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There’s nothing like the bond between grandparent and grandchild, and summer vacation provides ample opportunities for grandparents to spoil their little ones with attention and affection. Instead of planning long days at the zoo or beach, try these activities that can easily be done at home.
Football. Baseball. Soccer. Golf. Basketball. Pick your favorite! A game of catch, a trip to the driving range or mini-golf, practicing drills in the backyard, the possibilities are endless. Sharing the love of a favorite pastime with the next generation offers them some insight, and some great stories, of what grandma and grandpa loved in their youth.
Playing a sport is also great exercise and gets both kids and seniors adequate time outdoors, breathing in the fresh air and loading up on Vitamin D.
Do you have great memories of fun with your parents flying kites or paper airplanes? Though the world is much more digital these days, kids can still appreciate the magic of learning to fold and throw a paper plane or watching a kite take off. It’s also an excellent opportunity to introduce grandparents to drones or remote-controlled vehicles. These electronic flyers also help to improve hand-eye coordination, which is a benefit to both kids and seniors.
Card games are the quintessential grandparent game—it’s the perfect rainy-day activity. Start with Go Fish for little ones and work up to the card shark classics like Rummy or War. These games improve logic skills, memory, and concentration.
Reading with grandkids of any age is both an excellent way to share time, and essential for their brain development. Reading aloud stimulates children’s imagination and expands their understanding of the world. As they learn to read themselves, moving into stories beyond their reading level helps them to improve their skills and broaden their concept of language. Sharing meaningful family books will help connect them to both their grandparent and their parent.
There is magic in the hunt to find treasure. From discovering a map to finding clues, scavenger, or treasure hunts provide kids with the opportunity to use their imagination, solve problems, and feel victorious as they successfully solve riddles and clues. Because this is an indoor or outdoor activity, it’s great for grandparents of all mobility levels. Treasure hunts are also the perfect way to share some family history by incorporating heirlooms or even landmarks that have sentimental meaning.
What do grandparents love more than anything? Showing off their grandkids! For grandparents who still live at home, encourage the kids to come to a favorite activity like a volunteer opportunity. If your parent lives in a senior living community, have the kids accompany them to an activity or outing. Aegis Living Life Enrichment Directors plan hours of engaging programs for their residents that would be educational for children. They could also join grandma or grandpa for the weekly outing, which can be anything from a trip to the local park to browsing a local museum.
Joining grandparents for lunch or dinner also allows them the opportunity to share their treasured grandsons and daughters with their friends. Plus, they fill up on a delicious meal before coming home and can practice their best table manners.
There are many ways to keep kids entertained at Aegis Living, from watching a game in the sports den, to creating a masterpiece in art class to proudly hang on grandma’s wall. We invite you to stop by a community near you to experience our grand common areas and ask to speak with a Life Enrichment Director to discover one of the many activities the residents enjoy each day.
