Grandparents, be ready for when the grandkids visit. Here are some fun holiday activities to make your time with your grandkids fun and special.
If holiday time with your grandkids is limited, you’ll want to make the most of it and start celebrating early. Days filled with fun activities are a sure way to bond across the generations. We have some ideas for fun holiday activities to help you plan ahead.
Fun Holiday Activities for Grandparents and Grandkids to Enjoy
Try one or all of these activities with your grandkids to share some holiday cheer with the youngest generation.
- Build a Holiday Fairy House
Fairies continue to enchant the imaginations of young children, with many creating miniature houses and gardens for these tiny sprites to “live” in. If you’re not familiar with the trend, the idea is to build a welcoming place for fairies to visit. It’s the perfect opportunity for you and your grandchild to create something fun together.
Fairy houses are typically constructed out of materials from nature. Since it’s winter, you’ll have to think of ways to get access to suitable construction materials.
You can start with an unfinished bird house from the craft store. Sticks, wood, evergreens, and cranberries are all good choices for decorating it in a holiday theme.
In addition to natural materials, you will need double-sided tape, string, and hot glue to hold everything together. Other optional materials include acrylic paints, pine cones, and yarn. Finally, candy canes make sweet lawn decorations for your magical fairy house.
- Introduce Traditional Holiday Activities
If you aren’t very crafty, it’s not a problem. Sometimes the simplest activities make for the best times with your grandkids. How about making and sipping homemade hot chocolate together and then settling down to cut out some paper snowflakes?
Prepare by purchasing cocoa, festive mugs, whipped cream, and marshmallows. If you live in an assisted living community, ask the dining staff for help.
You’ll also want to have paper along with child-friendly scissors on hand. You can add pizazz to your snowflakes by using a variety of pretty papers. And don’t forget to practice beforehand if you’re rusty. These pointers for making paper snowflakes can help.
- Give the Birds a Holiday Treat
If you and your grandchild enjoy nature, plan an activity focused on caring for the birds. Assemble suet, birdseed, red ribbons, and string. Suet can be hung with a red bow, while birdseed can fill feeders that you adorn with a bow.
If you live in an assisted living community, consider creating a birdseed bell or wreath with a red ribbon. That way, you can hang it right outside your window. Future visits from your grandchild can include checking on the progress the birds have made on the bell.
- Give the Gift of Time
While kids love crafting, they treasure time spent with you no matter what you’re doing. When you take the time to listen to their stories or relate some of your own, you’re connecting in ways that boost their confidence and help them thrive.
Small children also love having holiday stories read to them. You can buy a holiday-themed book and give it as a gift, but you can also read it together. Other ideas include writing a holiday poem and looking at old family pictures. Kids love seeing pictures of their parents when they were kids, so if you have any, it’s time to bring them out.
We’re All Family at Legacy Senior Living
The holidays are rich with opportunities that all generations can enjoy together. And it’s one of the most festive times of year to visit a Legacy Senior Living community. Call us today to set up a time!