"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies." ~ Rudy Giuliani

According to a recent AARP Survey, 90% of grandparents believe the role they play in their grandchildren's lives is an important one ... and we couldn't agree more! Here are ten ways for grandparents and grandkids to have fun together on National Grandparents Day (September 8, 2013) and throughout the year:
1.) Look at Old Photo Albums. Your kids will love looking at hearing old stories and seeing pictures of you as a tot as much as your parents will love reliving those memories. In the process, your children develop a stronger sense of self as your family history is passed down.
2.) Cook Together. Many kids love to help in the kitchen and grandmas have the best recipes! Regularly schedule cooking sessions so those recipes can be shared. Take pictures of the process and of the everyone enjoying the finished product, then create a photo book with the recipes and snapshots. Your children will not only have wonderful memories to cherish, but a family keepsake that will be used for years to come!
3.) Read Together. What better way to bond than to share a book? Some of my favorite childhood books were classics introduced to me by my grandmother: Make Way for Ducklings, Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Little Engine That Could. Your kids can introduce some of their favorite authors to their grandparents ... Eric Carle, Mo Willems, Doreen Cronin, and Sandra Boynton. Hallmark has created a Recordable Storybook Library with more than 20 titles, so Grandma and Grandpa can read to the little ones even when separated by many miles.
4.) Share a Hobby. It's even better if you're not a part of it. I don't really enjoy gardening but my mom loves it and my boys are happy to help her plant flowers and dig in the dirt.
5.) Play Something "Old-Fashioned" Together. Whether it's marbles, jacks, hopscotch, or a board game that isn't so well-known anymore, chances are the grandparents know a game your child has never played before.
6.) Have a Beatles Dance Party. The words are easy to learn, the songs are silly and sweet and fun, and dancing is great exercise!
7.) Break the Rules. My mom is notorious for serving ice cream before supper, sneaking them candy, and letting my boys play on the Wii for much too long. It has never bothered me
8.) Play Dress-Up. Raid the grandparents' closet together for fedoras, suspenders, costume jewelry, scarves, and dresses. Then create a story together and act it out.
9.) Take an Adventure. The average age of a first-time grandparent is 47; about half were under age 50 when their first grandchild was born. Today's seniors are healthier and more active than ever, and our area is rich with adventure.
10.) Connect Online. If there are many miles between your kids and their grandparents (or even if there aren't), take advantage of technology. A friend of mine held weekly FaceTime sessions with her daughter and mother-in-law, who lived on the opposite coast, practically from the day her daughter was born. By the time they got to meet in person, Nana's face and voice were already very familiar to the baby. Use a photo-sharing service like Photo Stream to instantly (and privately) send photos from your phone or tablet to family members and friends. Set up a closed Facebook group where you can post pictures and updates.
