Initiated by Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade in West Virginia, the move to dedicate a day to celebrate grandparents was officially passed in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. The Sunday after Labor Day is National Grandparents’ Day, which falls on September 8 this year. The move was made to promote intergenerational bonding and family time. So, this National Grandparents’ Day, show your love and appreciation to your grandma or grandpa by being with them and celebrating the day together. We know you must have already started planning the day, but if you are stuck or can’t think of fun ways to celebrate National Grandparents’ Day, here are some great ideas to double the joy.
Give your grandma and grandpa a surprise visit
Be it in the same city or another country, surprise your grandparents with a visit to celebrate National Grandparents’ Day together. Remember to carry their favorite flowers, sweet treats, a few gifts, and a handwritten note that tells them how special they are to you.
Meeting their grandkids and spending time with them is one of the most cherished things for every grandparent. However, if you can’t visit them in person, make sure to call them (phone call or video call) to have a good long chat with your grandpa and grandma. Also, don’t forget to send them a thoughtful gift (handmade or store-bought). These gestures will surely make their day.
Interview your grandparents to celebrate the day
It is one of the best ways to celebrate National Grandparents’ Day. This way, you get a chance to learn more about your grandma or grandpa. From their hardships, love stories, and success stories to important life lessons, you can learn a lot about their life through an interview. Since it will be a recorded conversation, you can watch it anytime to feel motivated. Also, while it is sad to think about, you can watch the video whenever you miss them after they pass away.
You can even ask your grandparents to say some wise words to each of their grandchildren. Moreover, you and your siblings can also record a heartfelt video message for your grandma and grandpa. This might turn out to be an emotional activity for all, so make sure to keep tissues handy.
Go out for an activity to celebrate National Grandparents’ Day
Doing an activity together is a great way to bond and spend time with your grandparents. So, this National Grandparents’ Day, take a day off (if possible) to spend your entire day with your old pals. Go fishing, camping, walking, or attend some hobby classes with them to make this memorable. You can also try something new together, like attending a tango class for a day, watching a play together, going out for a picnic, etc. Overall, look for activities that you all can enjoy together.
If your grandparents are homebodies, cooking together, watching a movie, going through albums, playing board games, or playing soccer in their backyard are great ways to celebrate National Grandparents’ Day together. You can even take this chance to teach your grandparents a thing or two about technology, like how to safely order things online, how to sell their products online, and so on.
Take your grandma and grandpa on a trip
Depending on your grandparents’ age and their comfort with traveling, you can plan a short or long trip with them. There must be many places that they still want to explore and would love to visit at least once. So book the tickets, pack their luggage for them, and surprise them with the trip. We assure you that you will see a child-like enthusiasm and curiosity you never knew your grandparents had in them while you are on the trip.
However, if traveling far isn’t possible, visiting their favorite spot in the city or taking them to a new garden, restaurant, etc., is also an excellent way to spend the day together.
So, wait no more; plan out the details and make the necessary arrangements for celebrating National Grandparents’ Day with your loved ones. They will love spending time with you!
