How are you entertaining your grandchildren?

Yesterday my grandson aged 7 thought it it would be a good idea for me to chase him all over the place. IT WAS NOT!!

Tent in the garden made from sheets. Spray the sheet often for coolness.
Lots and lots of Frozen water bottles. Singing (it makes the flowers grow) as you water.
Singing all day long.
Plaiting granny’s hair and putting on her make up (yes it will be messy - so what your granny)
Finger nail painting toes too.
Writing to the Queen or PM etc. they enjoy sending drawings.
A play like - pretend it’s a school and the child is the teacher - granny can be a naughty child.
Getting a tray and remembering the contents - then granny removed one thing. (Memory game) then a reward.
Feed the ducks.
Make lunch. Sandwiches are easy to make it’s amazing what they want between 2 slices of bread, and the mess is fine and washing up can be such fun with lots of bubbles.
Frozen peas or sweet corn as treats.
Pretending to be an animal and granny guesses what animal.
If they can swim then the local swimming pool.
Using cups and saucers (not the good ones) at meal time.
Setting the table for lunch or dinner.
Dressing up as in the olden days.
Wearing hats.
Polishing a table or drawers. (Don’t look for perfection)
Knots and crosses
Hangman.
Putting lipstick on your face as if you have spots. Lots of fun.
Taking food to the food bank (some people are not as fortunate as we are) even if it’s only a can of beans.
Making granny’s bed- they love to jump and then try to fix the duvet. Putting on a pillow slip is fun.
Cleaning the washbasin in the bathroom (ensuring it was already clean) They enjoy the washing and spreading the dishwashing liquid.
A poop (or farty)cushion.
Collecting stones then painting them.
The house will be a mess but that’s what makes it a home.
I spy remember keep it age appropriate.
Chips are fine at granny’s so are crisps and
even crisp sandwiches they like those.
The list is endless.
Enjoy getting your home messy and filled with love. Xx

I expect my son will be with his grandchildren in their big garden which has lots of shady trees and shrubs and a large paddling/pool, swings and a slide.

Swimming, sunning, in for TV and tea.

My 2 GCs other Grandmother, and her friend, took them camping to an island with a causeway. They didn't check the tide tables and drove through seawater, luckily not breaking down. GS aged 11 thought it was very funny that the two women were drinking bottles of champagne, wine, and vodka, and were drunk. GM gave GS, aged 11, a full glass of champagne. My other GC is 8. I may be the only person that does not think it all funny, and that they were irresponsible, and setting a bad example.

Paddling pool with various toys in (boats, soldiers, dolls, Peppa pig) etc! If too hot put the parasol over it .

We had a 6 year old and 10 year old for an overnight stay this week on two very hot days. I don’t functions very well in the heat.
We took them to the cinema and then to pizza express one day. Expensive but wonderfully cool and it’s what they always ask to do if given the choice. On the way home we popped into ‘The Works’ and bought a selection of garden activities involving bubbles and water pistols and used those in a shady part of the garden.Second day we went to the local museum which was having a Lego day. Lovely and cool again and lots of museums have various child friendly activities during the holidays. Picnic in the garden (in the shade) when we got home. In the afternoon we had a scavenger hunt which consisted of me telling them what they needed to find and bringing them back to me so I didn’t need to move! They had to find things like a leaf from a Buddleia bush ( we googled it so they knew what they were looking for) , anything interesting from the garden (a point for it actually being interesting and a point for explaining to me why it’s interesting and they had to draw a sketch of each other which had something on it so that I knew without doubt who it was. They really got into it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

My daughter and I took her children to visit the circus yesterday. When booking we hadn't thought about the heat. It was very hot in the big top but apparently they were circulating fresh air. I had a fan which really helped. The show was so good it was worth the uncomfortable heat. My best suggestion for grandchildren is a paddling pool or even a large container of water. Keep it in the shade. My grandson went to a summer play scheme and the leaders squirted water pistols at them to keep cool in a fun way.

So far we've taken a trip to Belsay Hall in Northumberland (EH members). Lots of suncream, picnic and drinks. We've visited our local play park plus one other in our nearby small city. We have an historic house nearby which has provided lots of fun with outdoor toys available on its playing field (we have family membership so feel like it's a free day out). The GC enjoyed seeing some farm animals too which had been brought there for petting. We spent one day taking the bus (always a treat and free for under 12's in our County this summer) into Durham to visit the castle. The children are very familiar with Durham Cathedral but not the castle. Again, tickets for the castle were free for GC. GC are 5, 7 and 8. Some days we are joined by DD2 and GC who are 10 and 12. They all enjoy being out and about. Shady areas for a rest can always be found. Once we're home for tea it's usually all peace and quiet as everyone is so tired and they'll settle to watch some TV.

