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Back-to-school is fast approaching (if it hasn’t already started in your neck of the woods!), which has me thinking of new things to do for my grandkids to make this their best year yet! Whether you live just down the road or across the world, there are different things you can do to let your grands know you are thinking of them and hope they have the very best year, including:
1. Back-to-school care package
If you do not live near your grandkids, curate a fun back-to-school care package for them, complete with school supplies, snacks, and other morale-boosting treats! This doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive – In fact, almost everything I send comes from Dollar Tree and Five Below (including the shipping materials).
2. Throw them a huge end-of-summer bash!
In case you missed it, I have many ideas on how to pull off the best back-to-school party, if I do say so myself.
3. School supply crafting session
How about a crafting day before school starts? Pull out all the crafting supplies, gather the school supplies they need, and let’s get decorating! Transform ordinary pencils into magic wands, create glittery notebooks, or make cute backpack charms. This is not only a creative way to spend time together, but they’ll also have unique school supplies to show off!
4. Shopping adventure
Who said shopping for back-to-school supplies has to be a chore? Make it an adventure! Set a budget for each child and have them plan out what they need. This can be a fun, practical lesson in budgeting and planning. Of course, you will also want to finish the day with a well-deserved ice cream treat.
5. First-day breakfast feast
This one is for you grandmas who live with or near your grands! Kick off the first day of school with a fun and healthy breakfast feast where you prepare a spread of their favorite breakfast foods and maybe even add a few fun surprises, like pancakes in the shape of their grade number.
6. Handmade locker decor
If your grandkids are of the age where lockers are a thing, then consider a day of DIY locker decorations! Whether it’s personalized magnets or locker wallpaper, you can have a blast crafting while also making their lockers the coolest in the school! (As an aside, I had a picture of James Dean in my locker, and one of my daughters had a picture of Kirk Cameron…)
7. Study corner
Grandma’s house is a sacred place, so why not give them their own little cozy nook for reading, studying, or decompressing? You can fill it with all their school supplies and make it a comfy and inviting place to focus on homework.
8. Homemade snack cooking session
Have a cooking day and prepare some homemade, healthy snacks together. You can teach them easy recipes they can even recreate at home so they’ll have delicious and nutritious snacks ready for school days.
9. After-school surprise kit
Prepare a surprise kit after their first day of school. It could be a new book to read, supplies for a fun DIY project, or ingredients for a baking session. The thrill of discovering what’s in the kit will give them something to look forward to!
Conclusion
At the end of the (school) day, it is about the gesture and not the gifts, so keep that in mind when you decide what you want to do. I pray that your grands have the best school year ever! As always, my fellow Devoted Grandma – let’s talk again soon.
