Going away

We have our grandchildren to stay regularly - it's usually fairly tiring but delightful. They each have a drawer in the bedroom, space to hang clothes, a little throw each to personalise their beds and favourite teddies who live with us. They enjoy pottering about and doing things in the garden - a picnic goes down very well on an old bedspread - going to our shops and having a drink and a cake in the local department store, visiting some nearby relatives, feeding the ducks, the local park - it is all very simple and calm and they seem to enjoy having a relaxed time. Games in the evening, and we rarely resort to TV. I usually record a few short programmes in case they need to be amused for fifteen minutes. They get our full attention - so easy when they are going home later in the week . It doesn't need to be complicated and expensive when they are little....it's the teenagers who are usually fairly hard to please!

We love having our dgd for a few nights, it is a real treat for us. She's 3 now, really enjoys her stay with us, and cries when she has to go home! I used to stay with my Grandma and similarly loved it.

Ahh don’t worry Ethel if she cries make her better she won’t cry all night at 6 she’s way old enough to understand they are coming back You and your house are familiar to her so she will be fine I did baby sleep overs with all mine except the two in NZ my biggest one was going for two weeks with a 15 month old while mum and dad had a belated honeymoon in Cuba That was a bit challenging as she was poorly with an ear infection and I had no car so was having to get taxis to doctors but we both survived
Don’t let it worry you too much you ll be absolutely fine

My initial thought was ...do 6 year olds cry for their mums? But I suppose if she has never been left with anyone at all then she might do?

I have never had the luxury of finding out lol But a 6 year old should be easy to comfort with books and songs at bedtime. They should also understand mum and dad have gone out but will be back to pick them up (whenever). Plan a fun day with her and tire her out...park, soft play, zoo whatever is available and appeals to you too.

Don't worry too much and you will enjoy it.

At 6 she should be okay staying over for 1 night. Make it a big adventure with lots of treats, she'll love it.

Sara65 and Hetty Things have certainly not changed in my household! Regular cousins sleep overs with a few friends thrown in the mix! All sleeping in bunks, on floor, head to toe! Maybe it is 'different' in smaller families?

I wouldn't have them sleeping outside though now ..as you say! But sometimes, it isn't the children who change...it is the adults! Just a point and probably going off topic

I too wondered if OP was referring to a 6 month old. We had youngest GD (9 months) last month overnight as parents went to a wedding some distance away and children were not invited. She was way better than I could have imagined. The only time she got upset was at bedtime when she realised Mum and Dad weren’t coming back. But she then slept all night (unlike me who slept for about an hour).
A few years ago we had GS(4) and GD(18 months) for a couple of nights (other GP’s had them too) while parents went to Hong Kong prior to spending 3 years living there. GS was fine and understood perfectly parents would be back but GD was upset and angry at the abandonment.
I’m sure all will be fine - go with the flow.

Just had my nearly 2 year old twin GC for 3 days while their parents took big sister to EuroDisney, all well - they only asked for Mummy if they had a tumble or similar, no problems at bedtime, but they have been staying here for the past two weeks with the family over from Australia. Next week it’s three more days with us with big sister while parents have a short break, we make the best of it as soon they will all be back in Australia, and we won’t see them for several months. Mine all had sleepovers from quite a young age and aunts would come here to look after them while we had short breaks....relax and enjoy her company etheltbags1

Took big sister on holiday and left two behind ?
A little unfair, my parents did that and I have never forgotten.

how about asking her.? she is 6 .. you can make it sound like a lot of fun ,so not to scare her. have her parents talked to her about it....what does she think?

I think you will find your granddaughter enjoys her sleepovers.

She needs to get used to being separated from Mum in case her mother ever has to go away for work or into hospital.

It's only two nights. I hope you have a wonderful time with your granddaughter.

Ethelbags I had mine from when they were 6 weeks. They are all lovely outgoing teenagers now, but I loved that time with them, now they are a bit too busy and working hard for us now. I love it when they do visit and they often talk of their time they did spend with us, I say us, but now it s just me.

Tedber

Sounds fun! We regularly have all the cousins staying, they had to improvise last weekend because some rooms are being decorated, but they had great fun gathering blankets and throws and pillows from around the house, plus quite a few things that didn’t seem quite necessary, to make a camp.

Sadly, I couldn’t leave them outside now, but they still have fun.

Ethel, you have all this to look forward to!

I agree that staying a night with one set of GP, then going to the others would be unsettling for her. Much better to stick to one venue for both nights.
Some children fear that Mummy and Daddy won’t be coming back, if they see them leaving. A good tip is for the parents to give something of theirs, such as a favourite garment, for the child to “take care of for us, until we get back.” Somehow this seems to reassure the little one that they will definitely be returning.
Just relax, and have fun. Children can sense if you are tense, and it worries them.

It all went well. We playd and went out then i took her to other gran. I worried about nothing .dd and partner had a nice time so glad.