10 End of Summer Activities with Grandkids
Making the most of late summer
The calendar says summer is winding down, but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop. Those precious weeks before school starts again are wonderful opportunities to connect with your grandkids. No need for elaborate plans or expensive outings. Sometimes the sweetest memories come from the simplest moments shared.
If you're looking for ways to squeeze every last drop of joy from these warm days, here are ten activities that grandkids absolutely love. These activities aren't about perfection or Instagram-worthy moments. They're about connection, laughter, and the kind of memories that the kids will talk about thirty years later.
1. Transform your backyard into picnic central
Transform your own backyard into a picnic paradise. Let the kids choose the menu and help put it together (yes, even if they put way too much peanut butter on the sandwiches). Toss in some apple slices, crackers, and juice boxes. The magic isn't in gourmet food; it's in eating cross-legged on a blanket while clouds drift by overhead. Bonus points if you let them eat dessert first.
2. Sunset neighborhood safari
Those late summer evenings when the light turns everything golden are made for walks. Skip the structured nature hunt and just wander. One grandparent I know takes the kids on a Frog Walk in the early evening. This is nothing more than counting frogs, but the kids look forward to it and love it. Your grandson might want to balance on every curb. Your granddaughter might collect exactly seventeen dandelions. Let them lead. Bring bubbles in your pocket for when energy starts to fade, or play "I Spy" with things you spot along the way.
3. The great ice cream adventure
There's something special about going out specifically for ice cream. Not as part of errands, not after dinner at a restaurant, but a dedicated trip just for frozen treats. Let them order whatever wild combination they want (cotton candy with gummy bears? Why not!) Sit outside if you can, and don't worry about the sticky fingers. That's what napkins are for.
4. Splish splash water bash
You don't need a pool to have a water party. Run through the sprinkler, have a sponge toss, or set up a car wash for bikes and tricycles. Fill a bucket with water balloons and watch the giggles multiply. Keep towels handy and remember: getting soaked is the whole point. You might find yourself laughing harder than the kids.
5. S'mores without the campfire
No campfire? No problem. S'mores taste just as good made over a gas grill or even in the oven. The fun is in the assembly line: graham crackers here, chocolate there, marshmallows ready to go. Let each child create their own masterpiece. Warning: You'll need more marshmallows and chocolate than you think. They have a mysterious way of disappearing.
6. Collect summer in a jar
Take a walk and gather whatever catches their eye. Smooth stones, interesting leaves, a particularly cool stick. Back home, break out the markers, glue, and glitter. Paint those rocks into ladybugs or superheroes. Press leaves between wax paper with an iron and make bookmarks. Create a Summer 2025 jar filled with their treasures. It doesn't have to be museum quality to be meaningful.
7. Become backyard astronomers
Wait until the sky is good and dark, then spread out blankets in the yard. Use a constellation app to trace the stars, or skip the tech and dream up your own shapes. Count the satellites gliding by, share the thrill of your first shooting star, or tell them what it was like to see the moon landing.
8. Make homemade popsicles
Let the grandkids help stir together juice, yogurt, or blended fruit, then pour the mixture into molds. While the pops freeze, spend the afternoon playing outside or reading together. By evening, you’ll have a cool treat to enjoy on the porch.
9. Cinema under the stars
Set up a projector with a sheet or portable screen if you want to go all out, or just prop up a laptop or tablet on the patio table. Make some popcorn, grab a pile of blankets, and let the kids pick a movie to watch outside. There's something about being under the stars that makes even movies they've seen a hundred times feel special again.
10. The magic of "Your Choice" day
Set a few ground rules (staying local, no screens for a couple of hours), then hand over the reins. They might choose three hours at the playground. They might want to bake four dozen cookies and eat half the dough. They might decide everyone needs to wear costumes to the grocery store. Roll with it. Their faces when they realize they're really in charge will be worth whatever chaos ensues.
Making it count
These final weeks of summer aren't about cramming in every possible activity. They're about being present with these amazing little people who call you Grandma or Grandpa. They won't remember if the picnic blanket had wrinkles or if the s'mores were burned. They'll remember that you were there, laughing at their jokes, listening to their stories, and making them feel like the most important people in the world.
Because they are.