Thank goodness I don't need to worry about children now. They are all teenagers.

Sounds idyllic Chewbacca

We've been to the local museum which has air con and is very good for kids. Also water fountains outside went down very well. She was wet through but I'd thought ahead and took a towel and change of clothes but my best tip is the cinema. Air con on and we enjoyed the railway children and the minions film but even if we hadn't enjoyed the films I loved the air con ?

eazybee

Sadly,I don't have grandchildren, but my next-door neighbour has two delightful grandchildren, four and seven I think, They don't come often and I can see why. They arrived yesterday morning, and she won't let them outside in her precious garden, let alone take them to the field, playground or recreation centre, all two minutes walk away. Every so often I hear a plaintive 'please can we go outside, Grandma?' but they are not allowed out unless grandpa supervises them, and he is busy elsewhere today, preparing for their golden wedding celebrations! (you only get thirty years for murder.) She ignores them and sits on the sofa reading.
I feel like reporting her to the NSPCC

I would ask her if I might "borrow" them for an hour or so. She can sit and read her magazines in your house or garden, so that they technically are not alone with a stranger. (This is for your protection, not theirs, I hasten to add).

Tell her you love children and are sad you have no grandchildren.

I am lucky enough to live near the beach so yesterday we were down there at 9am when it was quieter. We secured a place really near the sea so my seven year old grandson could play safely and I could keep an eye on him as he messed about with water and sandcastles etc. We left at 11am when it was getting busier. Then to the Oceanarium with our prebooked tickets (blessedly cool!). After that it was a picnic in the shade in the nearby gardens, fed ducks on the little stream that runs through them and back to the Oceanarium for another look (all day tickets!). In the evening he was still lively (!) so I improvised another picnic in the nearby park followed by a game of football! Tired later but we both did have fun!

Good lad!

Build a cardboard house and decorate it ,make furniture for dolls out of cardboard ,Washing up bowl with soapy bubbles and straws outside make big bubbles .Make a game ,picnic outside or in .lots of ideas on the internet .

Just had our 2 elder, 6 and 7, for 3 days and nights.
First day, took them to Bocketts Park Farm near Leatherhead. Highly recommended.
Plenty of shade! And plenty of seating for poor old granny, Gdcs loved it - loads to do. Will take them again when they come towards the end of school hols.

Several rides in the town centre - bouncy castle, bungee-trampoline thing, and bumper cars, also v popular, twice. Luckily some shade for granny to sit in

Visit to cinema a bit of a disaster - Return of the Railway Children - but I’ve posted about that on the TV/Film thread.

Picnic in a nice shady part of the park - fallen tree trunks to climb on - all very nice except for the walk back - much too hot!!

I’m going to tie mine up while I lie down in a dark room!!
Only joking.
We have a farm nearby with lots of animals and play equipment. They do a child’s picnic in a box - so we’re off there with plenty of factor 50.

5 and 7 years old. Went swimming. I taught them a few card games . Went into town for a mooch around toy/charity shops
And a drink in a cafe. Went to the playground with paddling pool (spoiled as per usual by big kids )Watched a bit of Netflix. Made paper chain dolls. 3 days. Dad just came to take them home,
Granny enjoyed the visit very much but is SHATTERED !

I'm so relieved that all my grandchildren are grown up and can entertain themselves now.

Had my 4 year old grandson on Tuesday. He is dinosaur mad. We had lots of games involving dinosaurs and bowls of water in shady bits of the garden. We pretended it was the seaside, turned one bowl into a swamp, then when we had finished had soapy water to wash them all.

That's lovely to hear Ohmother, imaginative play at its best!

Thanks for all the ideas. We had a great time together playing vets with the soft toys. I have no emergency sticking plasters left but hey ho. ?‍♀️ She came up with some super creative ideas of illnesses and treatments for them. I was the minion writing down the details for her and inspecting the animals in recovery. I think she’s going to be a leader ?

DGD (5) and I spent quite a lot of time making our own snakes and ladders board on a large piece of paper. She wrote the numbers on the squares and coloured in the snakes. I covered it with clear sticky plastic to make it durable. We have spent lots of time playing it and she has (just about) learnt that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

‘She ignores them and sits on the sofa reading‘ How sad. Just chatting with young children is a joy.