Every grandson wants to feel special to grandma, and there’s no better way to help him feel that than to spend time with him.
After all—you only get one shot at this whole grandma thing.
And, I see how special the time my kids get with their grandma is. (I also know the amazing role my grandma played in my life.)
And while you may not always get the chance to do a full “date day” with your grandsons, this is the list for you when get the opportunity.
Let’s make it memorable and fun! (And hopefully not too expensive!)
Go to a farm equipment or car show
The first time I ever saw a car show, it was a complete accident. We were sightseeing in a well-known southern town and came upon some insane traffic.
But it turned out to be a car show (and a very cool one at that).
And, in spite of the traffic, we didn’t regret the show one bit. It forced us all to slow down, chat, and enjoy the sights.
I think this would be a fun way to bond with a grandson of almost any age!
Plus, if you see cars or equipment from your childhood, it’s a chance to share a bit of your history with your grandson.
Find a local event with live music
If your grandson is a fan of music, this is the date idea for you!
Search for local events on Facebook or just google “Live music in [insert the name of your town].” You’re sure to find something.
And typically, live music is also paired with some sort of food option. So, make it music and a meal!
Build a cardboard fort. But make it epic.
You know all those old boxes you’ve been saving for no particular reason in your garage?
Well, here’s your chance to use them.
Grab some tape to hold things together, get some old milk jugs and paper plates for decoration, and make it a day.
Design the most epic fort you can imagine and then enjoy some snacks or a good book!
Go go-karting
This is a great activity to do if you have an older grandson you want to bond with.
Do a search on google maps and see if you can find a track near you. And if it’s a bit of a drive, just let the journey be part of the fun! Maybe bring some good snacks.
Head to the local dollar or drive-in theater
Going to a movie is something anyone can do. But heading to a drive-in or dollar theater? That’s a little different!
There’s just something special about getting to experience the old-timey nostalgia with grandma. It’s like getting a glimpse of a piece of her while you have fun together.
I personally remember going to the dollar theater with my grandma and it was always a treat (even when I was older)!
Feed the ducks and have a picnic
This is a simple, but awesome, date for littles.
I think it’s because feeding ducks is somehow one of those things that just doesn’t get old.
Be sure to grab some oats or thawed frozen corn and peas. (It turns out ducks shouldn’t have tons of bread . . . I feel like I need to apologize to all the ducks of my past now. Yikes.)
Oh, and don’t forget to pack a fun lunch!
Attend a local sports event
Who says you can only enjoy sports if they’re big-time games?
Find something local that your grandson is interested in. Take snacks, wear colors, and have a great time.
Do a Lego day
If your grandson is more laid back and likes to take things easy, this is the perfect date for him.
Design a model together with extra Legos or buy a boxed kit in advance for you to do.
And if the boxed price of LEGO makes you sweat (I understand), check out some of the knock-off brands on Amazon. I think this set from a company called Insoon is really cool.
Don’t forget snacks!
(I know I say that about snacks a lot . . . but seriously; snacks are almost essential to any good day date.)
Visit a farm or orchard
This might sound strange, but I’m always surprised by the number of local farms, orchards, and even wineries that offer family activities.
Just search for “local farms with family activities” on Google and you’re sure to find some options (especially if it’s fall or near the holidays).
I just did it for us and found several local places I’ve never been to. Various options have corn pits, corn mazes, petting zoos, and even pedal carts.
Sounds fun!
Do a “yes” day
If you haven’t heard of a “yes” day, here’s the run down:
Basically, you have one day where you say yes to everything your grandson asks for.
(People also do this with their kids or granddaughters too, of course.)
I personally think it’s a good idea to not tell them you’re doing a yes day (so they don’t ask for anything too extravagant).
Just enjoy going with the flow of the random little things they want to do. You’ll probably be surprised by the fun you have!
If you do decide to tell them in advance, put some boundaries on it (like “no spending more than $60 dollars for the day” or “no driving more than an hour” etc.)
Get up early to watch the sunrise then get breakfast
I like this one because it gives you purpose AND plenty of time for chatting and bonding.
Plus, I think there’s just something about sunrises that leads to good conversations.
If your grandson has a hard time with the idea of getting up early, you can always remind him of the bacon or sausage he’ll get for breakfast!
And if you don’t want to spend the money eating out, just do a special breakfast at home instead.
Make a puppet show or movie together
This is a great one for kids who are into storytelling or who have an interest in films.
You can keep it really simple for little kids (a behind-two-chairs-and-a-blanket show for mom and dad could do). Or, you can make it extravagant for slightly older children (think costumes and mini scripts).
I think the key, though, is to just enjoy letting them do what they’d like with the story—the most important thing is to have fun together, after all.
(It’s not like anyone needs to win an Emmy.)
Do a BBQ day
This day date lends itself well to older grandsons (even adults).
Find some recipes that you’re both excited about and be sure to get any specialized ingredients in advance.
The day of, have fun talking and bonding while you work to make food you love!
Go to a local beach on the river or lake (Or to the splashpad for extra-little grandsons)
This is a great date for when you both want to do your own thing but you still want to be together.
Take chairs and a few good books or magazines. If it’s an appropriate place for it and he’s old enough, let him try fishing.
Enjoy relaxing, interacting, and just having a good time.
Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or animal shelter
This is an awesome opportunity for you do something meaningful while you bond.
Just do a search for local volunteer opportunities on google to find organizations you can reach out to.
They should be able to tell you good times and places to volunteer, and they may even get you scheduled for a “shift” to help out.
Pick berries, then make cobbler or jam
This is an engaging activity for grandsons of all ages. If they’re little, they’ll have fun snacking as you pick and dumping in ingredients when you bake.
If they’re older, they’ll likely be of great help getting lots of berries (maybe you can have a contest to see who can get more!).
And afterwards they might even direct the baking themselves.
Have a science day
This is a simple but cute idea for educational fun.
Gather supplies for experiments (e.g. a cardboard volcano, slime or playdoh, a what-can-melt-the-ice-cube-the fastest test, etc.), and make it a day!
Bonus points if you have some fun snacks on the side (just be sure to keep them separate from experiment supplies).
Visit the Fire Station
This is a good date for grandsons ages 3 to 12 (or older if he’s interested in being a firefighter).
Many fire stations are happy to give you a tour if you call ahead and ask!
You can make it extra special by grabbing a fun treat afterwards (maybe ice cream . . . which happens to sound really good at the moment).
Go to an escape room
This is one activity that you don’t typically picture as a “grandma” date; but why not?
I love the idea of grandma and grandson working together to solve a puzzle. You both get to appreciate each other’s strengths, and it’s a good adventure!
This date works well for a variety of older ages (including grown adults).
Make a time capsule
This a super simple day date, but it leaves a lot of leeway for creativity, which is nice.
Outline what you want to put in with your grandson and spend the day assembling it.
You might want to include accounts of your favorite memories, pictures you’ve taken together, recipes you’ve made, or even little items that you’ve collected on your adventures.
Do a random acts of kindness day
This is one of my favorites on this list because it combines fun with selflessness.
(So hopefully you’ll make lifelong memories *and* teach lifelong lessons).
Paint uplifting messages on rocks and leave them around town, make treats for neighbors and friends, surprise someone with an anonymous care basket—the options are endless.
And, frankly, I don’t think you’ll ever regret spending your time with your grandson like this.
Go enjoy your grandma and grandson adventures
Well, we made it through that list! I hope you found some ideas that suit you and your grandson.
Please feel free to share your suggestions for other dates down below. You never know when what you share might be just the idea someone else needs.
Happy adventuring!
