Games to Play with Your Grandchildren

Watching one’s grandchildren grow and change is one of the best experiences a grandparent can have. Any time spent with the next generation is precious. However, as they age out of infant and toddler activities, it can sometimes feel difficult to find something to enjoy together. If you’re looking for ideas for games to play with your grandchildren, consider these options.

Card and board games

For a cold or rainy day, card games and board games are fantastic ways to keep your grandchildren occupied without the use of a screen. There are hundreds of games you would all enjoy, but a few tried and true options include Go Fish, Uno, Monopoly, and chess. If your grandchildren don’t know how to play these games, you can spend some time together learning.

Card and board games have benefits past the fun grandparents and grandchildren have together. Those who play games such as these see improvements in their memory retention, their attention span, and strategic thinking skills.

Play dress-up

You certainly have clothes and jewelry you don’t wear anymore, and you may even have some of your children’s clothes from years ago. Put all of these together in a box and let your grandchildren play dress up. This is a fun, silly activity that will keep them busy as they sort through all their options for play.

For an extra fun afternoon, take your grandchildren to a secondhand shop and allow them to pick out a few pieces of their own. Afterward, they can put together outfits that are uniquely theirs.

Host a tea party

Tea parties are great fun for all types of kids. Any opportunity to dress up and play pretend together is a fun one for most children. So, bust out your tea set (or consider purchasing a cheaper one that is more child-friendly) and start the party.

For younger children, you may want to keep your teas and snacks on the “pretend” plane. However, with slightly older children, you can take a little time to prepare sandwiches and tea together.

Try sensory play

In recent years “sensory play” has seen a rise in popularity on social media. This type of play encourages children to engage with curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity through the use of their senses.

Activities like finger painting and making slime are great, sensory play activities you can enjoy together. For slightly less messy activities, making sound tubes, playing on the swing, and even planting a garden are fantastic options. Sensory play is best suited for preschool children, but older children will enjoy these activities as well.

Head outside for yard games

This time of year, you and your grandchildren both want to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. Head out to your backyard or go to a park, and play some classic yard games that you enjoyed as a child. Enjoying these games alongside your grandchildren will serve as great physical activity as well.

• Hide and seek. Stick to a certain area of your yard, and play “seeker” while your grandchild hides. This game is sure to keep them entertained for hours. A similar game is “blind man’s bluff,” where the seeker wears a blindfold and those hiding stay rooted in place.
• Sly fox. Best enjoyed as a group, one person acts as the “fox” and turns away from the group. The group must silently approach the group, and when the fox turns around everyone must freeze. If the fox catches someone moving, they must return back to the start. Similar games include “red light, green light,” and “mother, may I?”
• Catch. What is a more quintessential yard game than a game of catch? Grab a baseball or a Frisbee, and toss it back and forth.

Play video games together

Video gaming has been shown to improve hand-eye coordination and problem-solving in seniors. You and your grandchildren can enjoy these games together even if you’re hundreds of miles away!

• Pokémon Go! This game encourages players to get outside while they’re playing a game. Hunt for Pokémon on your phone while you’re on a walk together and compare your catches. If you live far from one another, you can still compare your catches online.
• Mario Kart. Inspire a little friendly competition with this racing game. There are several versions available—even one for your phone—so you could play together based on what devices you have access to.
• Draw Something. This game is essentially online Pictionary. One of you draws something, and the other has to guess what it is.

Get the help of a caregiver so you can enjoy time with your grandchildren

When you’re spending time with your grandchildren, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not your activities of daily living are properly managed. Thankfully, with the help of a home caregiver, you don’t have to. These professionals will offer assistance with medication reminders, meal planning, errands, and any other activities you require help with.

For more information on how you might benefit from an at-home caregiver, give us a call at 773-274-9262.