Children and grandchildren are the pride and joy of many grandparents. Parents should establish good relationships with the generations above and below them by planning quality time together and activities the youth and seniors can enjoy doing together. Through these activities, the generations get to know and appreciate each other as well as taking the opportunity to make some happy memories that can be cherished for years to come.

Some ideas for summer fun that can take place indoors or outdoors include:

Games and activities

• Grandma can sit and play catch with a ball with young children who are energetic and eager to go fetch the ball when someone misses it
• Grandpa can play a gentle game of Frisbee with kids or teenagers who are willing to go get it when it gets thrown out of bounds
• Grandpa could show kids how to cast a line with a fishing rod down at the lake
• Grandma could have fun taking family photos and scrapbooking them along with a group of youngsters
• Grandpa or Grandma could go out to the movies with kids and adults in a group or they could watch a movie at home the old-fashioned way with freshly popped popcorn
• Grandpa or Grandma could teach children how to play some games from their childhood such as kick the can
• Have a games night where family of all ages gather around a table to play a favorite game while having some healthy munchies on the side
• Gardening is a fun activity to enjoy together. It could include planting something and taking care of it together over the weeks while they watch it grow or it could be picking berries at a You-pick farm. Bring along a camp chair for your elderly loved one to sit and to pick so they don’t get a sore back from bending over
• Reading a book together
• Looking through old photo albums together while Gramma or Grampa tells the story of each one
• Children and youth teaching Grandma or Grandpa how to use a piece of technology such as a tablet
• Grandpa teaching children how to paint a picture
• Grandma teaching children how to bake cookies
• Make a batch of homemade bread together and then enjoy eating it together
• Picnic at a park where adults can sit in the shade and visit while children play on playground equipment

There are many ways to get the generations involved together in doing everyday activities. Most of them don’t cost anything to do except for just using materials or ingredients you have on hand anyway.

If your parent needs help to do everyday tasks, more help than you are able to give, consider elderly home care. A caregiver who can give one-on-one assistance to your parent in a gentle and loving way not only takes the stress off you but also raises the quality of life for your parent.