Why Activities With Grandparents Matter

Planning a day filled with fun activities for grandparents and grandkids is one of those days where everyone is a winner. It’s a chance for intergenerational bonding, which allows for kids and their elders to learn from each other and grow in respect for one another. It gives grandparents a chance to keep their brains sharp, exposes kids to skills and knowledge grandparents have known for decades, and can help give children a better sense of identity and culture, as grandparents are often the gatekeepers to family history.

Studies also show that children who interact with their grandparents tend to have better levels of development in behaviors such as kindness, generosity, and other positive values. When it comes to creating a strong family unit, having grandparents around is a game-changer.

Classic Activities for Grandparents and Kids

1. Play cards

We’ve never met a grandparent who didn’t enjoy a night of playing cards. It’s one of those fun activities for grandparents and grandchildren that don’t take a lot of setup, require almost no supplies, but promise tons of laughter. Classics such as UNO, Go Fish, and Old Maid are easy games for even very young kids to learn. Keep the card playing going all day as you work through our list of 25 card games every kid should know.

2. Bake together

One of the best intergenerational activities for kids is learning how to make Grandma's to-die-for sugar cookies, discovering the secret to how her pies brown just right, or figuring out what exactly should go in banana bread (we vote for pecans and chocolate chips). Choose easy recipes that kids can help make or pass down a coveted family recipe!

3. Do a puzzle

Puzzles are great for kids and grandparents alike. They get the mind moving and can be done regardless of age or physical activity level. And the feeling when you’ve completed one? Priceless.

4. Read books together

Reading is one of those fun activities for grandparents and grandchildren that stands the test of time. Little kids can pick out their favorite picture book, or older kids can have their grandparents read a chapter out of their current read. If you’re looking for a new book, a great place to find one is our list of 100 Kids' Books Every Child Should Read Before They Grow Up.

5. Have a tea party

Pinkies up! Grandparents can enjoy some real tea while little kids can have water or lemonade—and everyone loves cookies or cute little tea sandwiches. Set a fancy table and invite favorite stuffed animals to tea, too.

6. Play board games

Planning Grandparents Day activities can be easy when you include something everyone loves to do—play board games. The best part is you likely already have a few on hand, but if you need some new games, we've got suggestions for the best board games for all ages.

7. Color together

There’s something timeless and soothing about sitting down to color. With a new pack of crayons and coloring books (or printed-out coloring pages), kids and grandparents can spend some restful and creative time together.

8. Have a movie night

Movie night is even more special with special guests. Pick a great kids' movie and load up on popcorn, pizza, and special movie treats. Get everyone comfy and enjoy a special movie night at home.

9. Build with Legos

Legos are an awesome way to spend some quality time together. They encourage problem-solving, reading, and teamwork. Not into Lego? Magna-Tiles are also great for building and creating together.

10. Make ice cream sundaes

Is it just us, or do ice cream sundaes taste even better when mom and dad aren’t around? Grandparents and kids can choose their favorite flavors and toppings, or, for an extra treat, use ice cream you make together or create an ice cream sundae dessert board.

Fun Indoor Activities for Grandparents and Kids

11. Draw a family tree

A really special intergenerational activity for kids is creating a family tree. While the kids and grandparents draw out the different branches and see how far back in the tree they can go, ask grandparents to tell stories about different family members. These stories help kids feel connected to family and the past.

12. Play a different version of 20 questions

Asking questions is an awesome way for kids and grandparents to get to know each other even better. Rather than trying to guess what the person is thinking of, in this version, the players go back and forth, asking the other person questions about themselves until each person has answered 20 questions.

13. Make a holiday decoration

With a holiday in every season, one of the things kids can do with grandparents is get crafty, making a holiday decoration. Carve pumpkins, make ornaments, or paint something patriotic for the summertime.

14. Do crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles not only get the mind moving but also help kids with reading, writing, and spelling. If they’re ready for a little brain workout with some kid-friendly crossword puzzles, we've rounded up our favorite Printable Word Puzzles for Kids.

15. Draw portraits of each other

Set up the kids and grandparents with some nice paper and colored pencils, and ask them to draw portraits of one another. Keep these adorable prints to frame as a birthday or holiday gift!

16. Host a dance party

You’re never too old or too young for a dance party. Everyone can pick their favorite tunes and get shaking. Mix it up by having kids teach their grandparents the latest TikTok dances.

