Few things beat the sound of kids laughing in the house on a cold winter day. When the weather pushes everyone indoors and screens start calling their name, finding ways to truly connect can take a little creativity. Winter actually offers a perfect backdrop for slowing down, getting playful, and creating moments your grandchildren will remember long after the snow melts. These ideas turn chilly days into opportunities for fun, connection, and shared stories.
Pop some popcorn and snuggle under the blankets to watch one of your favorite movies. Then, watch one of their favorite movies. Choose your movie with the aim of keeping their attention. Think about movies you enjoyed as a child at various ages. It will make the experience special if your grandchild can imagine you watching that movie when you were the same age as they are now. Watching their favorite movie after watching yours will give them an incentive to sit through the older film if they know their selection is up next.
Here’s an opportunity for kids to learn something practical while deepening their emotional bond with you. Make it a hands-on experience for them from beginning to end. Let them help with planning, menu choices, meal preparation, setting the table, enjoying the meal, and cleaning up afterwards. They will learn how to plan a balanced meal, read a recipe, measure and count, maintain kitchen safety, and more. This is an activity that can be repeated often, using different recipes and cooking techniques. You’ll also be helping their busy parents by providing the kids with practical knowledge that will enable them to help out more around the house.
Many kids today lack practical skills that older generations learned as a matter of course growing up. A good example is sewing. It's incredibly helpful to know how to sew on a button or sew a single straight stitch. This does not just apply to girls. Boys also need to be able to manage their own clothing maintenance, like repairing a hole in their socks or a tear in a shirt.
Another example is the use of common household tools, like hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers. One easy way to do this is through craft projects, such as building a birdhouse. Kits for such things are often available at hobby or hardware stores and online. Another option is to teach kids how to maintain their bikes, scooters, or skateboards. For older teenagers who are getting their driver's licenses, it is essential to know how to change a tire or add oil to a vehicle.
There are endless options for craft projects for all ages. For example, younger children can make paper snowflakes and decorate them. Then, you can hang each unique snowflake in the window or on the tree if that is your tradition. For older grandchildren, ideas might include tie-dye shirts, friendship bracelets, or string art. Your local library will have information, ideas, and how-to guides. There are also numerous online resources.
Scrapbooks are a great way to hold memories that you and your grandkids can revisit later. One idea for a scrapbook project is to talk with your grandchild about five places you would like to visit or five things you would like to do together. Then, after each experience, fill up your scrapbook with details about it. For example, if you go to the museum, post your ticket stubs and some photos you took, and each of you can write a small paragraph about your time there. Add stickers, stencils, stamps, and decorative papers to enhance your scrapbooking project.
Since many of today’s games are electronic, teaching your grandchildren to play board games may be a new experience for them. Aside from being a good way to teach skills such as patience, abstract thinking, and cooperation, board games are a face-to-face activity that fosters relationships. The time you spend together will become a precious memory of family fun and togetherness.
Decorating for holidays often falls on the shoulders of the adults in the house, so why not get the kids involved? Grandkids can help with retrieving traditional family decorations from storage and placing them around the house with your guidance. You can also have them create their own decorations with a few art supplies and a bit of creativity. For example, make clay handprints or paper snowmen. Another fun activity is playing holiday music, singing songs, and having them dance around the house. Who knows, it might start a tradition that will continue long after they become adults.
Baking is sometimes the easiest cooking skill to teach children. Kids enjoy making cookies, bars, and other sweet treats. But, beyond learning recipes, practicing cooking skills, and enjoying the finished products, consider setting up the activity as an opportunity to give to others. Teach them about the virtue of generosity and the importance of helping those in need. For example, bake a few dozen cookies and drop them off at a nursing home, a homeless shelter, or just with neighbors.
Sharing your talents and interests with your grandchildren not only teaches them new skills but also shows them more of who you are. For example, if you play an instrument, teach them how to play. If you can knit, teach them how to knit. In both cases, they learn something new, but they’ll also witness the passion you have for your hobby. This could motivate them to find a lifelong avocation of their own.
If you’re in a cold climate, many of today’s kids rarely venture outside during the winter. You can show them that there’s plenty of fun to be had outdoors, even when the thermometer is low. For example, if conditions are right, you could build a snowman together. You can also take them to a skating rink, a sledding hill, or consider skiing and snowboarding options in your area. Snowshoeing is another great way to get exercise in the winter. Even if there is no snow in your neighborhood, getting the grandkids bundled up and going for a hike is a great way to show them that it's fun to go outside in the winter.
It's all too easy for kids to get bored in the winter months. However, you can earn your “Best Grandparent Ever” points by showing them that there are lots of ways to keep busy in the winter and, at the same time, build wonderful memories with them.
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