Whoever said that grandkids are the reward you get for raising children was right. It’s great fun to watch grandkids grow and develop — without having the full-time responsibility.

As grandparents, you probably have more time now than you did when your own children were young to spend on relaxing, less demanding activities with young ones. Try a few of these ideas to help you become a more memorable grandparent.

Grandchildren Slumber Party

Build memories with a special slumber party for all the grandchildren.

Create a Grandchildren’s Room

If you have an extra room in the house, you could decorate and organize it with all the items that grandchildren love to play with and enjoy. Perhaps you could make a little storage area under a flight of stairs into a little playhouse or hideout.

Surprise Box

Collect inexpensive toys, games, etc., that younger children 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.

Cupcake Messages

Before you bake cupcakes for the grandkids, write a “fortune” or fun message on a piece of paper and roll it up into a piece of foil. Tightly fold it the foil and place it in the bottom of the paper cupcake liner before pouring in the batter. Grandchildren will enjoy getting a fortune or special message from grandparents.

Grandparent Envelopes

Buy a large clasp envelope for each grandchild, and whenever you receive a special letter, drawing, report or photograph that could have special meaning to them in a few years, put it into the envelope. At a future time, put all these items into individual scrapbooks and give them to each grandchild.

Cassette “Book on Tape”

Buy a special book for grandchildren and read it into a tape recorder. Send the book and the tape to the child. You might want to do this with several books so that you’ll have a supply for special visits