School holiday fun with your grandchildren

As a child I have many fond memories of school holidays that were spent with my European grandparents. My sister and I would spend many an hour helping my Grandpa in the garden or ‘helping’ (or so in our eyes we thought) cook in the kitchen. Each afternoon we would walk down to the park to find new heights on swings and watch the birds by the lake. Back then I thought of it as nothing more than another day, however as cliché as it is, these memories are those that I carry decades later. They are everlasting memories.

School holidays are often a wonderful time to reconnect with grandchildren. With busy school schedules and often grandchildren living far away, school holidays present the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with the grandchildren. Whether it is in your home or theirs, there are always games and activities that are cost effective and enjoyable for both parties.

I think the key is to have a good mix of interactive indoor and outdoor activities up your sleeve. With technology playing a large role in children’s lives these days, I like to explore options that are not centred around iPads or the TV. There are many activities or games that are perfect for some school holiday fun. Here are my family’s top five favourites…

Board games

Board games are always great fun. The great part about it is that most board games allow children to subconsciously learn whilst having fun at the same time. Monopoly; well who doesn’t love a game of monopoly? It gets everyone involved and there are always many laughs to be had. Monopoly also gets the children to understand and practice small change transactions. Another game that is also fun and educational is Scrabble. This is definitely a great game bound to help children with those spelling bees.

Cooking

Cooking and especially decorating something yummy in the kitchen would have to be a favourite. Vanilla cupcakes are always a good option. If you’re not the baker type, fear not, buying plain cupcakes before the grandchildren arrive does the same job. The focus is on the grandchildren decorating the cupcakes with their own designs. We often have a theme in my house, such as this week it was Disney and so Mickey Mouse was an absolute decorating winner.

Picnic

Having a picnic whether in the garden or down at the park, it is a lovely way to take activities outside. Together you and your grandchildren could make some sandwiches and pack the cupcakes, made earlier in the day, into a basket ready for your outing. Don’t forget to pack a frisbee or football and possibly some bread for the birds (in of course areas allowed)

Dress ups

I have a box filled with miscellaneous materials and objects that I have collected over the years. I call it the magical box. Whenever the grandchildren come over I always like to have this box handy. We create costumes and develop characters, spending the day in a phantom world. The children love it and if we are honest I do too!

Chalking

One last activity I find the children really love is taking to the driveway with chalk. It takes colouring in to a whole new level and the children love to show how their drawings have improved from one holiday to the next. It’s also a great time for conversations to be shared between artists (because everyone is an artist at heart) and find out what their interests and hobbies are. This may even spark another game or activity idea.

School holidays are often the perfect opportunity to reconnect with grandchildren.

What activities or games do you like to play with your grandchildren? Is there something from your childhood that your grandparents loved to do with you that you now share with your grandchildren? Tell us your ideas… I know my sleeve of activities could do with some topping up!