Creative Communication Ideas
Grandchildren coming for an afternoon visit, a one-night sleepover or a long weekend? Grandchildren live far away and can’t visit too often? You know they can watch TV and videos anytime, and you want the time you spend with them to be meaningful and bonding. Whether they live near or far, you’ll want to try a few of these ideas to help bring generations together.
Grandparent’s picture letter
When you write to young grandchildren who can’t read, add hand-drawn pictures (or even pictures cut from magazines) rebus-style. The letter will be special for children who are eager to receive mail — and they are. Letters can be valued memories if tucked away in their treasure boxes.
Puzzle letter
When you write to your grandchild, glue the letter onto cardboard and cut into pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. Send the pieces. Your grandchild will enjoy having to put the pieces together in order to read the letter.
Fun Activities for Grandchildren’s Visits
Grandchildren’s slumber party
Invite all the grandchildren over for a special slumber party. This is an excellent way to build memories that will last.
Grandchildren’s room
If you have an extra room in the house, you might decorate it and organize it with all the items grandchildren can play with and enjoy. Perhaps you could make a small storage area under a flight of stairs into a little play area or hideout.
Surprise Activities
Surprise box
For younger grandchildren, collect inexpensive toys, games, etc., that they might enjoy and place them in a box. Before they leave your home, let them reach into the box without being able to see into it and take an item. This can be a fun tradition for the grandchildren to look forward to each time they visit.
Tell stories on your kids
When you are looking for an entertaining tale to tell, remember that grandchildren are always interested in stories about their parents. For example, you might tell the grandchild about the day his or her mother or father was born, or what your family was doing on a significant or historic date, such as when astronauts landed on the moon.
Sweet Surprises
Cupcake messages
Before you bake cupcakes for the grandchildren, write a fortune or funny message on a piece of paper and roll it into a piece of foil. Tightly fold it and place it in the bottom of the paper liner before pouring in the cake batter. Grandchildren will enjoy getting a fortune or special message from grandparents.
