100 Free Things to Do With Your Grandkids

A field guide to more smiles, more fun, more memories.

By The Editors

Memories of a lifetime are made from the simplest pleasures, ones that don’t necessarily include buying a $50 personalized teddy bear or a $200 video game system.

Here at Grandparents.com, we brainstormed and came up with a list of 100 free things to do with your grandchildren of all ages. You might need some materials — like construction paper, paint, uncooked pasta, or an old shoe box. But, for the most part, these activities are free and provide the little diversions in life that make the bond between you and your grandchildren even stronger.

51. Explore the Secrets of a Dollar Bill	76. Bury Someone in the Sand
52. Personalize Place Mats	77. Put Together a Time Capsule
53. Make a Coaster	78. Make Your Own Stickers
54. Make Noisemakers	79. Celebrate Backward Day
55. Play Two Truths and One Lie	80. Listen to Vinyl Records
56. Play Croquet in the Backyard	81. Get Manicures and Pedicures
57. Create Your Own Colored Clay	82. Do Some Leaf Rubbing
58. Make Water in the Desert	83. Make a Dandelion Necklace
59. Make a Battery Out of a Potato	84. Redesign Your Fridge
60. Play Marco Polo	85. Play Statues
61. Cook With Only What You Have	86. Sing a Song Together
62. Work With Tools	87. Take Photos
63. Craft a Bird Feeder	88. Have a Dizzy Bat Race
64. Play Rock, Paper, Scissors	89. Make a Mentos Soda Explosion
65. Play Simon Says	90. Erupt a Vinegar Volcano
66. Catch Fireflies	91. Play Hangman
67. Play a Game of H-O-R-S-E	92. Throw a Dance Party
68. Capture the Flag	93. Start a Puzzle
69. Play Red-Light, Green-Light	94. Build Cushion Forts
70. Write Your Own Quizzes	95. Make Cardboard Box Forts
71. Swap Skills	96. Have a Sunday Sundae Party
72. Stand an Egg on Its End	97. Try Your Hand at 'Snow Dots'
73. Play "Exquisite Corpse"	98. Throw a Fudge Party
74. Go on a Scavenger Hunt	99. Make Snow Angels
75. Create a Story That Goes and Goes	100. Tell Jokes