Best Indoor Hobbies with Grandkids: Make Memories to Last a Lifetime

This post may contain affiliate links or ads and we may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no additional cost to you and helps with our website expenses.

Indoor hobbies with grandkids are a great way to bond, have fun, and create lasting memories.

Because not only do they provide an opportunity for intergenerational interaction, but they can also be educational and help to stimulate creativity.

Plus, indoor hobbies can be enjoyed year-round, regardless of the weather.

There are endless possibilities for indoor hobbies that grandparents and grandchildren can enjoy together.

Arts and Crafts – One of the Best Indoor Hobbies with Grandkids

From painting and drawing to collage and clay sculpting, there are so many ways to get creative with arts and crafts.

You can even repurpose household items like toilet paper rolls and cardboard boxes into art projects.

Painting with Grandkids

Grandparents can make indoor painting with their grandkids a rib-tickling and playful activity! With some vibrant colors, toasty snacks, and upbeat music, there are so many fun indoor painting ideas.

A few of the simple yet unique ideas include fingerpainting, brush painting with several sizes of paint brushes, and creating a huge mural on a roll of paper on the living room wall.

Play Pass the Picture Game

Painting games can be a blast for grandkids. “Pass the Picture” will have you all laughing!

Have all of your players sit in a circle around a table and give each person a piece of paper and some colored pencils.

Have the players write their names on the paper and draw a shape, before passing the papers to the right. Everyone gets to add something on to that shape until it eventually comes back around to its original owner.

When everyone has finished their unique artwork, hold them up and admire just how much was created with such simple instructions!

Explore Different Painting Techniques

Grandparents can also have their grandkids explore different techniques such as mixing colors, dabbing with sponges or pieces of cloth, gluing pieces of material/cloth to their paintings, etc.

Painting indoors can turn out to be an exciting experience for everyone!

Cooking and Baking

Cooking and baking are not only fun, but they also teach kids about healthy eating and the science behind the food. Plus, you get to enjoy the delicious results together!

indoor hobbies with grandkids - baking
Let’s get baking with this indoor hobby with grandkids.

Here’s an easy (and healthy) recipe you can make with the grandkids.

Banana Oat Bars

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the oats, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a separate mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork.
  4. Stir in the honey, melted butter, and egg.
  5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
  6. Spread the mixture into a greased 8×8-inch baking pan.
  7. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
  8. Let the bars cool in the pan for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
  9. Enjoy!

Note: These bars are great as a quick breakfast or snack. You can also add mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit.

Indoor Hobbies with Grandkids Include Board Games and Puzzles

Board games and puzzles are great for brain development and problem-solving skills. They also provide an opportunity for friendly competition and teamwork.

Board Games

There’s nothing quite like a night of friendly competition filled with plenty of laughter.

Many classic board games are perfect for grandmothers to play with their grandkids, such as Monopoly, Scrabble, and Clue. All three bring timeless fun to the table, stimulating the mind while providing hours of enjoyment.

Of course, if you’re feeling adventurous you can try something new that’ll be sure to wow both the kids and grandma alike–like Mystic Market or Banned Words! Spending quality time together has never been so enjoyable!

Puzzles Games

Puzzle games are always great because they offer family-friendly entertainment everyone can enjoy.

Some of the all-time favorites for grandparents and grandkids include games like Wordiwiz and crosswords, Jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku.

Indoor hobbies with grandkids - games
Heres one of the best indoor hobbies with grandkids – Jenga!

Playing Jenga with grandkids is easily one of the best indoor hobbies! You can have a friendly family competition to see who can make the tower last the longest.

There’s always lots of laughter when someone finally sets it tumbling.

Jenga challenges are great opportunities for all ages to come together and just enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed setting.

Not only do these enjoyable indoor pastimes provide hours of stimulation, but they help keep minds sharp too. Win-win!

So why not make some hot chocolate and sneak in a game of Wordiwiz before dinner tonight – you’re sure to have quite the entertaining evening!

Reading and Word Games

Reading together is a wonderful way to bond and promote a love of literature in children. You can also try audiobooks for a change of pace.

One great game to play is a guessing book game, which involves asking the grandkids questions about a book they are reading.

For example, you can ask what their favorite character is, what time period the book takes place in, or even if they think a certain event will happen next in the story.

This is a great way for grandparents and grandkids to delve deep into literature together. Alternatively, you can also try classic word games like hangman or crossword puzzles – activities sure to get everyone’s minds engaged!

Other reading games to play with grandkids include:

  • Alphabet Soup, where you make up silly stories using words that start with each letter of the alphabet.
  • Mad Libs, is a game that requires filling in blanks with adjectives, nouns, verbs or adverbs.
  • Word Search, which involves finding differently shaped words hidden in grids of letters.
  • I Spy, where you try to find objects based on clues!

