5 Fun and Educational Crafts to Do with Your Grandchildren

Spending time with your grandchildren is a joy like no other, and one of the most heartwarming ways to bond is through creative and educational activities. At assisted living Portland, we often witness our residents engaging in crafting projects that are both fun and meaningful. Crafting with your grandchildren not only encourages creativity but also allows for learning and memory-making.

Here are some fun and educational craft ideas to try:

• Nature Collages: Collect leaves, flowers, and small twigs from a walk or the garden and use them to create a beautiful nature collage. It’s a great way to teach children about different plants and the changing seasons. One resident at retirement home Portland shared how she and her granddaughter pressed leaves into wax paper, creating lovely nature “bookmarks” they could use together. Tip: Secure items onto paper using glue or double-sided tape, then talk about each plant or flower as you work together.

• DIY Birdfeeders: Another simple yet educational craft is making homemade birdfeeders. Using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed, you and your grandchildren can create feeders that attract local birds. It’s a fun activity that ties into birdwatching, and kids love watching the birds enjoy the treats they made!
  
  One of our residents even painted the bird feeders with her grandchildren, making them colorful and personal.

• Rock Painting: Rock painting is an easy and versatile craft that encourages creativity and learning. You can paint animals, insects, or simple patterns on rocks, then use them as garden decorations or paperweights. You could also turn it into a fun lesson, asking the kids to paint different animals or shapes. At senior living Portland, residents enjoy painting rocks with their grandkids and then “hiding” them around the garden to find later, turning it into a mini treasure hunt.

• Paper Bag Puppets: Create your own puppets using paper bags, markers, and scraps of fabric. This craft allows your grandchildren to get creative while also learning about storytelling. After making the puppets, you can put on a mini puppet show together, which is always a big hit with little ones.
  
  One of our residents and her granddaughter made a whole set of animal puppets and spent the afternoon laughing and performing.

• Homemade Playdough: Making playdough from scratch is a simple, hands-on craft that kids love. You can add different food coloring or even essential oils for fun scents. It’s a great way to teach kids about basic kitchen science while creating a soft, moldable dough they can play with afterward.
  
  One resident at senior living Portland enjoys making playdough with her grandkids, and they spend hours crafting shapes and figures together.

These crafts are not just fun but also offer a way to create lasting memories with your grandchildren. They spark conversations, encourage learning, and provide opportunities to strengthen the special bond you share, leaving you with cherished memories to look back on.