5 Great Ideas for Holiday Fun with Grandchildren

The winter holidays are the most wonderful time of the year not for the lights, the presents, or even
the copious amounts of food that are hallmarks of the season; they are truly wonderful because of the
time you get to spend with your family. And if you’re going to have some time with your grandkids this year, you may be racking your brains to come up with some activities that will keep them entertained.

So here are just a few ideas that will help you to connect with your grandchildren and make some
wonderful holiday memories.

1. Outdoor fun. You don’t necessarily have to labor at building a snowman or taking your
grandkids skiing in order to enjoy the brisk weather. Take a stroll at twilight to check out the
holiday lights and decorations in your neighborhood or consider some good old fashioned
caroling to get everyone in the spirit of the season. Then come home for some hot cocoa by the
fire!
2. Holiday crafts. If you have some time on your hands, you and the kids can spend it creating
seasonal crafts to decorate your home. You may have some ideas on your own, but if you need
a little inspiration, look to nature. An outdoor hike in the park could result in some fantastic
finds, like fallen branches and pinecones or interesting rocks that you and the kids can bring
home and decorate. Use ribbons, pipe cleaners, paint, and glitter to make them sparkle and
then arrange them in a pretty bowl for a centerpiece or a mantle decoration. Of course, you can
also find tons of great ideas for holiday crafts and décor online.
3. Cooking classes. Your grandchildren probably have some favorites when it comes to seasonal
dishes and desserts. Use your time with them to teach them the secret family recipes they
love, from scratch. You’ll pass on some treasured knowledge, teach them a useful skill that they
can take with them when they return home, and have some fun times and amazing food in the
process.
4. Pull out the board games. When you’re stuck indoors because it’s snowing and blowing outside,
a good way to keep everyone entertained is by dusting off the old board games. But if you’re
worried that modern kids won’t be keen to play classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Mystery
Date, head to your local toy store (or Amazon) for some fun new board games like Pictureka (a
picture spotting game), Apples to Apples (a word matching game), Once Upon a Time (a story-
telling game), or Bananagrams (like Scrabble, but in a cool banana bag). You could even get
cooperative games like Forbidden Island or The Secret Door so that a collective effort wins the
game (and competition doesn’t spoil the fun).
5. Try video games. Modern video games may be a little outside your wheelhouse, but if you have
your grandkids bring their game station and a few multiplayer games, you could engage in an
activity that you know the kids love and give them the opportunity to teach you something new,
giving you another chance to connect at their level. Who knows? You might end up loving it!

Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for Comfort Life, a site dedicated to helping seniors find the best
retirement homes Canada .