17. Make t-shirts

Puffy paint or some tie-dye makes for a fun and crafty afternoon. Get some plain white t-shirts, and everyone can let their creative juices flow. This is great for family outings or big trips where everyone can wear matching t-shirts!

18. Put on a puppet show

Looking for creative things to do with grandparents? Have them help the kids organize a puppet show. They’ll need to start by creating puppets and then get to work on sets and themes for the puppet play. use things found around the house, like old socks or clothes, craft supplies, and cardboard boxes.

19. Make milkshakes

Milkshakes are a fun and easy treat to make at home. Start with a basic recipe and have some fun syrups and mix-ins ready. It's an easy way to lure everyone to the kitchen!

20. Make a gift for parents

Time alone with the grandkids is a great opportunity to make something special for their parents—perhaps a birthday gift or something for a holiday.

21. Teach each other a hobby

Did you know ‘grandma hobbies’ are trending right now? Well, there’s no time like the present for grandparents to introduce their grandkids to things they enjoy doing. And you can always reverse it—kids also have hobbies that are a mystery to their grandparents!

22. Make a racetrack

On a gloomy day inside, get out some cardboard or masking tape and make a racetrack for toy cars. This will take ingenuity, craftsmanship, and teamwork. The result is a fun little racetrack kids can play with for hours.

Outdoor Adventures With Grandparents

23. Go on a walk

An easy walk down the street can be a lot of fun for grandparents and kids. This low-impact physical activity can be done anywhere, and it's always free. Walk to a park, walk around the block, or walk somewhere fun for a little treat. We've also got a dozen suggestions that help turn an everyday walk into an adventure.

24. Take a bike ride

Even if the grandparents aren’t on bikes, they’ll still enjoy a stroll with their favorite little bikers around the neighborhood or to a local park. Better yet? Have grandparents teach kids to ride a bike! It's a memory everyone will treasure.

25. Plant flowers

Gardening is a fun and low-impact activity for grandchildren and grandparents to do outside. Whether planting flowers in a garden or pots, this is a great one-off or regular activity they can enjoy together. Make these wildflower seed bombs together, and then plant them!

26. Go on a picnic

A picnic gets everyone outside to enjoy the fresh air and do something different. Half the fun is packing a bag or picnic basket together filled with lunch and favorite treats to share.

27. Pick wildflowers

Go on an adventure to find pretty flowers (even if some flowers end up being weeds!) to put in vases around the house.

28. Go to the zoo

You’re never too young or too old to appreciate the magic of animals. Check out our list of favorite zoos across the country to find the best zoo near you.

29. Go fishing

Fishing is a summer rite of passage for a kid. It’s also a great memory-making experience for grandparents and grandkids. Whether it’s a day trip to a lake or just a stroll to a nearby fishing hole, this is a fun activity the kids will never forget.

30. Go to a farmers market

A farmers market is a lovely way to spend a morning. Walk the aisles picking sweet treats or ingredients for that night’s dinner.

31. Go to a new park

While every park is magical as a kid, make a park day even more special by trying a new park or a destination park in your city.

32. Visit a new pool or splash pad

In the summer months, take the time to enjoy a little water play at a new water park, pool, or splash pad. If there’s an indoor pool option near you, you can even make a pool party date in the winter.

33. Visit a farm for berry or apple picking

The summer and fall are great times to visit a berry, flower, pumpkin, or fruit farm. Then bring home the actual fruits of your labor and get eating, cooking, or even canning. Yum!

Grandparent Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers

34. Make a fort

Making forts isn't just for kids. Grandma and Grandpa likely have a few fort-building techniques the kids have never seen. Get out the sheets and couch cushions and enjoy hours of indoor fun.

35. Play with bubbles

Who doesn’t love good old-fashioned bubbles? While you might think of it as something to plan for the summer months, it’s a great activity for grandparents and grandkids in the winter because frozen bubbles are amazing!

36. Draw with sidewalk chalk

Sidewalk chalk is an easy and inexpensive thing to play with anywhere and any time. Create a driveway or sidewalk masterpiece together, or use the chalk to create sidewalk games like hopscotch or tic-tac-toe. You can even get fancy and make fizzy sidewalk chalk.

37. Play hide-and-seek

Hide-and-seek is an awesome game to play both indoors and outdoors. Get the grandparents in on the fun, and there’s sure to be a lot of giggles.

38. Build a sandcastle

If you’re near a beach or even a park or backyard with a sandbox, making a sandcastle is a fun and creative activity for grandparents and grandkids. Buying a new set of sand toys to build with Grandpa and Grandma will make the experience feel even more special!

