If you’re looking for easy things to do with your grandkids, start with something you both enjoy. An old photo, a deck of cards, or a favorite song can give you plenty to talk about. You can do many of these activities sitting down, and a few work just as well over the phone.

Things to do with grandkids at home

1. Tell the story behind an old photo

Pick one photo and tell your grandchild what was happening that day. How did you know the people in the picture? What happened just before it was taken? Then ask your grandchild to show you a photo they chose and tell you what makes it special.

2. Make a family recipe together

Choose a snack or recipe with a story behind it. Younger children can count ingredients or mix a cold filling. Older grandchildren can read the steps aloud or write the recipe on a card to take home. If cooking feels like too much for the day, share a snack and tell them who taught you to make it.

3. Build a tiny town at the table

Use paper for roads and blocks or empty boxes for buildings. Ask your grandchild what every town needs, then let them decide where things go. You can be the person who draws the park, names the streets, or drives the pretend bus. For more ideas like this, see our screen-free after-school activities.

4. Play one round of a favorite game

Try dominoes, a matching game, or a simple card game. If the cards are hard to see, use a large-print deck and play in a well-lit spot. Take turns choosing the game. You might teach them one you played as a child and learn one they play with friends.

5. Make a playlist across generations

Choose one song you loved at their age and ask them to pick one they like now. Listen together and share what each song reminds you of. If you do this every visit, you’ll soon have a playlist that belongs to both of you.

6. Grow something by the window

Plant an easy-to-grow herb in a small pot or start with a plant you already have. Let your grandchild make a label and check what has changed since the last visit. If they live far away, send them a photo when a new leaf appears.

7. Draw a map of your childhood

On a sheet of paper, sketch where you lived, where you played, and somewhere you liked to go. Simple lines are enough. Invite your grandchild to add a map of their own neighborhood. Compare the places you each would have visited on a free afternoon.

Things to do with grandkids who live far away

8. Read the same book in short installments

Read a few pages over a call and stop at a moment that makes both of you curious about what happens next. Older grandchildren can recommend a book or comic and tell you about their favorite part. Ten minutes is plenty for a call you can both look forward to.

9. Send each other a postcard

Ask one question on each card, such as “What made you laugh this week?” or “What would your dream treehouse look like?” A drawing, a few words, or a photo all make good replies. Keep the cards together so you can look back at them next time you visit.

10. Play a guessing game over the phone

Choose an animal, a food, or a familiar place. Give three clues and let the other person guess. Then swap roles. This works on a regular phone call and is easy to play when you only have a few minutes.

How do I choose an activity we’ll both enjoy?

Offer two choices and let your grandchild pick. For a younger child, try a short game or something they can make with their hands. With a tween or teenager, ask them to teach you something they enjoy, such as a card trick or how they draw a favorite character. If either of you gets tired, save the rest for next time.

Start with one small tradition you’d both like to repeat. A Sunday guessing game or a song you share at every visit gives you something to look forward to together.