7 Bonding Activities to Do With Grandparents

I recently read Drawn Together by Minh Lê and it got me thinking about some fun activities to do with grandparents when they come for a visit.

We live really far away from both my family and my husband’s family, so our kids only see their grandparents once in a while. Sometimes, especially when kids are younger, reconnecting with their grandparents after a long break can be awkward. So we’re going to talk about some simple bonding activities to do with grandparents.

Drawn Together is a beautiful, sparsely worded picture book about a young boy and his grandfather connecting through their shared love of art. Because they don’t speak the same language, the boy feels awkward around his grandfather at first, but once the two of them start making art together, the barriers fall away and a beautiful friendship is born.

One of the things that I adored about this book is the way the boy’s art and the grandfather’s art compliment each other. Although they are generations apart in style and execution, the intricate black and white illustrations of the grandfather mesh beautifully with the simpler, colorful artwork of the boy. They come together in a way that’s as stunning as it is unexpected.

Drawn Together is a celebration of the special connection between grandparents and their grandchildren, regardless of age difference and language barriers.

Keep reading for some bonding activity ideas for kids and grandparents to do together and learn about the picture book Drawn Together.

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My kids don’t see their grandparents very often, but when they do, it’s always a positive experience for everyone. It usually takes a couple of days for my kids to get over the initial awkwardness and warm up to their grandparents. We’ve found some bonding activities for kids and grandparents to do together that help break the ice.

7 Bonding Activities to do with Grandparents

1. Puzzles.

Kids love puzzles, and so do grandparents. Hand them a puzzle and a snack and they’ll be jabbering away together in no time.

2. Games.

Board games, card games, and video games. Pretty much anything that encourages a little competition (and some smack talk) works like a charm. My kids especially like Go Fish, Sorry, and Just Dance to get the laughter flowing.

3. Crafts.

Coloring, gluing, and stickering can put my kids at ease any day of the week. When a grandparent pulls out something to keep little hands busy, friendships form pretty darn fast. Just like in Drawn Together, budding artists will be happy to bond over markers and paint.

4. Baking.

I think it goes without saying that kids love to bake. At least, they love dumping ingredients in a bowl and licking the beaters afterward. Plus, there’s something about food (and treats especially) that encourages people to open up and develop relationships. When it comes to bonding activities for kids and grandparents, food is a surefire people pleaser. Whenever my parents come to visit, my mom always bakes cookies or brownies with my kids to get them to warm up to her. It works like a charm.

5. Sports.

There are few things that will endear a child to a grown-up faster than sports will. Whether you’re playing ball, shooting a puck, or throwing a line, exercise and friendly competition do wonders for forging those precious grandparent-grandchild relationships.

6. Reading.

What kind of book blogger would I be if I didn’t mention reading a book together? Of all the bonding activities for kids and grandparents I’ve mentioned, this one is the most heartwarming. When my in-laws came to visit, my two-year-old wanted nothing to do with them until Nana pulled out a stack of books. As soon as my toddler realized she had a buddy to read to her, she was permanently attached to Nana’s lap. They both cried when Nana had to go home again.

There’s nothing more wonderful than snuggling with a child as you read them a book. It just doesn’t get better than that.

7. Dressing up.

One of my kids’ favorite things to do with grandparents is to dress up in silly costumes and have a tea party. They talk in funny voices and eat tiny cookies and are soon laughing together like a scene out of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.

What bonding activities do your kids enjoy doing with their grandparents?

About Drawn Together by Minh Lê

Author Minh Lê and Caldecott-winning illustrator Dan Santat join forces in a heartwarming story of a grandfather and his grandson as they learn to overcome their language barrier through a shared love of art and storytelling.

When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to confusion, frustration, and silence. But as they sit down to draw together, something magical happens—with a shared love of art and storytelling, the two form a bond that goes beyond words. With spare, direct text by Minh Lê and luminous illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, this stirring picture book about reaching across barriers will be cherished for years to come.

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