Grandparents Day is a day to commemorate and honor grandparents with their grandchildren, established in 1990 by Age Concern (now Age UK) in the United Kingdom.
Marian McQuade created this day out of frustration when she noticed how few visitors there were to nursing homes. To encourage families and generations to come together, Marian created this special day.
It’s a chance to show your appreciation
Grandparents Day is an opportunity to show your appreciation for the people in your life who make a difference. Whether they live nearby or far away, make time to honor these special individuals by celebrating together.
One of the best ways to show your grandparents how much you care is by calling them. They love hearing from you, so make sure they know you’re thinking of them!
Another way to express your affection is by giving them a gift. This could be something from their past, like a photo album or printed picture.
You can also send them a card or message, or express your appreciation in any other way that comes to mind. However you choose to express your thanks, take this special day as an opportunity to show them how much you value their contributions to you and your family. They will surely feel truly appreciated on this special occasion!
It’s a chance to spend time together
Grandparents Day is a national holiday in the United Kingdom that honors grandparents and all they do for society. Though it originated as an American celebration, it is growing in popularity around here too.
Unlike Mother’s or Father’s Days, this holiday doesn’t focus on gifts. Rather, it provides children with an opportunity to reconnect with their grandparents and spend quality time together.
Make this day extra memorable by sharing stories or reminiscing about the past. This is an excellent way for kids and grandparents to talk about their childhood, favourite memories, and those who have had a significant role in their lives.
Spending time together cooking or baking something special is another great way to bond. Not only does it demonstrate your love for your grandchildren, but it’s even more enjoyable when they join in on the action!
It’s a chance to bring joy to others
Grandparents Day was first established in the United States by Marian McQuade, a nurse working in nursing homes. Since then it has become an international holiday to honor grandparents and to recognize their significant role in our lives as well as to celebrate the special relationship that exists between generations.
For optimal event success, send out invitations well in advance. Waiting too long may cause people to put off RSVPing and the turnout may be lower than desired.
You can also utilize intergenerational storybooks to get everyone in the “grandparents/generations” mood both before and during your event. For instance, A Little Something tells the tale of a child who doesn’t have any grandparents to attend but has other older adults in her life who can fill in.
As RSVPs come in and before the event, provide students with some books to read aloud. Some schools like Dream, which is told by a wise old star who could serve as an adult grandparent figure.
It’s a chance to reflect
Grandparents Day is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the special bond you share with your grandparents. This could include reliving memories from their childhood or sharing stories from both of your perspectives about growing up together.
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, which are typically observed individually, this holiday was created in America by a grandmother of 43 children to recognize and celebrate her special relationship with her grandchildren.
She became aware that many elderly people in nursing homes did not receive much interaction from visitors, so she created the day to promote intergenerational connections and foster them.
Grandparents Day was first observed in 1990 by Age Concern (now Age UK) and has been observed annually on the first Sunday in October ever since. It serves as an opportunity for family reunions, community activities and small get-togethers that bring generations together and allow them to create memories.