1. Start A Movie Club: this idea is great if the weather doesn’t allow for outdoor activities or if you usually watch your grandkids around bedtime. Make it fun by getting a lot of fuzzy blankets and fluffy pillows to throw on the couch and make a running list of movies you both want to see. Post it on the fridge or somewhere you both can see it every time they come to visit. Make sure you have some movie snacks on hand and get ready to enjoy some quality snuggle time with your grandkids.

2. Plan A Scavenger Hunt: there are a lot of ways to carry out this idea to customize it to your space. Make clues that are riddles or rhymes that lead to a small prize of your choosing. Or you can make it more of an Eye-Spy game and make a list of items that you want them to find in a room. Send them off with a bag, paper and pencil and have them cross the items off the list as they find them. There are several ways to make this an activity that keeps them engaged and having fun for hours.

3. Hold A Talent Show: What grandchild doesn’t like showing off their skills, whether it’s doing a cartwheel, telling a joke, or singing a song? This can be an opportunity to get to know them better, and get some good gift ideas for the next holiday season.

4. Teach Them A New Game: it could be cards, dominos, or a board game that you remember playing from your childhood. Raise the stakes by playing for a prize, this could include a couple of dollars, candy or small toys. You don’t need a lot of space or time to organize this activity and you can find yourself playing these games for hours.

5. Arts & Crafts: do you like to puzzle, or do you have a teachable skill like knitting, sewing or painting? Getting creative with your grandkids not only provides mental stimulation for you, but it is giving them access to a new skill that can become a shared hobby for the both of you a few years down the road.

6. Peruse The Family Photo Album: kids love to see photos of their parents or of you when you were younger. This will be sure to provide lots of laughs, but also gives you the opportunity to teach a younger generation about the family history. Turn it into an arts and craft project by making an actual family tree!