This Is How to Entertain Your Grandkids the Safe Way
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Taking care of your grandkids has many benefits — to include the potential to live a longer life. Entertaining little ones can boost symptoms of depression, give a sense of purpose, and help maintain mobility. There are many activities you can do together that are both entertaining and educational. Just make sure you choose age appropriate projects and don’t be afraid to mix things up to prevent boredom. But before diving in, make sure you have a safe environment that’s free from clutter to avoid tripping/falling. It’s also key that you have access to all emergency numbers (from poison control to doctors to parents) and make yourself aware of any medications your grandkids need to take.
The Mommies Reviews is proud to present this guide that will help you safely entertain your grandkids when they stop by for a visit.
Cook Up A Storm
Along with being a crucial life skill, cooking and baking teach kids how to follow directions, math and measurement skills, and attention to detail. Before turning on the oven, make sure your grandkids understand the importance of working in a safe kitchen environment. While this is an expansive topic, some general rules include: understanding how to handle sharp objects, cleaning up spills to avoid slips, learning how to properly handle a stove and oven (to include placing pot handles inward and keeping towels and potholders away from a heating source), proper sanitation to avoid illness, food safety such as temperature control and proper cooking temperature, avoiding cross contamination, and how to treat a burn and put out a grease fire.
Use this as a bonding time to share a traditional family recipe. Just be sure to never leave your grandkids unattended — especially if they’re extremely young. In this case, do the lion’s share of the work and give them a simple task so they feel involved.
Try A New Hobby
Get your grandkids out of their comfort zone and let them try a new hobby such as woodworking. While it sounds complex, there are actually copious DIY projects you can access online, to include a DIY catapult, windchimes, a birdhouse, picture frame, crayon holder, stamps, and more. If any projects require cutting of materials, make sure you’re assisting with this process.
Educational Craft Projects
Every kid loves a craft project but choosing one that’s actually a fun Science experiment provides a little extra weight in terms of educational value. Aside from the wow factor that comes with watching substances change colors or composition, your grandkids will also be learning about important scientific reasoning such as chemical reactions and molecular composition. As with cooking, make sure little ones understand the importance of safety when working with any materials that could pose a potential danger. Have safety goggles, gloves, and proper clothing (think apron and long-sleeved shirt) on-hand for such projects.
Looking for ideas? The Mommies Reviews explores some budget-friendly craft ideas for the Star Wars fanatics in your family.
Get Moving
It can be difficult to keep up with energetic grandkids, so let them expel energy on their own so you’re not overly taxed. If you want to introduce them to fitness, check out the many kid–friendly exercise videos available on YouTube. You could even find videos that feature exercises you can participate in as well! If the grandkids are more into dancing, there are many free online dance lessons geared towards kids. Offerings include everything from hip hop to lyrical and modern dance to ballet to jazz and everything in between. Encourage your grandchildren to memorize a routine that they can show their mom and dad.
Watch Old Movies Together
Popping some popcorn and sitting down to watch one of your favorite classics can be a great way to spend time with your grandchildren and show them programs that speak to the heart. There are many free films available on YouTube and Tubi, while streaming services such as Paramount+ offer a wealth of older movies from the history of cinema.
Have a Work Plan
Ideally, you should be devoting all of your attention to your grandkids; however, depending on your setup, your grandchildren may need to spend a few hours keeping themselves occupied. Particularly if you still work, and if you work from home. In this case, make sure you find an activity that can keep them busy and entertained for the duration of your work time. If you set clear boundaries about what you need to do and what you need from them, they’ll be more likely to understand. Worst case? You go ahead and allow a little screen time until you can get back to enjoying some fun activities together.
While you may want to leave the house every once in a while, staying at home can be a safer option for everyone. Plan time with your grandkids in advance so you have all the necessary supplies for a variety of activities. Just be sure to ask for their input so they feel involved in the decision-making process — they’re also more apt to stay engaged if they’re doing something they enjoy.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
