One of our post popular posts on Sugar, Spice & Glitter is our 40 Mom-Daughter Date Ideas for Every Budget, and I’ve been itching to create a list of grandmother-granddaughter dates, too.
While many of the activities in my Mom & Daughter post would be great for a grandmother and granddaughter, my mom has a very different personality than me. We have different interests and like doing different things with Miss G, so I catered this list more to her liking.
Be sure to check out both lists for a wide assortment of fun activities to do with kids – no matter your budget.
So, without further delay, here are my mom & Miss G’s favourite picks for 40 Grandmother-Granddaughter Dates for Every Budget.
Free Grandparent Activities
- Gardening
- Visiting a park
- Nature walk or hike
- Doll or bear tea party
- Nature crafts
- Baking – maybe a special family recipe?
- Share special memories from your childhood – look through a photo album
- Sleepover party
- Teach a special skill
- A special craft to “keep them little”
Grandparent Activities under $10
- Swimming at the local pool or splash pad
- Hot chocolate at a local bakery
- Visit to the book store to pick out a special book (maybe one from the grandparent’s own childhood)
- Themed movie night – menu, crafts, and decor surrounding a special movie
- Teaching them a classic board or card game
- Bring them to one of your “stomping grounds” and show them off – church, golf club, favourite cafe, etc.
- Visit an art museum
- Spa night or home pedicures
- Get together to make a craft for mother’s day or father’s day
- Visit a local farm – there’s berry picking, apple orchards, cheese tastings, petting zoos, etc.
Grandparent Activities under $50
- A visit to the beach (this may be in another category for you, but for us it’s at least $15 in gas to the beach)
- A night at the movies
- Attending a child-friendly theatre performance
- Sharing a favourite hobby (maybe setting them up with some starter materials)
- Special lunch date
- Bowling (I loathe bowling so this works out well for me!)
- Make a shadow box from a special event or to celebrate a birthday
- Local event – county fair, summer concerts
- Concert tickets to a children’s performance (my daughter has been treated to Sharon, Lois & Brahm, the Wiggles twice, and Fred Penner by her grandparents)
- Explore a local town, go for a half-day road trip
Grandparent Activities under $100
- Membership to a local children’s museum
- Membership to a monthly craft or activity box, and doing it together
- Groupon vacation – sometimes you can get a great deal, my parents have been able to snag Great Wolf Lodge passes
- Theme park day
- Visit a zoo
- Research and donate to a charity in your grandchild’s name
- Or, sign your grandchild up for a continuous donation – like a “sponsor a child” program where they will have a pen pal and sustained relationship to charitable giving
- Water park day
- Special dinner and a movie night out
- Be tourists for a day – hit up all of the attractions your grandchild may have missed out on
What are your favourite grandparent-granddaughter date ideas?
Kelly says
Sharing this one with the grandmas in my life. My boys love going on adventures with them and these would work great for grandsons too! #client
Kim says
I love taking my three granddaughters to the less dangerous gem and mineral mines that I consider to be my favorite. Usually the ones with a incredible history and still signs of a railcart or anything else you can look at and then find on internet to show them what it use to look like when a busy active working mine. Then there are mines that you can schedule with your grandchildren a full day of digging in the tailings or paying more and getting right up into the good stuff the mine is known to produce. Royal Peacock mine in Northern Nevada is one I feel is very good to take children to. They can find things you’ll probably meet we in the tailings. I advise if you can to take one at a time. The experience is much more rewarding for both grandchild and grandmother when one on one.
Kim says
I’m sorry my comment was posted before I had a chance to proof read it.
My comment was posted with error. Talking about taking younger children to still producing mines in USA I was speaking about the mind Royal Peacock in Nevada. It should have read. ” they will find things you will probably miss” taking through the mines tailings. Tailings are the scraps so to speak of the inside mining that’s pushes out of the mine. Sometimes you’ll find very good treasures out in the tailings. Things happen which cause miners to leave an area suddenly or things get dropped or walls collapse and to gain enterence its excavated and good gems and minerals get tossed out into a heap. Personally I can spend all day going through the tailings. I always come back with many priceless treasures.
Kim says
Oh my gosh. Mine not mind. I give up!!!!! I think my spell checker is against me tonight.
Jennifer Tammy says
That’s amazing! I would have never thought to seek those out – not only is it a wonderful, one-on-one day with grandma, you get a beautiful treasure to remember the day.