Emotional support

In these tricky times, having a sounding board from a family member who is not living with you can be invaluable. Toddlers, tweens and teenagers who might be pushing all the parents’ buttons might find understanding and sage advice from grandparents and the older generation

Interview the grandparents

Engge the children with great stories and get them to interview their grandparents and elderly relations about their childhood. You can use the phone, Facetime or an online app and the kids can record a family archive.

Games of old

Put down the devices and ask grandparents what games they used to play in the past. Games from the past – elastic twist (or French skipping), card games bridge, canasta, pinochle or pitch, Tiddlywinks, shovepenny…. ask grandparents what was their favourite.

Make a scrapbook

How about making a family scrapbook and share it via the internet with other older relatives. Ask family members about notable events in the family history and record them so that the “family stories” are never lost.

Play memory games

Play a memory game with the grandparents and get the kids to place a tray of objects in the camera view, then there is one minute to memorise and try and guess them all! See how you score, Then grandparents can play the game on them!

If you have stamps at home….

Get the kids to make and decorate a fabulous card and send it to grandparents in the post.  Or even a snail mail; how about writing a letter to grandparents.

Time to dance

Have a fmily disco, set up the video link – HouseParty or Zoom would be good for this – put on some music and get all the family dancing together including granny and grandpa.

Kids can host a quiz

Get the kids to devise some quiz questions and set up a video link, each member of the family take turns to ask a question, keep it fair with age appropriate questions. Include music, dingbats, picture questions

Exercise classes with the grandparents

Go easy on them but it would be great if kids and grandparents could do a few gentle stretches together. Obviously tailored to suit each person and not to overdo things, but its much more fun doing exercise together. The older generation will be inspired by the little ones.

If a little frail and wobbly, the NHS has ideas for exercises while sitting in a chair https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/sitting-exercises/

Send your funny pet videos

Keep grandparent in touch with your pets and get the kids to take a video and send it over.

Check out our Top 10 tips for grandparents

Liked this feature? Drop us a line and let us know what else you’d like to see from us at info letsgo.info@boomerangfamily.co.uk

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