by Dr. Ken Canfield
These summer months are one of the few times each year when the usual rhythms slow down enough to make something bigger possible. No school schedules. Fewer commitments. More room to say yes.
For grandparents, that’s an invitation worth taking seriously. Summer brings us opportunities; the question is whether we’re intentional about using them. Unlike more rushed visits during the school year, summer gives us room for something longer — a few days together, a road trip, time that isn’t limited to a few hours on an afternoon or weekend. And when grandkids spend extended time with us without the parents around, it’s a win-win-win — quality time for you and the grandkids, and a break for the parents. Here are two ways to make the most of this season with your grandkids.
Host Them for a Few Days
We frequently host three or four grandkids in our home, and occasionally nine or ten. Those times are so fun and rewarding — they can’t get enough of us, and we sure can’t get enough of them.
But let me warn you: they will wear you out. Those times of “all hands on deck” can be physically intense and mentally taxing. By all means make the time and effort to do this, but be ready. And expect to get some good sleep after they’re gone.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate. One grandmother named Carol has made it her tradition to have grandkids stay for a week each summer. No big trips, no expensive outings — just puzzles, board games, baking together, and long walks around the neighborhood. She’s done it for years now, and her grandkids look forward to it all year long.
The impact of these repeated, ordinary summers can be profound. A man named Harold spent many summers with his grandparents as a boy. He went to church with them and regularly saw and heard them pray bold prayers for his dad and for others. Their influence changed his life, and now he’s trying to influence his own grandkids in the same way.
Harold’s grandparents didn’t do anything dramatic. He was just with them — repeatedly and over time. That was enough.
Take Them Somewhere Meaningful
Another way to use the summer window is to travel with your grandkids — not necessarily to a theme park, but to a place that matters.
One grandfather named Steve took his grandchildren on a 3,000-mile road trip to visit extended family. That isn’t what most people do for vacation, but Steve believed his grandkids should have a sense of their heritage and family roots, and experience life beyond the borders of their home state.
You don’t have to go 3,000 miles. It could be a day trip to your hometown, a drive to the place where their mom or dad grew up, or a visit to a family cemetery or old homestead. The destination matters less than the intention: connecting your grandkids to where they come from.
And don’t underestimate the drive itself. Hours in a car — no distractions, no escape — can open up conversations that wouldn’t happen otherwise. Those informal, unplanned moments are often the most memorable.
Here are a few questions to have ready for the road:
- What was your favorite toy when you were younger?
- If you could relive one day of your life, what day would it be?
- What person or family do you know that needs help — and how could we reach out to them?
The Window Won’t Stay Open Long
School starts again before you know it. And beyond that, there’s a harder truth: you only get so many summers with your grandkids while they’re young. Life is short. They grow up fast. They’ll never be exactly this age again.
If you can make something happen this summer — a few days at your house, a road trip, even a long afternoon together — it’s worth the effort.
The window is open. Use it well.
What are your plans for spending time with your grandkids this summer? Share your ideas on our Facebook page here.
