A good family structure is incredibly beneficial to both you and your kids. The reasons why kids should spend as much time with their grandparents as they can are numerous and well documented. Apart from the links they can provide to your family history and the help they can give you with babysitting, there is nothing quite like the unconditional love that your kids’ grandparents can provide. Here are 5 ways you can create fun and healthy activities for your kids to do with their grandparents.
They Can Pass on Some Family Secret Recipes
The family recipe is a time-honored tradition. It might not be as well-kept a secret as the herbs and spices in KFC, but you know that old family recipe for the best banana bread ever or that secret ingredient in the mac and cheese that’s a hit at all the family gatherings? Why not get your grandparents to teach it to your kids? Not only will they be learning to cook, but they’ll also be inheriting something fun and mysterious, which they’ll love. Family recipes are a great way to spend time together and to pass something from generation to generation. Undoubtedly there will be some baked treat that the granny is famous for – why not get her to teach it to our kids?
Encourage Them to Get Creative
If your kids have creative grandparents, this one is a no brainer. Learning a creative skill has so many benefits and can increase hand-eye co-ordination, lateral thinking, and just good plain old creativity. Whether it’s knitting, cross-stitch, painting or sculpture, there are so many creative skills your kids would have a great time learning – and they’re valuable skills to have. If your kids are more hands-on, a practical skill like tending to the garden could also be a great activity for your kids and their grandparents to share.
Ask the Grandparents to Read the Bedtime Story
Many kids will have fond memories of having their favorite stories read to them as kids before bed. It inspires creative thinking and imagination and helps your kids learn the language and expand their vocabulary. It also relaxes them and gets them ready for bed. After dinner, when bedtime comes around, ask your kids’ grandparents to read their favorite book or a chapter of their favorite story. It’ll improve their bond, and it’ll give you some time to tidy up or put your feet up for a few minutes while your kids drift off to sleep.
Visit Some Museums
Getting out and visiting some museums is a really fun and educational way to spend a day together. If your parents struggle with mobility, this might be more challenging, but EWheels makes an entire line of electric mobility scooters that could open up some doors for them. The local natural history museum or science museum are both fun activities for a day trip and don’t cost much.
Share Memories Together
Sometimes a few stories over some coffee in front of a fire is all that’s needed for some great quality time. You and your parents can share some funny or interesting stories about growing up with your kids. Shock them with stories about black and white television or days when mobile phones just weren’t around. Family stories are wonderful, and your kids will love hearing them, and they’ll learn about you and their grandparents.
Creating an environment where your kids and their grandparents can spend some great time together that will provide a nurturing, learning, and the mutually beneficial environment is easy to do. In many ways, having your parents assist with your job of parenting means that not only do you get some well-earned rest, but your parents and your kids will also benefit from it too.
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