Do your kids come back from their grandparent’s house and tell you that they had the best time? Grandparents are the best at spoiling their grandkids probably because they don’t have to worry about the pressures of parenting like enforcing rules or setting routines. It’s no surprise that sometimes parents want to make their own house just as fun as grandma’s or grandpa’s. Here are 7 ways that you can treat your kids just as good as their grandparents do.
1. Focus on Fun Activities
Usually getting together with your children’s grandparents revolves around a fun activity. This could be a trip to an outdoor fair, the zoo, or even the beach. Grandparents often have the time to spend the day away on these special outings. These day trips often result in memories that your kids will cherish in the future. So take a page out of their grandparent’s book and focus on making some special plans with your kids.
2. Say Yes to Occasional Treats
The best part about grandma’s and grandpa’s house is the food. Do you remember visiting your grandparent’s house and stealing cookies from the cookie jar? Even though nutrition may not be the focus for grandparents, kids love the treats. Everything in moderation is okay, so try to let your kids have dessert before dinner every once in a while.
3. Spend Quality Time Together
Grandkids usually have their grandparent’s undivided attention. It’s easy for parents to get caught up in busy schedules, and to feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. To spoil your kids like their grandparents though, try to carve out quality time together where you can do things like read or play together. Your kids will love the extra one-on-one time.
4. Relax Some Rules
Schedules, rules, and routines are important for kids, but if you want to treat your kids consider relaxing some of the household rules. Grandparents are experts at this. Have you ever heard of an early bedtime and grandma’s and grandpa’s house? If you want to spoil your kids try pushing back bedtime to tell ghost stories or let your kids have some extra screen time.
5. Take a Trip to the Toy Store
Grandma and Grandpa are the best gift givers. Your kids love the toys that grandma and grandpa give them. To spoil your kids, try planning a trip to their favorite toy store and let them pick out a toy just because. Not only will your kids be very excited, but toys are also important for their development.
6. Bake Together
Many children love baking with their grandma or grandpa. Usually, families bake together during the holidays or for special occasions. If you want to spoil your kids, try baking their favorite sweet treat together for no reason other than it’s fun. Even better, teach your kids a family recipe that they continue making even when they are older.
7. Listen to Your Kids
Grandparents are excellent listeners and give their grandkids center stage. This is one way that grandparents form healthy relationships with their grandkids. Try to give your kids your undivided attention when they are talking to you or telling you a story. Your kids will feel so important and heard. It’s even likely that they will open up to you even more if they know that they have your ear.
Spoiling Your Kids Like Their Grandparents Do
It’s no doubt that grandparents have it great. They get to spoil their grandkids and then send them back home often very tired or on a sugar high. Regardless, they are so loved by their grandkids. So it’s no surprise that parents sometimes want to treat their kids just as well as their grandparents. Too often we are worried that we are making parenting mistakes. Everything in parenting is a balance, so if you want to spoil your kids sometimes that is perfectly okay.