The time that grandparents spend with their grandchildren creates lifelong memories. We've collected ideas from grandparents (and parents and grandchildren, as well) about special projects, expeditions, and traditions that they have enjoyed. We hope that you'll share your ideas with us for future issues.
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Plant a garden together. It can be large or small, flowers or vegetables, but it's a wonderful project to share together over the course of the summer. (Be sure to plant a few pumpkin seeds to be harvested at Halloween.)
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Find toys that used to belong to the child's parent. Search through the attic or basement. Discover treasures and then spend time repairing or repainting so that the toy can have a second life with a new generation.
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When a grandchild spends the night, hide a little present under his or her pillow, a "pillow present." Not only is this a special tradition, but it might help make bedtimes a little easier, too.
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Keep a vocabulary list of your grandchild's first words. His parents may not have time to document such a miraculous accomplishment as learning to talk, but they will surely treasure having such a record.
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Children love to receive mail. Send postcards, letters, and greeting cards frequently, either from your travels around the world or from across town. Reading and writing letters is good practice for new readers.
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Make a tape of your grandchild's favorite books or tell stories into a tape recorder. Your grandchildren will listen to these in the car or during quiet times. These are so much more meaningful than commercial tapes.
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Send food packages of your grandchild's favorite foods, especially things that she might not get frequently at home, such as homemade cookies or biscuits.
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Teach your grandchildren to play card games, such as Go Fish, War, Old Maid, Crazy Eights, or Kings on the Corner.
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Rummage through your attic and find old clothes that once belonged to your grandchild's parent, such as Mom's old formal dresses or Dad's Cub Scout uniform. Let your grandchild try them on. Find old photos of when his parent wore the clothing. Take a photo of your grandchild wearing the same clothes, mimicking the same pose.
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Take your grandchild on a train trip. Ride up to Highland Park for lunch at Stash's or Michael's or to Chicago for an old-fashioned luncheon or tea at Marshall Field's.
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Plan a surprise celebration. Celebrate Mom's or Dad's birthday or anniversary, or just have an "I Love You" party. Together, grandparent and grandchild can make a card, banner, or gift, bake a cake, and enjoy whispering about their plans to one another when Mom and Dad are around.
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Help your grandchild save money for a special purchase. Tell her that you will match anything she saves. Buy a bank to keep the funds in. Tape a picture of what she's saving for (a bike, roller blades, etc.) on the bank.
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Bake bread or make a pie from scratch. Your grandchild will remember the delicious smells for years to come.
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Pick flowers from your garden. Teach your grandchild the names of the flowers. Arrange them together and let him take some flowers for his own room.
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Recite the poems you memorized as a child. Your grandchildren will be fascinated to hear such classics as "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat," "Hiawatha," or "The Man in the Moon."
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Teach your grandchild how to sew, either by hand or machine. If your sewing skills are not up to making real clothes, try doll clothes or costumes for Halloween.
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Make a collage box to be used for art projects when grandchildren come to visit. Collect silk flowers, bits of ribbon and wrapping paper, greeting cards, buttons, or fabric scraps.
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Ask your grandchild to teach you a computer game. He'll be proud to share his computer skills with you.
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Take your grandchild fishing. You can guarantee that she'll catch a fish if you go to a "fish ranch," but often the charm of fishing is just to spend a lazy afternoon in each other's company, not the number of fish you bring home.
