walk in local dog park is another great option to stretch the legs, and explore.
2. Arts and Crafts
Discover the artist that lives in all of us by engaging in arts and crafts with your grandchildren. You might be surprised at how much fun you’ll have too. To help keep things organised and tidy between visits, consider creating a dedicated arts and crafts caddy that you can quickly and easily put away between visits.
Toddlers
For young children, arts and crafts is more than just play. It helps little ones improve dexterity and motor skills as well as experimenting with textures, shapes and colours. Playdough, whether homemade or store bought, is a great way for small hands to make shapes using buttons, cookie cutters or making impressions using small toys.
Children
The sky’s the limit when it comes to imaginative arts and crafts play. Old magazines, cardboard boxes, plastic soft drink bottles, scraps of fabric and wool can be turned into thoughtful handmade gifts and entertaining toys. If you happen to be stuck for time or materials, stores like Officeworks and Bunnings have craft kits. If you’re gifted at knitting or crochet, these childhood years are the perfect time to pass on those skills to the next generation.
Explore more kid craft ideas here.
Teenagers
Fashion-conscious craft ideas are a great way to continue a teenager’s interest in creating things by hand. It can be anything from an embellished photo frame as a gift for their BFF, decoration to customise their bedroom or wearable fashion items. Encourage their involvement by having them search the internet for projects that you can do together. Grandad can get involved too. Older pre-teens and young teenagers are the perfect age to introduce crafts like model building and eventually move on to woodworking and using power tools.
Explore more DIY projects for teenagers here.
3. Baking and Cooking
Cooking and baking are two of the most popular
ways grandmothers in particular connect with their grandchildren. From letting little ones mix cake batter to revealing the secrets of favourite family recipes, time spent in the kitchen will be something that generations will treasure.
According to Barbara from GemLife Woodend, baking is one of the most favourite activities she enjoys with her grandchildren.
‘Nonna’s biscuits’ are legendary, especially the sugar cookies and gingerbread biscuits which are the foundation for the colourful and delightfully whimsical decorated biscuits.
Barbara hosts biscuit decorating classes for other homeowners in the GemLife Woodend art studio and when the grandchildren come over to visit, baking is one of the popular activities.
“Scarlett loves amaretti biscuits and friands, Ziggy just goes with the flow, Miller is my little sous chef – she’ll tell me, ‘I know what to do, nonna’, while Jack simply has fun and enjoys the icing,” she says.
Toddlers
Toddlers want to flex their new-found mobility and curiosity, so this is the perfect time to introduce them to some of the basics in the kitchen such as having them name ingredients and count out measurements. This time is also ideal for introducing different foods and flavours which they are more likely to try if they’ve been involved in the preparation. Age-appropriate activities can range from stirring dried ingredients and sprinkling herbs through to kneading dough and cutting out biscuits.
Children
As children’s dexterity and attention span improves, you can introduce them to multi-step processes, including making dishes from scratch. Cakes and biscuits will always be popular but also involve them in making their favourite main meals. Dishes such as pizzas, tacos and pasta are great introductions to healthy eating as well as valuable cooking skills.
Teenagers
At this stage, teenagers should feel confident around the kitchen – especially under the watchful eye of grandma and grandad. Preparing lunch or dinner for the entire family should be entirely in their capabilities. At this stage, why not turn the tables and ask them to teach you a new recipe they have mastered?
4. Gardening
From little things, big things grow – and there is no clearer demonstration than by seeing your grandchildren discover a love of gardening.
Toddlers
Toddlers can be readily involved in the gardening by digging holes and fetching gardening tools. In return they’ll relish the opportunity to be helpful and, in the meantime, learn the names of tools and plants and experience the wonder of seeing something they’ve planted come into bloom.
Explore tips for gardening with toddlers here.
Children
Older children can be encouraged to pot their own plants to take home to their parents as gifts or to transplant in their own gardens at home. Herbs and some vegetables are easy to grow in pots and help make a perfect introduction to using fresh ingredients in cooking. And, without them knowing, you can also create a little science experiment by growing herbs and vegetables from scraps. You might be surprised how many foods can be regrown this way.
Explore tips for growing vegetables with kitchen scraps here.
Teenagers
Hands-on gardening is even more important for teenagers. These years are typically tumultuous, but research has shown that time in the garden helps to reduce anxiety and encourage concentration. Encourage teens to create something of their own at home using as inspiration the gardens around GemLife, as well as visits to established gardens and parks in the local area.
5. Storytelling and Reading
Instilling the love of reading at an early age is gift that parents and grandparents can give to children. Not only does it introduce letters, words and grammar concepts, but it also helps fire their imagination and their self-expression.
