September 7, 2022
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6 Special Ways to Celebrate Grandparents' Day
Grandparents' Day, the first Sunday of September following Labor Day, is celebrated to honor the bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. Grandparents play such an important role in our lives. In fact, research has shown that closeness between grandparents and grandchildren can improve mental health and emotional well-being for both. As this special day approaches this year, here are some activities you can all do together.
- Interview Them – Grandchildren can ask their grandparent(s) questions about what life was like when they were young, their favorite things to do then, special memories they have of growing up, etc. It's a great way to get to know them in a different way. We recommend taking notes or recording the conversation to save as a keepsake. If the grandparents are out of town, this is also something you could do over the phone via FaceTime or Zoom.
- List the Reasons You Love Them – Have the grandchildren create a list of reasons why they love their grandparent(s) and then read the list out loud on Grandparents' Day, or get creative and make a card with the reasons listed. We also love the idea of having the grandparent(s) do the same for grandchildren as another way to bond.
- Enjoy Their Favorite Hobbies – Does grandad like to fish? Is Grandma a fan of gardening? Whatever the hobby, I suggest spending Grandparents' Day enjoying it with them. It's a great way to spend time together and gives the grandparent(s) an opportunity to pass on their knowledge and skills to the next generation. Who knows, the grandchildren may enjoy it enough to make it a regular activity together!
- Have a Game Night – Or game day. The point is to make it an event; share a meal, have everyone bring a favorite game to play, and let the competition begin. It will be fun to see the difference in favorite games for the grandparent(s) and the grandchildren. We say go old school on all accounts, no devices, no Xbox, just board and card games so everyone can enjoy the fun!
- Start a Family Tree – You likely won't be able to finish this on Grandparents' Day, but it's a perfect time to bring up the idea. Gather some family pictures and label them with names, dates, and other important information ahead of time for a start and then brainstorm together. It can be as simple or as in-depth as the grandparent(s), and grandchildren want; the goal is to spend time together on this Day and create purposeful opportunities to continue. Plus, it's a great way to reminisce and learn more about family history.
- Have a Recipe Party – Have you always wanted to know what grandma puts in her famous cookies? The special seasoning grandad uses to get the steaks just right? Grandparents' Day might be just the time to find out by making these recipes together. Again, you can even do this long distance by sharing recipes or sending them to each other to enjoy.
Other Ways to Celebrate Grandparents' Day
We realize that not all of us are lucky enough to have ourgrandparents close, or they may have passed away. But there are still ways to celebrate them on Grandparents' Day. If grandparents are in senior living, you might visit them there. In our communities, we like to celebrate grandparents in a big way with their families and friends so they feel special.
If grandparents have passed away, you might honor them by sharing your favorite memories, having their favorite meal, or participating in their favorite hobby. Or, we love the idea of volunteering in their honor by perhaps visiting other seniors who may not have a family at the local senior center or a senior living community. For seniors in your neighborhood, you could visit and/or help them with small to-dos around the house, go to the grocery store for them, or just find a way to make them smile. Another option may be to volunteer for Meals on Wheels or something similar. Perhaps the grandparent(s) had a favorite cause?
However you spend the day, we hope the grandparents in your life feel as appreciated and loved as they make you feel every day!
For more information on assisted senior living at GenCareLifestyle, schedule a tour today!
