Grandparents' Day is Sunday, September 10th. It's a nationally recognized holiday celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day as a time "to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer." President Jimmy Carter signed the official proclamation for the holiday on August 3, 1978.
Grandparents' Day is a great opportunity to help your kids learn more about your family's stories and history by spending some time with a grandparent.
Plan now to invite a grandma or grandpa (or both!) to lunch, make a date to call them via phone, or connect with them over a video call or email to give them the opportunity to share their family memories and photos - from childhood to grandparenthood.
We've created a list of questions that your kids can ask to not only learn more about the individual, but also your family!
1. What was your bedroom like growing up?
2. Did you have stuffed animals or special toys you played with?
3. Did you have pets? What kind?
4. Did you fight with your brother or sister (if applicable)?
5. What were your favorite foods as a kid?
6. What is your first school memory?
7. Do you remember any of your teachers or have a favorite?
8. Did you go on vacation and where do you remember going?
9. Did you like or play sports?
10. What music did you listen to? Who was your favorite singer/band?
11. When did you get a TV and what did you watch?
12. Did you ever go to another country?
13. How did you meet (your spouse)?
14. Who were your best friends and what do you remember doing with them?
15. What did you want to be when you grew up?
16. What was your Christmas/Hanukkah/Holidays like growing up?
17. What do you wish you did as a kid but never got to do?
18. Did you have any idols?
19. What wars did you live through (and tell me about those times)?
20. What was your wedding like?
21. What was it like when you had your first baby?
22. What was your first car?
23. What was your first job?
24. Did you go to college? Trade school, etc?
25. What were your parents like?
26. How much did a candy bar/stick of gum cost when you were my age?
27. Do you remember … (where you were when the first man landed on the moon, when President Reagan was shot, etc.). Ask several of these questions with different dates and events. This will help you craft a family history that intersects with significant historical events.
28. Tell me about your first job, your wedding day, your first house.
29. What was it like to be the mom/dad of my mom/dad? (kids always like to hear what you were like as a child directly from your parents)!
30. If you could go back, what would you tell your 16 year old self?
Oh, there's so many more questions they can ask. But start with one and see where that leads. I'm sure your kids will remember this conversation forever. If you're present during the conversation, you may learn a thing or two yourself. It just gives you a new perspective and also reminds you that no matter how old people get, they were kids and they did many things we still do. They have rich experiences to share. Don't let your kids miss out on these fun and worthwhile conversations.
After you've spent some time listening, now it's time to compile your family stories! Depending on how you spent time with your grandparent(s), there are many options available.
- Create a video to post on YouTube and share with relatives.
- Design a story book with different family "tales."
- Make a family timeline with pictures and words.
Have fun with learning about and preserving your family memories and celebrating your grandparents!
** We know that some families may no longer have grandparents living or may live too far away to make this a good option. Your kids can still benefit from the wisdom of older generations! Contact a local nursing home and ask the activities director if there are residents that you and your kids can visit on Grandparents' Day. You can still ask the same questions. Even though the answers won't be specific to your own family, you will still learn a lot from someone else's grandparent!
