I call my play days “Grammy Day.” (I’m the ringleader, but Papa sometimes gets in on the action, too.) Giving the day a name lets kids know it is special and distinguishes it from babysitting. The goal is simply to spend time together. Unless you’re doubling as daycare for the day, I recommend shorter time periods for little ones.
Activity suggestions (adjust based on ages and abilities):
- Have a few activities ready to go (crafts, bubbles, fingerprinting, songs, snow painting, sprinklers, train set, etc.) so you aren’t scrambling to keep them entertained.
- Have a specific area where toys are available. (Do you want the kids to want to come over? Make it fun! Set up a playroom, clear out a closet or keep it as simple as a big basket of toys.)
- Read a Bible story or two, as well as any other books of their choosing (I keep a basket of children’s books in my living room for easy access, in addition to a shelf of books in the playroom).
- Tell them a story from your childhood – it’s hard for them to believe you were actually a kid once upon a time.
- Field trips are fun for a change of pace. Go to the park, apple orchard, pumpkin farm, sledding hill, duck pond – whatever the weather allows and you can manage. Maybe it’s as simple as taking a walk and asking them to point out all the things God created in nature.
- A sure winner: water. Try a water table, the pool, a play sink (a bucket makes a great makeshift sink) or mud kitchen.
Today’s fun . . . Stomp Rockets®. We followed up by riding tricycles and other ride-on toys in the driveway. In addition to changing up activities, it’s fun to change up the venue for a fresh perspective. We don’t play on the driveway that often, so they were excited about the new activities.
Helpful tips:
- Have a snack drawer stocked just for kids. It makes them feel independent to choose their own snack. And, since snacks are pre-approved, there’s no arguing over what they can have. I have a one “sweet” snack rule, so they aren’t bouncing off the walls.
- For younger kiddos, have highchairs, boosters, sippy cups, diapers, changing area, etc. so parents don’t have to haul it all over. And, it makes Grammy’s house seem more like home.
- I have a car seat and boosters on hand to make outings easy. Yes, you can borrow their parents’ seats, but having them onsite allows for impromptu outings.
- Be sure to fully understand any food allergies. We have a couple grands with severe allergies. It’s scary. When in doubt, ASK. Abiding by parents’ guidelines is critical for the kids’ safety and your own peace of mind. (Look for a future blog post on this.)
The goal is to keep little bodies busy and ensure your time is intentionally focused. No scrolling through social media while the kids play – join in the fun!