Grandparents Day is always celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Take the time to honor your grandparents with these ideas!
Why Do We Celebrate Grandparents Day?
The History of Grandparents Day
Marian McQuade hoped to establish a national day that would honor grandparents, and in 1970 she began a campaign to do so. McQuade raised awareness about senior citizens throughout the 1970s. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter declared the first Sunday after Labor Day to be National Grandparents Day. Each year, the president issues a proclamation to keep the tradition going.
Grandparents Day has both an official flower and song. The official flower is the forget-me-not, and the song is Johnny Prill’s “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa.” Both were chosen by the National Grandparents Day Council.
Grandparents Day Dates
| Year | Grandparents Day |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Sunday, September 9 |
| 2019 | Sunday, September 8 |
| 2020 | Sunday, September 13 |
Grandparents Day Activities and Gifts
Let’s appreciate all the joy and wisdom that grandparents bring to our lives!
Many schools celebrate Grandparents Day with special activities or assemblies. Students often invite their grandparents into the schools for a day, and the children find creative ways to celebrate their grandparents. Some towns will also hold special events for Grandparents Day.
Most grandparents don’t care what activity they do—they just want to spend time with their grandchildren. Maybe ask your grandparents to show you one of their favorite hobbies. Many National Parks hold special Grandparents Day events, and it can be fun to spend time with your grandparents exploring nature. If your grandparent would prefer a calm day, ask them to show you their favorite movie. No matter what, the best Grandparents Day activity involves you and your grandparents together, celebrating your family and each other.
Photo Credit: Crestock
Some families get cards or gifts for the grandparents on Grandparents Day. Most grandparents would say that a handwritten card is the perfect gift. Here’s how to make a homemade card (with a potato!). By the way, when you receive a gift, here are a few simple tips on how to write a proper thank you note. (We’ll bet your grandparents know this!)
Another great gift is simply to take your grandparents somewhere fun. Maybe your grandfather loves baseball, so you can get him tickets to see his favorite team with you. Let your grandparents teach you a skill, like how to fish. Or, perhaps it would be fun to make arts and crafts together. We have a bunch of seasonal crafts to try from making cornhusk dolls to pumpkin spices.
Maybe you can bring them some treats, like Grandpa’s Banana Bread or Grandmother’s Blueberry Cake, both made by talented grandparents. Or, try making one of the dishes that your grandparents usually make for you.
On Grandparents Day, it really is the thought that counts—just make sure your grandparents know that you’re thinking of them.
What’s your favorite way to celebrate Grandparents Day? Let us know below, and happy Grandparents Day!
Reader Comments
Leave a Comment
Grandparents Day
How we long to celebrate Grandparents Day!... we got to be grandparents for a short time in our boys lives, and relished it! But then their mother (really our niece, whose own Mom passed) became unable to care for them and we abruptly became parents. It's a whole different thing. No mothers or fathers day because we AREN'T their parents. no Grandparents Day because we ARE.
As more and more grandparents find themselves raising their grandchildren, i grieve for both them and the kids who are missing out on knowing their elders as they really are.
Grandparents Day
Good luck with that! Adult children rarely think abut their own parents let alone grandchildren.
Grandparents Day
We have never celebrated this particular day, but my perfect day if I did would be just having my grand and great grandchildren around all day long, coming in and out of the house, playing and laughing and giving me a hug from time to time. That would be the most special thing I could think of to celebrate grandparents day.
Son and daughterinlaw won't let us see our grandchildren
We are heartbroken because we have only been with our grandchildren 6 times in 3 years. They only live in the next town over and and we don't bother my son and his wife one bit. His wife sends us pictures of the children doing fun things but we are never asked to participate. It only makes us feel worse and is cruel to me. My wife and I are not feeble and love our grandchildren with all our hearts. We don't know what to do
Potential Advice
Hello Robert, I don't have grandchildren or children of my own, but I am a two-time aunt and have been close with my Mom throughout this time where she has become a grandmother and now has two grandchildren! They are far from both of us, but she gets to see them as often as she wants. How? She offers free childcare. Maybe your son and his wife don't know how you feel about your family, so it could help to explain how you feel and why. If I were you, I would ask to spend time with them and offer to watch the children while they go out and have a date night or enjoy themselves without children for a day or a night. You can even try and make it a recurring thing! They can have date nights on Saturdays and you get your grandchildren on Saturdays. Just a thought! I hope it helps.
mines use to do same too
I don't think babysitting is a good idea.I've done that years ago before I moved when they were small.now since I moved 9 years ago I see them very little.I've neverseen my great granddaughter alexibwhos one.my other great children ate teenagers.iveoffered to take them during summers only to be denied.my grown daughters just mean and spiteful.that's OK they'll grow up think for themselves I hope.its sad keeping them apart people who do that are just trouble makers bullys.
Son and Daughter in law won't let us see our Grandchildren
Robert, my heart breaks for you and your wife. If I may, I have a couple of questions regarding your comment. Why? Is the first one.. Has there been something that has strained you relationship? Do the other Grandparents see the Grandchildren? Have you called or just 'dropped' by to say Hi?
When you receive pictures of your grandkids is there a note enclosed? Not Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays? I'm very sorry for you and your wife, I know it's heartbreaking. I could go into my story, but it's nothing compared to yours. I really hope you and your son can get this worked out. Grandparents are a HUGE important part of the grandchildrens lives. Happy Grandparents Day! I hope everything works out...
Communication
Don't be afraid to talk to your family and let them know what your wants and needs are. Communication can be difficult but most of that is fear based. It will be worth it to get everything out in the open and clear.
Parents vs. grandparents
If you dig a little deeper, you might find that the problem is with the parent and not the grandparent. Raised 2 daughters a year apart and the older daughter will be quick to tell you I did everything for them out of a great love for both of them and that I’m the best mama on the planet and the younger daughter said I am he worst mother that ever existed. We always did so much more for our younger daughter because she always needed more of everything than the older daughter.The younger daughter has nothing to do with us and nothing to do with her sister and her children. We all live within 3 miles of each other. My grandchildren are so wonderful and respectful to me and the daughter of my younger daughter, I do not know and it breaks my heart. Keep in mind that they live only about 6 minutes from my home. So after years of talking to different ones, some professional, I was told that there is certainly mental illness in the younger daughter, that even a parent with issues allows interaction with the grandchildren and will still show respect for the parents and want their children to know their grandparents. The only time I have seen this granddaughter is at family funerals, and they are gone and do not mingle with anyone afterwards. I am dying of a broken heart, have had rough medical problems since the youngest daughter has treated us like this, and it is so painful because we love her so much, and could be of great service to her family.