In 2024, it is no surprise to hear that families are busier than the generations before them. After work and school, soccer, and dance class, we don’t have very much free time. Even our time to visit with grandparents is limited these days. As a result, our children are missing out on the family stories and traditions of the generations before them. It’s time to cancel your plans and spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa. Here are some things you can do:
Pass Down a Tradition
Ask Grandma or Grandpa to share something from their childhood with your children. Whether it is a game, recipe, or song, sharing with the next generation rekindles their memories and creates new ones for your kids today. With the holidays around the corner, this is the perfect time to talk about what Grandma and Grandpa did for the holidays when they were kids. Consider adding some of those ideas to your holiday plan this year.
Get to Know Each Other Better
Make a list of questions that you may not know about each other and write it down in a journal. Try asking each person to share a memory from a common time in their lives. Start with the age of the youngest child in the house and move up to the next age until the only one sharing is Grandma or Grandpa. For example, if the youngest is 6, start with a memory from the age of 6. If the next youngest is 10, then have everyone 10 and older share a memory from that time in their life. Don’t forget to make a video to capture this wonderful moment.
Shake Up Your Family Tree
Ask Grandma to tell you the names of her parents, grandparents, and siblings. You may discover family names that have been passed down for generations. Find out what part of the world your family comes from and when they arrived in this part of the country. If Grandma or Grandpa speaks another language, ask them to teach you a few words. Does your family have any traditional clothes or music hiding in the attic? Pull them out and tell their story.
Your Family in Pictures
Let Grandma be the tour guide down memory lane. Pop some popcorn and pull out the family movies. Dig to the back of the closet and dust off the photo albums. Your kids will love to see the house you grew up in and your childhood pets. Let them laugh at the crazy clothes you wore and the hairstyles of the day. Don’t forget to take out the baby pictures of each child and show them how much they have changed in just a few years.
Have a Sleepover Party
You are never too old for a sleepover, especially at your grandparents’ house. Pack up the sleeping bags and set up a fort in the living room. Create a smorgasbord of bite-sized foods, like fruit, cheese cubes, chicken nuggets, deviled eggs, mini meatballs, and tater tots. Give everyone a 6-cup muffin pan to use as a plate. Teach the kids how to play a classic card game and watch a movie that you will all enjoy. Don’t forget about a big breakfast of silver dollar pancakes in the morning before they leave.
Take Silly Pictures
End the day on a high note. Set up a backdrop with a sheet and decorative lights. Print out photo booth prop templates like eyeglasses, hats, and mustaches, or use some items from a box of dress-up clothes. Take multiple pictures of your family being silly for the day. Preserve today’s memories by framing those pictures and displaying them in a special spot in your home. Every time you pass, you will be reminded that fun can be shared by family of all ages if we just take the time.
Connect Virtually
The world is a smaller place with the use of technology. If you don’t live in the same area as Grandma or Grandpa, you can still spend time together. Try catching up on Zoom while making dinner and then share the meal together. You can play many games, especially if you each have one. For example, you can play Monopoly with one person controlling the board, but each person has the Community Chest cards and property deed cards at their house. Dice games like Yahtzee are easy to play, too. Or, have Grandma or Grandpa read a bedtime story.