With all these options and more, indoor time spent together playing reading games can be an amazing way to have fun and strengthen the bond between grandparents and grandchild.

Indoor Treasure Scavenger Hunts (I love this for indoor hobbies with grandkids)

Scavenger hunts are a great way for grandkids to have fun indoors. Here are some tips for setting up an indoor scavenger hunt with your grandkids:

1. Choose a Theme – Pick a theme for the scavenger hunt such as animals, colors, shapes or holidays.

2. Hide Clues – Hide clues around the house in various places that relate to the theme of the game.

3. Create Puzzles and Riddles – Make sure to include some puzzles and riddles in the clues to make it extra challenging!

4. Collect Treasures – Have your grandkids find treasures or toys while they look for clues to add an extra layer of excitement.

5. Determine Rewards – Decide on rewards for each successful clue solved or treasure found in order to motivate your grandchildren and keep them engaged throughout the game!

Gardening Indoors with the Grandkids

If you have a green thumb, you can try indoor gardening with your grandkids. You can start small with herbs or try your hand at growing a small vegetable or flower garden in pots.

indoor hobbies with grandkids - gardening

Although you may not be able to plant and nurture large amounts in your home, there are still plenty of ways to make gardening an engaging and rewarding experience for grandchildren.

Here are some ideas on how your indoor garden can blossom with the help of the littlest ones:

1. Plant Herbs – Herb gardens are easy to maintain and can be contained in small pots or window boxes. Kids will love harvesting their very own ingredients for cooking exciting dishes!

2. Decorate Pots – Let the kids decorate their own pots with paint and other materials to add a personalized touch to your indoor plants.

3. Claymation Crafts – Create clay animals or characters that they can use as decorations in your garden, or give them as gifts to loved ones!

4. Make a Fairy Garden – A fairy garden is a fun way for children to build their imagination and play pretend while helping you tend the garden!

5. Grow Fruit and Veggies – Give the kids real responsibility by having them monitor fruit or vegetable growth inside your home (think cherry tomatoes!)

Have a Dance Party!

Turn up the music and have a dance party in the living room. You can even teach your grandkids some classic dance moves.

With just a few preparations and some creativity, you can have an epic dance party with your grandkids in no time! Here are some tips for throwing a memorable dance party that everyone will love:

1. Get the Music – Gather up a playlist of upbeat songs that the kids can enjoy so they can have fun dancing the night away!

2. Set the Mood – Designate an area in your home to host the dance party and make it as fun as possible with colorful streamers, balloons, and lights.

3. Let Loose – Encourage your grandkids to show off their moves and let them take control of the music by choosing their favorite songs.

4. Add Special Effects – Enhance the atmosphere with smoke machines or bubbles for extra excitement.

5. Have Fun – Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun yourself! Show your grandkids some of your moves and bond over good times together!

Science Experiments: this can be one of the most fun Hobbies with Grandkids

Science experiments are a fun and educational way to spend time with your grandkids. You can try simple experiments at home with household materials or check out a science kit.

Home science experiments offer a great opportunity for kids (and their grandkids) to explore and learn about the world around them! Here are some fun, easy-to-do science experiments that you can do in the comfort of your own home:

1. Make a Volcano – This classic experiment is always exciting and fun! In just a few simple steps, you can watch your homemade volcano erupt with vinegar and baking soda.

2. Grow Crystals – Growing crystals is an easy way to teach kids how crystallization works. All you need is Epsom salt and boiling water!

3. Build a Hovercraft – With some basic materials like a balloon, styrofoam, scissors, and string, you can make your own hovercraft in an afternoon with the help of the grandchildren.

4. Create Slime – Making slime can be both fun and educational as it’s an excellent way to understand the process of polymerization. Not to mention it’s a ton of fun for everyone involved!

5. Create Lava Lamps – It doesn’t take much to create this colorful project; just vegetable oil, food coloring, and Alka-Seltzer tablets are needed!

Here’s how to grow crystals! This was one of my favorite things to do!

To start, you’ll need some crystal-growing material like borax or Epsom salt. Dissolve the material in hot water until it no longer dissolves. Add a little bit of food coloring, if you like, for a pop of color.

Then, pour the solution into a glass jar or container and suspend a string into it with a weight attached to the bottom.

Finally, place the container somewhere where it won’t be disturbed and wait for several hours or several days, depending on how big you want your crystals to grow. Once the crystals are done growing, you can remove them from the solution and enjoy your beautiful creation!

Model Building

Model building is a great hobby to share with grandchildren. Not only is it fun and rewarding, but it’s also a great way to teach them problem-solving and engineering principles.

