How to Make Grandparents’ Day Memorable

Grandparents’ Day was first created by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, and has since become a favorite holiday among many American families. Just like for mothers on Mother’s Day, and fathers on Father’s Day, Grandparents’ Day is all about making seniors feel special. Here are some tips for how your family can show Grandma and Grandpa how much you care on their holiday:

• Have the grandkids “interview” their grandparents: Children can sit down with Grandma and Grandpa and ask them a number of different questions about their childhood, their career, and their hobbies. Record the audio or use a video camera to create lasting memories. Grandparents may have an entirely different perspective on the world based on how they grew up, and can shed some light on what it was like to grow up during major historical changes that kids have read about in textbooks. The interview will become an important piece of family history that future generations can enjoy.
• Do a project together: Kids love to get active, and grandparents will enjoy working with their grandchildren on a project to brighten up their home. Whether it is a collage of family pictures or a watercolor painting, these artistic endeavors promote bonding and yield a beautiful piece of art for Grandma or Grandpa’s living space.
• Plant a garden: Depending on the senior’s ability levels, gardening is a fun way to spend some time in nature on Grandparents’ Day. Kids can pick out the plants they’d like to grow, and then work with their grandparents on planting and watering these seeds. 
• Cook a meal together: Many families enjoy putting together a Grandparents’ Day meal for their seniors. Children can work alongside Grandma or Grandpa to help make a specific dish for the meal. Grandparents often delight in teaching kids some of their own favorite recipes from childhood, and it is even more special to enjoy these items on a day reserved to honor grandparents. 

No matter how your family spends the day, make sure that grandparents know just how much their children and grandchildren appreciate them. Put a personal spin on the holiday, and incorporate activities that you know your senior will love.