39. Play dress-up

Playing dress-up is a fun and silly way to pass the time with grandkids. The whole family can get creative with costumes, put on a play, or just dress each other up with clothes from around the house.

Grandparent & Me Activities for School-Aged Kids

40. Go out to eat

A meal out is an even more special occasion when it’s with grandparents. Whether it’s a quick bite or a dressed-up occasion, everyone will love making memories while dining out together.

41. Go bowling

Bowling is a fun game that everyone can play regardless of skill level. With bumpers for little ones and cosmic bowling at many places later at night, there’s a perfect place to bowl for everyone from toddlers to tweens, but it’s especially fun for school-aged kids.

42. Take a class together

When it comes to bonding with grandparents, taking a class opens up a world of possibilities. They can try painting, cooking, pottery, art, music, or a movement class!

43. Make a birdhouse

Using a kit or opting for a DIY birdhouse, this is a fun thing to do with grandkids. Once finished, fill it with seeds and wait for feathered friends to appear. Keep your bonding time going by helping little ones identify which birds stop by for a snack. 

44. Paint rocks

Painting rocks is a fun way to get creative with nature. Grandparents and kids go on the hunt for the perfect rocks and paint them for the garden or front yard. Combine this fun activity for grandparents and grandchildren with a trip to the park, and leave them for others to find!

45. Cook dinner together

If grandparents are watching the kids in the evening or overnight, cooking dinner together is a great activity. After all, studies show that when kids participate in making the meal, they're more likely to be adventurous eaters.

Activities for Grandparents, Tweens, & Teens

46. See a game

Regardless of the season, there’s always a local or professional game to go to with grandparents. Whether it’s baseball, t-ball, basketball, football, or hockey, everyone will love filling up on game food and cheering on the home team.

47. Visit a museum

Choose a museum that grandparents and their tween or teenage grandkids haven't visited. Whether it’s an art museum or the planetarium, they’ll make great new memories exploring a new place!

48. Play a round of mini golf

Miniature golf is an easy activity for kids and grandparents to do together. These small courses are slow-paced and made with kids in mind. Plus, it can be fun to get a little cross-generation competition going.

49. Go to the movies

A movie outing is a fun way for grandparents and grandkids to spend some time. Pick a movie the whole family will like, sit back, and enjoy the show. Don’t forget the popcorn!

50. Have a spa day

A spa day is a fun way for grandparents and kids to pamper themselves and maybe even get a little silly. Do it up with comfy pajamas, robes, face masks, sparkling water, and even nail polish if everyone is feeling ambitious.

Fun Virtual Activities for Long-Distance Grandparents

51. Have a Netflix party movie night

If grandparents don't live nearby, it's no problem! You can have a Netflix party movie night together. Using a web app that synchronizes your streaming platform, you can all watch the movie together, whether you’re in the same room or states away from each other.

52. Play online games

There are plenty of games and apps perfect for grandparents and their grandchildren.  Think Uno Online, the Clue: Classic Edition app, Words With Friends, and more. 

53. Virtual Storytime

A great way to stay connected is to arrange a weekly FaceTime or video chat with the grandparents. While on the phone, they can read a bedtime story to your child.

Celebrate Grandparents Day With These Special Ideas

Grandparents Day is always the first Sunday after Labor Day in September. We’ve got plenty of things to do with grandkids that involve toys, technology, and entertainment, and while those are fun any time nana and papa stop by, but when it comes to making real memories with grandparents, it’s the things that require everyone to be present that will be extra special: playing board games, asking 20 questions, making dinner or a sweet treat, looking through a photo album, or drawing a family tree.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s a good activity for a grandparent with limited mobility?

A: Activities that don’t require a lot of walking or getting up and down are ideal for a grandparent with limited mobility. Think playing cards, watching a movie, reading books, and doing puzzles.

Q: What if my grandchild is a teen and doesn’t want to “hang out”?

A: Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids have been raised in a digital world. Try some tech-based bonding to connect with them. A few rounds on the Nintendo Switch, trying a TikTok challenge, listening to an age-appropriate podcast, or even playing a digital game with them (think Wordle or Words with Friends).

Q: When is Grandparents Day?

A: It’s celebrated in the U.S. on the first Sunday after Labor Day each September.

Q: Are these activities okay for younger grandparents, too?

A: Of course! We have tons of ideas that appeal to families of different ages and abilities. All you have to do is choose what works best for you and your grandkids.