Model building can range from creating complicated 3D structures to simply assembling a plastic airplane or car. Kids love being able to use their hands to build something new, and it gives them a sense of accomplishment when their model is complete.

Working together on models allows grandparents and grandkids to bond over an activity that teaches important life skills while having tons of fun along the way!

Movie Nights

Spending time with grandkids doesn’t always have to involve hard work and dedication. Movie nights are a great way to bond with grandchildren while having fun!

While movie buffs might debate whether this counts as a hobby or not, there is no denying that it’s an activity everyone can enjoy.

Pick out a classic film, pop some popcorn, and settle in for an evening of family entertainment.

This can be especially rewarding if the grandchildren pick out the movie – it gives them a chance to share something they like and shows that you value their opinion!

Whether it’s a new release or an old favorite, movie night is sure to bring lots of laughs and memories for years to come.

Photography – Indoor Hobbies with Grandkids

Grandparent-grandchild photography sessions don’t have to be complicated – all you need is a camera or a smartphone and lots of enthusiasm!

Creating memories together indoors can be just as enjoyable as outdoors.

indoor hobbies with grandkids - photography
Photography! So fun as one of the indoor hobbies with kids!

Try your hand at candid shots, get silly in the living room, or even create themed photoshoots. Whichever way you decide to take pictures, it’s bound to be loads of fun for everyone involved.

You’ll soon find this to be one of the most enjoyable indoor hobbies with grandkids.

And the best part? You don’t need fancy equipment; even a smartphone can work wonders when capturing special moments with grandkids. The important thing is taking the time to create lasting memories and craft timeless stories together – no matter what kind of camera you use!

Indoor Hobbies with Grandkids – Embrace the Theatre and Put on a Play and Film It

Put on a show for family members, or even record it and share the video. This is a fantastic way to spend quality time together while getting creative.

Brainstorm different plays to put on, build sets, create costumes, write dialogues, and come up with soundtracks, also, let your imagination run free!

Not only will everyone have fun, but you can also watch the performance back later as a keepsake of precious time spent together.

So get ready to laugh, act out some silly scenes and create something magical that you’ll always remember.

Sewing – Grandmas Love this for Indoor Hobbies with Grandkids

Sewing with grandchildren is a great way to connect and create special memories together! Get your grandkids excited about sewing by starting off on simple projects – think keychains, pillowcases and stuffed animals.

Not only will this help them develop new skills, but they’ll also get a sense of pride from making beautiful items with their own hands.

Show them how to hand-stitch or even use a basic sewing machine if you have one.

Supervise their work and provide guidance when needed. The best part? You can keep the items you make together as mementos of your special times spent together.

Paper Mache

Paper mache is a great way to bond with your grandchildren and create something together! Work with your grandkids to make paper mache puppets, masks or even sculptures – the possibilities are endless.

indoor hobbies with grandkids - paper mache
Indoor Hobbies with Kids Includes Fun Paper Mache Projects!

Gather the supplies you need for this fun craft activity – newspaper, flour, water, and decorations such as paper, markers, and glitter, just to name a few.

Spend time showing your grandkids how to mix the paste then let their imaginations run wild as they dip pieces of newspaper in it and get creative!

Not only will you both have lots of fun working on the project together, but you’ll also have a beautiful keepsake when it’s done.

Here’s a quick recipe for making paper mache vases:

To make a paper mache vase, you will need the following ingredients:

  • White glue or flour and water paste
  • Strips of newspaper or other paper
  • A balloon or other round object to use as a mold
  • Acrylic paint (optional)

Here is a basic recipe for making the glue or paste:

  • White glue: Mix equal parts white glue and water in a bowl.
  • Flour and water paste: Mix together 2 parts flour and 1 part water in a bowl until a smooth paste is formed.

To make the paper mache vase, follow these steps:

  1. Inflate the balloon to the desired size of your vase and tie off the end.
  2. Dip strips of newspaper or other paper into the glue or paste and place them over the balloon, overlapping the strips slightly. Be sure to cover the entire balloon with at least two layers of paper.
  3. Allow the vase to dry completely. This may take several hours or even a day, depending on the humidity and the thickness of the paper layers.
  4. Once the vase is dry, you can pop the balloon and remove it from the inside of the vase.
  5. If desired, you can paint the vase with acrylic paint. For some sparkle, add glitter! Be sure to let the paint dry completely before using the vase.

That’s it! You now have a unique, handmade paper mache vase that you can use to display flowers or other decorative items.

Final Words

Indoor hobbies with grandkids provide endless possibilities for fun and bonding. Whether you try something creative, educational, or just plain silly, the important thing is to spend quality time together and make lasting memories.

Posted in ,

Elizabeth Crane

Leave a Comment