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At a loss at how to entertain your grandchildren? We’ve all been there. Your grands are over and they are glued to their phones. You want to interact with them, but competing with the almighty internet is hard. It is the ultimate entertainment, after all, right? Wrong! You’re way more exciting than the internet. You’ve certainly been around longer. There’s no doubt that you can entertain your grandkids!

You might like these tips for traveling with your grandchildren how to bond with your step-grandchildren, and a grandmother’s impact on her grandchildren.

7 WAYS TO ENTERTAIN YOUR GRANDKIDS ON A RAINY DAY

What you need are some go-to ideas up your sleeve so you’ll always know just what to do. I’ve compiled a list of ideas to entertain your grandkids, no matter their age. If it’s raining and you can’t do any outdoor activities, show your grandkids love with these ideas for entertaining.

#1 WAY TO ENTERTAIN YOUR GRANDKIDS: CARD AND BOARD GAMES

The first way to entertain your grandchildren is tried and true — board games and cards. It’s always a good idea to have them on hand. The last thing you want is for them to be stuck on their phones and miss out on a prime opportunity to have some good old-fashioned fun. 

Don’t be afraid to try something new. My family recently did a game exchange. This brought to light the realization that I am not always up for trying new games. I want to get right to the fun, not spend an hour learning the rules of a new game. But you might be surprised at how easy some of these new games are to pick up! They’re also a lot of fun.

 

Highly Rated (Not to Mention Fun!) Games:

1. Mexican Train Dominoes, Ages 6+  $27
2. Splendor, Ages 10+ $36
3. Connect 4 Neon Pop, Ages 6+ $90
4. Memory Matching Game, Ages 3+ $18
5. Telestrations, Ages 6+ $29

#2 A CLASSIC MOVIE DATE NIGHT IS A FUN THING TO DO WITH GRANDS

Go all-in with a classic movie day. Create a theater atmosphere with the buttery smell of popcorn and sugary candy. Set out an array of options and allow them to line up and “buy” their goodies. Popcorn, classic movie candy, and snowcones are a must! 

Let them choose the movie, too. Perhaps you can get them to watch a black and white classic with you, but maybe not. Maybe they’ll introduce you to your next favorite! 

Tips to get them to watch a classic movie:

• Narrow it down to 3-5 options for them to choose from
• Print or write out a short synopsis of each and make it sound interesting!
• Make a personal connection with your choices. For example, “This is the first movie your grandfather and I watched together.”
• Tell them what you love about each choice 

#3  DO PUZZLES WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS AND GET OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS INVOLVED

1. The Dog Park Large Format 500 piece, $18
2. Cat Nap 500 Piece Large Pieces, $19 
3. Bicycles in Amsterdam 1000 Piece, $22
4. Dog Days of Summer 1000 Piece, $22

The wonderful thing about puzzles is that they’re great for multitasking. You can chat and work at the same time. They are soothing and relaxing. You can also put a puzzle together while you’re playing games on a smart home device (see my next tip below!). Another great thing about board games is that it’s easy to get all family members involved.

#4 FUN GAMES WITH GOOGLE HOME  WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN

You may not know that your Alexa or Google Home device can play games. One of the things that make them ideal to play with your grands, as opposed to other digital games, is that you do not have to stare at a screen. They are verbal! A fun and surprising way to entertain your grandchildren. They have lots of choices for people of all ages from grandparents down to the little kids.

By the way, my Google Home device is one my most-used items in my home. I use it to play music while I cook, get ready, enjoy my coffee, etc. You could also have a dance party with your grands!

A Few Games on Google Home:

• Movie Quiz- Google will play audio clips of a movie and you must guess the movie. (Command: “Hey Google, play Movie Quiz.”)
• Song Quiz- Guess the song title and artist from a small clip. You can choose the decade! (Command: “Hey Google, play Song Quiz.”)
• Ding Dong Coconut- Google plays a sound and gives you a word to associate with it. For example, doorbell sound and coconut as the word. Throughout the game, you will be expected to recall the words when you hear the sound. (Command: “Hey Google, let’s play Ding Dong Coconut.”)

#5 TELL STORIES OF YOUR YOUTH OR MAKE A FAMILY TREE

When I look back on my time with my grandparents, I remember enjoying sitting and hearing their stories. My grandmother was a wonderful storyteller. You might be surprised at how interested your grandchildren are in stories from your past. Stories of the past. Try them out. Get them talking. Get your own children involved and make sure they do the same when they have grands!

Don’t know what to share? My book, Stories for My Grandchild: A Grandmother’s Journal, has plenty of prompts (read my entries) guaranteed to get the words flowing. Not to mention create a special memento for them to look back on.

Another idea is to make a family tree together. You’d be surprised at how many kids these days don’t even understand how their cousin is their cousin or what a makes a niece or a nephew. Making a family tree is a fun way to exchange stories about family members and help your grands to understand where they come from.

#6 ENTERTAIN YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AT A MUSEUM

There’s no rule that you have to stay in on a rainy day! If you’re looking for a way to infuse some culture while entertaining your grandchildren, why not expose them to something new? See what museums near you are appropriate to their age and make a day of it.

You almost certainly have some wonderful museums in your own backyard, but if not, why not a trip to the local library? No matter what your options are, ask your grands questions and get them talking. You’ll all have fun making great memories!

#7 WAY TO ENTERTAIN YOUR GRANDKIDS: MAKE A RECIPE TOGETHER

You can go a few directions here. You can allow them to choose an entree to cook for dinner. Or you can choose a dessert. Or you can whip up a nutritional smoothie together! Make it as fancy and special as their age allows.

I hope this list of 7 ways to entertain your grandchildren on a rainy day has inspired you! 

And if you’re lucky enough to live near your grands, you don’t need to wait for a rainy day! Enjoy them at every age. You’ve already learned how quickly our little ones grow up. 

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