For Phil and Selena at GemLife Palmwoods reading with the grandchildren is so much fun.
Selena says she loves to babysit her grandchildren.
“Phil is an electrician and doesn’t plan to retire until he is 67 but I am already retired. That leaves me plenty of time to devote to looking after the grandkids whenever I am asked. It’s one of my all-time favourite things to do,” said Selena.
While her older grandchildren have recently moved to Tasmania with their parents, three-month-old Macie, 15-month-old Lenny, as well as Layla and Lily who are both three years old, are regular visitors and love their nana reading to them, or helping them with puzzles and colouring-in.
Toddlers
Storytime is one of the most important times grandparents can spend with the youngest of grandchildren. Reading a child’s favourite story helps create lifelong bonds as well as educational benefits including recognising sounds and the shapes of letters. Books are a springboard for a little one’s imagination, so be sure to listen to their own made-up stories. Ask questions about what might be happening after the end of the story you’ve just read and be prepared to be entertained by the results.
Children
The feeling of connection only grows when you continue reading with children. The focused attention which comes from telling and listening to a story lets your grandchildren know they matter. As their reading skill increases, encourage them to start reading to you and together start exploring more advanced reading material to expose them to a wide vocabulary.
Teenagers
You can help the teen in your life through those turbulent years by encouraging reading for pleasure. Away from the pressures of school and social media, time spent in a book can provide a very welcome distraction. And well-chosen books can help them makes sense of the world.
Get involved by asking for recommendations and reviews of books they’ve read. And encourage your teenage grandchildren to expand their reading in areas of interest to them – this is a particularly helpful tool for children who are reluctant readers.
6. Outdoor Adventures
Encourage a sense of adventure and play by spending time in the great outdoors with your grandchildren and it will also have great benefits for you too by increasing your fitness and mobility. Hikes in nature, camping or biking along the beachfront are activities that can be enjoyed at just about every age.
Toddlers
Bring back all those fun school yard games you recall from your childhood. Chances are that the toddlers in your life will enjoy them too. Games such as hopscotch or hide-and-seek are always popular. In the summer months, running around the garden and jumping around the sprinkler will always bring giggles of delight as will chasing and popping soap bubbles.
Children
As your grandchildren get older, you can introduce them too more sophisticated games that involve counting and more chasing. Playing tag, statues or classic games like red rover will keep you fit too. Scavenger hunts will help test their powers of observation and deductive reasoning. Further encourage that spirit of adventure by having a picnic in the park or on the beach and enjoying play time there. Camping with the family also opens up a whole world of opportunity for imaginative outdoor play.
Teenagers
Teenagers might feel like they’re a bit too old for outdoor adventures, but many of them will go along with the fun and games if they have some friends with them. Look for nature-inspired adventure activities such as treetop rope course and ziplines. And make sure you join in the fun as well – rainforest hikes or a half day cycling will help your fitness too.
7. DIY Science Experiments
Can you do magic? It will certainly feel like it to your grandchildren as you show them fun, interactive science experiments where they see science in action. If you’re stuck for inspiration, an internet search will soon have you brimming with ideas.
Toddlers
The young ones will love to get hands on with these simple science experiments and the expression of wonder on their face will be well worth the clean up afterwards. One fun and colourful experiment will show toddlers how clouds hold moisture and produce rain.
Set out several egg cups, add water and food colouring. Then fill a medium-sized wide-mouthed glass bowl with water. Spray shaving cream on top of the water so it resembles big fluffy clouds. Using either an eye dropper or a teaspoon, drip the dyed water on the shaving cream then watch the colours ‘rain’ into the water below.
Explore how to create rain clouds using shaving cream here.
Children
As children become more dexterous, there are lots of craft-based science experiences that are bound to fuel their imaginations.
Let them discover their own inner Harry Potter by making colour-changing potions. This simple experiment introduces children to the concept of alkaline and acid. Boil chopped red cabbage until the water turns purple and strain the cooled liquid into several glasses. Add baking soda or vinegar to each glass and watch the colour change. Differing amount of baking soda and vinegar will result in different colours. To cap off the experiment, add baking soda to the vinegar solution and vice versa to see the bubbling result!
Explore more science experiments with kids here.
Teenagers
Keep the teenagers in your world fascinated by the opportunities of STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – through science kits. You’re sure to have as much fun as the kids recreating Leonardo da Vinci’s helicopter, hydraulic machines and tabletop robots.
