There’s nothing like the love of a grandparent – from your grandma letting you sneak biscuits out of the biscuit tin to your granddad patiently letting you explain the plot of your favourite TV show. But while we all know about Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, you might not know that there actually is a special day to say thank you to your grandparents – the 4th of October is National Grandparents Day!
Grandparents Day is a great opportunity to show your grandparents how much you love and appreciate them. After all, they say that with age comes wisdom – but no one ever said it shouldn’t also come with presents (or at least a nice card).
How to show your love this Grandparents Day
With the challenges of 2020, showing your grandparents just how much you love and appreciate them is a little bit trickier than usual – and that’s why we think it’s more important than ever to celebrate National Grandparents Day this October 4th. Even if it’s not in your usual calendar of celebrations, making sure your grandparents feel loved, appreciated and included this year will mean so much to them.
Of course, it’s vital that you keep safe and socially distant, in order to protect the older and more vulnerable members of your family – as much as we might want to go in with the big bear hugs, we’ve come up with some great, socially distanced ideas for how to celebrate with your grandparents.
Socially distant ideas for National Grandparents Day
Cook and eat a family favourite meal together
Look, we all know Zoom calls were absolutely non-stop during lockdown. So instead of the boring, standard family FaceTime, why not do something a little bit different for National Grandparents Day? Ask grandma to send one of her favourite family recipes, then set up a video call in the kitchen so you can cook or bake ‘together’. You can even sit down and eat at the table with your video call set up, and it’ll be almost as good as a home cooked meal at your grandparents’ house! Plus, there’s nothing like learning all of your grandma’s tips and tricks for her recipes – it’s the best kind of family heirloom.
Send them a care package
Everyone loves getting mail, especially when it’s a sweet parcel full of your favourite things – so for Grandparents Day, send grandma and grandpa a box full of their favourite treats. We’re thinking word puzzles or sudoku books, a comfy new pair of slippers, a hand-drawn picture from the kids, or your favourite family photo in a pretty frame. If your grandparents are being careful about going to the shops, they might be missing some of their favourite treats – so slip in some cheeky Werther’s Originals or some classic sweet shop favourites like sherbet lemons. And of course, include a card with a thoughtful message – our Send a Smile cards are perfect for adding a caring, positive message that will bring a smile to your grandparents’ faces.
Take time to ask them about their lives
This is a great opportunity to learn a little bit more about your grandparents, and ask them things that you might not otherwise think to. Ask about their childhood, or about funny memories from when you were little, and reminisce on happy family memories! Your grandparents are sure to be touched that you’re asking, and it’s a great opportunity for them to impart some worldly wisdom. Knowledge from previous generations is a valuable inheritance, so why not get the whole family on a video call and conduct a little interview? You could even get the kids involved and draw your family tree with your grandparents’ help!
Tips for safely visiting grandparents
If you decide that you’re going to see your grandparents this National Grandparents Day, it’s important to keep everyone safe. Stick to the official rules wherever you’re visiting, observe social distancing, and make sure everyone washes their hands! Just remember it’s safety first – if there’s any concerns about keeping everyone safe, stick to virtual ways of seeing each other. But if you’re confident that you can keep safe and socially distant, here are a few ideas for how to safely see your grandparents this National Grandparents Day:
- Take your favourite walk together in nature
- Plan a socially distanced garden party or BBQ
- Meet in an outside space like the park for an autumn picnic
- Get the kids some washable paints and let them decorate the outside of windows
- Go birdwatching and score points for each bird you see
No matter what you do to show your grandparents how much you love them this Grandparents Day, don’t forget – it really is the thought that counts. Lots of older people might be feeling vulnerable or lonely with all of the changes and uncertainties this year, so even if you can’t see them or arrange a video call, make sure you reach out and let them know that you’re there to talk. Make their day, and send them a Grandparents card to make sure they know they’re in your thoughts. And don’t forget to check out our blog for more ideas for special occasions.
