top of page
Search

Parenting...Again?!!—"Grandma, I’m Bored!" Summer Activities for Grandfamilies on a Budget

Stacy Sanchez
Summer is right around the corner. Our grandchildren will be getting out of school and home All. Day. Long. What are we going to do with all this togetherness time?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve already begun counting down the days until Labor Day. That’s when I start to sing, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” because I know those kids will be going back to school in a few days. (God bless teachers!) Until we can cross off the final day of summer on our calendars, we are tasked with keeping these kids occupied—and staying sane.


I’m bored!

We are of the generation that played outside until the streetlights came on. If I told my mother I was bored, she would not-so-gently remind me that she was not my personal entertainer and go find something to do, or she would find it for me. That usually involved cleaning, so I quickly found something to do.


Times have changed.


How can a grandparent keep these kids busy all summer that doesn’t involve throwing a screen in front of them? Don’t get me wrong. I do that too. So, no guilt. Sometimes, you just need a few minutes of quiet. (Can I get an amen?)


It’s okay to let children be bored. Boredom inspires creativity. It teaches them to entertain themselves and that they’re not the center of the universe. It’s not our job to fill their social calendars. It’s better for them—and our sanity if we don’t.


These kids are driving me bonkers!


I get it. As we try to teach them to be self-sufficient, they’re still going to be at our feet whining that want us to do something with them. We, grandparents who are raising our grandchildren, are usually on a fixed income, without the money for extracurricular activities. What can we do on our budgets?


Don’t worry. I’ve got you!

Here are some fun free or low-cost activities you can do with your little bundles of energy. (Where do they get all this energy, anyway? That’s something else we don’t have much of: energy.)

 

What’s Free in Your Area?


·      The YMCA, local libraries, bookstores, museums, and community centers all have free or very low-cost activities. You can also check with your state to find free passes to museums and parks.

 

For example:


The San Francisco library offers, Discover and Go:

Discover & Go is a program provided by your library that offers free and low-cost passes for museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and other cultural destinations. You must meet your library's minimum age requirement and live within your library's service area to use the Discover & Go Service. https://sfpl.discoverandgo.net


New York City has free or Pay-as-You-Wish activities:

 

·      A quick Google search of your state or community will pull up multiple free activities near you.

I quickly Googled my state of Arizona and found these activities to do with my grandson: https://phoenixonthecheap.com/best-free

 

·      Macaroni Kid 

This is another great site to find out what is going on in your area. The page is filled with free activities, arts and craft projects, and ideas for summer fun.

 

·      Check with your local churches to see which is offering Vacation Bible School.

Sign those kids up for every one of them! You don’t have to belong to the church to attend. Most are excited to have local kids join in. One year, I signed my grandson up for a different VBS every week. He was jam-packed with Jesus by the time school rolled around. I volunteered to bring snacks or craft items. I also volunteered to help as often as I could.

 

·      Check with your local movie theater. Some have special summer movie programs at a low cost.

 

·      Check your state government for Grandfamily programs.

Most states have programs for Grandfamilies and Kinship Caregivers.

In Arizona, https://duetaz.org/grandparents-raising-grandchildren/ Is a wonderful resource for grandparents.

 

50 Summer Fun Ideas for Grandfamilies on A Budget:


·      Make a pool noodle, flashlight lightsaber: https://youtu.be/IwkSNfYYSPM?si=7zKs0gBEubNAnjm5

·      Cotton ball splat paint: https://youtu.be/KwruYX7zC_c?si=EgReDhKAo8RtQWM-

·      Tye dye shirts: Instructions here: https://artfulparent.com/how-to-tie-dye-shirts/

·      Garden: Grow produce from scraps: https://www.allrecipes.com/article/regrow-celery-from-scraps/

·      Learn to make Origami: https://youtu.be/ZA5qRm8nfgU?si=IFEtjLqoUca7h_1B

·      Make bubble snakes: https://youtu.be/tNqPZNFEjuM?si=aPKBSNgQSHAkM7HE

·      Learn to finger knit: https://youtu.be/yfkMDcNygL4?si=N_KU68TCjsPXPcoF

·      Cotton ball splat paint: https://youtu.be/KwruYX7zC_c?si=EgReDhKAo8RtQWM-

·      Camp outside/Camp inside: Make a tent out of blankets and let the kids sleep under the stars.

·      Pick your own produce. Create a dish together from you’ve gleaned to share with family and friends. Make someone’s day special by remembering them.

·      Scavenger hunts

·      Build a fort

·      Pajama movie day/Spa day

·      Start a newspaper for your neighborhood

·      Lemonade stand

·      Have a garage sale: Let the kids sell some of their things to make money.

·      Create a summer book club: Invite friends to join. Have children read and come together to discuss the book. Serve something you’ve made together with the produce you picked.

·      Put on a play: Encourage creativity by having children make up a play and perform it.

·      Attach ribbon to a stick and have a dance party

·      Crazy hair days: Let children make up crazy hairdos. Spray with inexpensive, washable dye. You can find it at any drugstore. Let them put in clips and bows to their little heart’s content.

·      Rearrange their bedroom: Let them design the floorplan.

·      Water balloon pinatas

·      Paint each other’s portraits

·      Make newspaper hats and paper airplanes

·      Draw a chalk outline of children and let them draw their features

·      Go on a hunt for smooth rocks and paint them

·      Paint boxes and build a castle

·      Sponge targets: Draw a target on paper or the sidewalk and throw wet sponges at them.

·      Make a bird feeder from a pinecone, peanut butter, and bird seed

·      Check out a new park every week. Bring a Picnic.

·      Make tin can stilts

·      Set up your own summer Olympic Games

·      Apple stamping

·      Bug hunt

·      Hula Hoop golf

·      Learn Sign Language and sign songs

·      Make designs out of mini marshmallow and toothpicks

·      Play in shaving cream: This is a great way to practice numbers and letters.

·      Make a flower bracelet on a nature walk: Wrap wide tape around wrist, sticky side up. Pick flowers and attach them to the tape.

·      Go to “Sprayground” parks

·      Fly kites

·      Dress like an era day: Using clothes you already have, let kids dress in the style of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s. Have a dance party to the music of the era.

·      Dress and talk like a pirate day

·      Paint toys: Use washable paint and paint the outdoor toys. Use water and brushes to clean.



I hope these ideas help to get you started. There is a plethora of craft and fun ideas on sites like Pinterest and YouTube to keep you and your grandchildren busy this summer.


Remember not to stress yourself out by trying to keep the kids busy.

Seriously, it’s fine if they just play in the mud and run in the sprinklers. Taking a nap and just hanging out together is great, too. Jesus took naps. Be like Jesus: take naps. (I think I’ve discovered my new motto.)


If you’d like more ideas of how to keep your grandchildren out of your hair—I mean busy—I will post craft videos on my Facebook page: Parenting, Again?! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558729772376


You CAN do this!!! Come on Labor Day!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

135 views

Commentaires

bottom of page