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Grandparents are often the foundation of our family tree, the roots from which we grew and branched out to create our own families.  They hold our history in their hands and offer a perspective that spans decades.  The important role they play in our lives is why we honor them on Grandparent’s Day, which falls on September 9^th this year.

This year, show your parents/grandparents just how much you appreciate them by planning an extra-special activity.  Here are 5 fun ways to celebrate grandparent’s day.

1.     Pack a Picnic

Pack up the kids and a picnic lunch and spend the day outdoors, taking in one of the great spaces Arizona has to offer.  You may opt for a sunny picnic in the park, a leisurely day at the river, or a fabulous hike in the desert.  Share your favorite outdoor activity with your family and make a memory sure to last a lifetime.  This low-cost option focuses on family togetherness and spending time rather than spending money.  Packing your picnic at home only adds to the savings.  Looking for ideas to fill your basket?  Check the recipe section of Fill Your Plate for picnic perfect options to please every palette.

2.     See a Sight

With so many wonderful places to visit in Arizona, there is no better way to spend a special day with your family than by seeing something special together.  You may want to see a show, listen to a concert, hike a mountain, visit a museum, or go to the zoo.  Whatever you choose, seeing something special together creates stronger bonds and makes lasting memories.

3.     Make a Memory

If you will be celebrating grandparents that live far away, find a special way to bring a little of your life to them.  Make a movie of your family’s life to send them.  Skype with them and have your children put on a little grandparents day play.  Arrange for everyone to go see the same movie at the same time even if you are in different cities.  Pick something unusual and unique so that everyone will always remember that special day.

4.     Create a Craft

This works both for grandparents who are nearby and those who are far away.  Celebrate the day by making something from scratch either with grandparents or for them.  Creating things together enables children and grandparents to establish a deeper connection and provides many learning opportunities.  This is also a great way to give grandparents a gift they will treasure more than anything that can be bought in a store.

5.     Hear Some History

Ask grandparents to share stories about their lives when they were the same age as your children. The world is a very different place than it was even 50 years ago and this kind of sharing builds bonds and gives children their roots, helping them understand where they came from.  You can also have your child draw up a list of questions and interview their grandparents to get at this kind of history.

No matter what you do that day, make it great by thinking about what the grandparents like and are interested in and pairing that with something that the children will also find fun and interesting.

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