How to Celebrate National Grandparents Day

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We celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Day, but what about Grandparents Day? Yes, there is such a thing, and it has become increasingly popular over recent years.

Grandparents Day dates back to 1956 when a West Virginia mother named Marian McQuade was helping to organise a community celebration for those over 80. At the event, she became aware of the many nursing home residents who were forgotten by their families, so National Grandparents Day was created to honour all grandparents. This day was later introduced to the UK in 1990 and Australia in 2011. Grandparents might be maternal and paternal grandparents, step-grandparents or those who provide kinship care, but one thing they all have in common is their joy for our children.

For many of us, our parents do so much to help us with childcare – after all, it takes a village to raise them – so put the next National Grandparents Day into your diary to show them how much you care.

So how can you celebrate National Grandparents Day? What grandparents also tend to have in common is that they don’t often mind what they’re doing with their grandkids, as long as it involves quality time. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Family Day Trip

A day trip is a fabulous way to enjoy each others‘ company while also seeing something new – your little ones will likely learn something, too. A lovely idea is to pick a nearby location that means something special to your child’s grandparents. Perhaps it’s where one of them grew up or where they met – they’ll love the excuse to show it off to the little ones.

Make a real day of it by organising the details and stopping somewhere for a leisurely lunch. It’s the perfect occasion to bring out the children’s party dresses and smart shirts so that they’re looking their very best for grandma and grandad. Take a family photo while everyone is together so they can cherish it forever.

2. Cosy Day at Home

If the weather is terrible or you prefer to stay home, there are plenty of special family activities you can do together. From baking cakes and sweet treats to playing board games and puzzles, you can still make it a day to remember.

This quality day at home is a great opportunity for grandparents and children to share stories, learn recipes or even look at old photos. Pull out all of those wonderful albums from over the years and gather round with a slice of cake.

Unfortunately, not everybody has grandparent support close by. For some, they might be living in a senior living centre (Chelsea Senior Living, for instance), while for others they might just be living in another city or state. This is all the more reason to acknowledge this special day. They may be feeling a little isolated being so far away, but if you can organise a mutual time for a Skype or FaceTime chat, they’ll appreciate this more than you know.

Just to hear the little voices saying “Happy Grandparents Day!” is precious, though the kids can also show off their favourite toys and talk about how their week is going. Even leaving the camera on as you carry on with the breakfast routine is a nice idea, as it gives a glimpse into what your everyday life is like and can help make them feel as if they’re there.

While we don’t necessarily need a special day to let grandparents know we love them, there’s no denying that an extra visit and cuddle from the grandkids won’t go unappreciated.