8. Music and Dance
‘Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast’, observed William Congreve in 1697. It also has powers to keep grandchildren entertained and to use their boundless supply of energy. Why not enjoy your own dance party? Or, as children get older, foster a love of music by learning an instrument or simply through appreciating different styles and genres.
Toddlers
It is never too early to introduce toddlers to songs and music. The benefits are enormous, including improved coordination, increasing vocabulary as they sing along to their favourite songs as well as helping promote mood regulation.
This age is the perfect time to introduce games such as musical chairs, ‘freeze’ or ‘copycat’.
Learn more about the importance of music for toddler development here.
Children
As children get a little older, many of them turn into natural performers, so sit back and let them put on a show. If you have musical talent, encourage them to play alongside you and be amazed at how quickly they will pick up a tune. Even if you’re not musically inclined, you can introduce them to classic movie musicals. These bright and colourful spectacles will entertain for hours.
Teenagers
In the teenage years, musical tastes are pretty set – and they may not be the genres of music you like! Nevertheless, be open to listening to what the grandchildren are into and in turn, invite them to listen to the music you enjoyed at their age. You might both be surprised that you have a lot more in common than you think – many teens are genuinely interested in bands and performers of generations past, so don’t be surprised if there is a new David Bowie or Blondie fan in the family.
9. Creative Photography
Smart phones and digital cameras have opened up a whole new world for budding photographers and this is another great way to bond with your grandchildren – as well as getting lots of photos of your grandkids too.
Toddlers
Toddlers love to copy whatever adults are doing. If they are old enough to hold a camera, give them the opportunity, under supervision, to learn basic skills of looking through a view finder and pressing the aperture button as part of developing their coordination.
Show them photographs you have taken over the years to see how many things they can name in the photograph – and to see if they recognise a very young mum and dad!
Children
Consider a virtual scavenger hunt game using photographs. This game can be played even when your grandchildren aren’t visiting through emails and text messages. Set them an assignment to, for example, photograph something red. It might be a flower, a balloon, a roof or even their T-shirt and ask them to set you a task in return.
Activities such as these help build observational skills as well as increase connections across generations. Photographs can be used in creative play too. After a day of photographing, print out the images and invite the children to put together a collage showing mum and dad what they got up to that day.
Teenagers
As children get older, they can learn more advanced photographic skills such as in-camera editing where they learn to take better images using thoughtful composition, focus and shutter choice as well as lighting.
Creative teenagers who have computer skills can have their abilities challenged by using editing software to turn photos into stunning artworks.
Photography is a relatively inexpensive hobby which is easy to pick up and promotes so many valuable skills including attention to detail and artistic self-expression.
10. Museum and Cultural Visits
One of the great joys in life is to develop a curiosity about the world around us and discover great artwork and learn more about other cultures. Ensure you subscribe to emails from your local art centres, galleries and museums to find out about new exhibitions and activities. Many create special school holiday programs especially designed for younger audiences.
Toddlers
While toddlers might be too young to appreciate static art displays and museum pieces, they are bound to be fascinated by cultural events filled with colourful costumes, lively music and dancing. Many locations around Australia have multicultural festivals that bring together traditions from countries right around the world.
For toddlers and children, exposure to international cuisine is a great way to introduce them to different taste and textures to expand their palate.
Children
According to Macquarie University, taking children to museums helps foster a lifelong curiosity about the world and helps spark fascinating conversations.
Australian museums and galleries over the decades have worked hard to create displays and exhibitions that all the family will enjoy. In fact, museum attendance has grown markedly since 2006 with more than 70 percent of children having visited at least one gallery, museum, theatre event outside of school hours.
How long has it been since you visited to a gallery or museum? You are sure to get as much out of it as the grandkids.
Teenagers
Make a night out of going to a musical or introduce your teenage grandchildren to international cinema. There is every chance that your grandchildren have some familiarity with entertainment from other countries such as the popularity of Japanese anime and the music of Korean ‘K-pop’. In fact, let them choose the program for the day and experience something out of the ordinary for yourself.
Enjoy Activities with Your Grandkids at GemLife
The role of grandparents playing a positive impact in the lives of their grandchildren can’t be under-estimated. If you’re looking to rightsize your home, ensure you choose an active-50s lifestyle resort where you can enjoy overnight visits with the grandchildren and where they are welcome to enjoy the resort facilities with you.
GemLife over-50s lifestyle resorts which are found in the most desirable retirement locations around Australia are designed for active over 50s.
Each resort features luxury resort-style facilities including a relaxing summer house with outdoor pool, barbecues and sunlounges and an exclusive Country Club with sporting, leisure and entertainment facilities.
For more information, reach out to our specialist team or request an info pack.
