Send Your Grandchildren a Vacation in a Box
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Note: this post was originally written in June 2020, when Covid-19 had us all staying home. While we no longer have pandemic travel restrictions keeping us apart, there are still lots of reasons grandparents may not get to spend any of their summer vacations with their grandkids.
The ideas in this post make a great summer-themed care package for your grandchildren, no matter the reason you can’t be with them. You don’t need an excuse to send your grandchildren some summer fun in a box!
Anyone else sad that the trip to or from the grandkids just isn’t going to happen this summer?
Last year, we had an idyllic week by the lake with all of our kids and grandkids. We watched the 14-month-old learn to walk, pushing a milk crate around the deck. Pops had a ready helper for every chore and a willing companion for errands. We had long dinners outside, early morning kayak rides, and endless bowls of cherries. One evening a raccoon even came by and washed his hands in the stream on the property right in front of us, like the universe had gifted us a special memory.
I spent every afternoon luxuriating in having my family all in one place. I knew then that we were lucky to be able to gather everyone, and that I shouldn’t expect it to happen every year. It’s hard to get everyone’s schedule to align, and with their third baby in four years, my son’s family warned us that they won’t be traveling for a couple of years.
Still, I didn’t expect a pandemic to ruin our summer. Despite my two-year-old granddaughter promising that she is going to come to my house on Monday in her pink car (“really, really, really, really fast”), she’s not leaving her house and I’m not leaving mine.
But it’s still summer! So I decided to send them a vacation in a box.
It’s going to include:
Pilot hats, so they could pretend to fly on an airplane to get here. (2023 Update: Almost three years later, these are still a vital part of the dress-up box at their house!)
A globe, so they can plot their course to wherever they want to go. I love this inflatable pair that doubles as beach balls. Twice the fun in this two-pack—and no one has to wait for a turn.
Popsicle molds, because what’s summer without ice pops? This set of six are easy to fill, and create squeezable ice pops that are as mess-free as you can get with small children. Your grandkids will love getting to squeeze the tube for each bite!
I also included a pair of squirt guns and an aqua mat, to cool off during their hot Southern days. The aqua mat can be used inside with minimal mess, for those hours when it’s just too hot to go outside.
There are so many other things you could include, depending on the age of your grandchildren. Activity books and travel games, books about explorers or places you’ve talked about visiting together. Other water toys or camping gear—the list is endless.
Just imagine what you might do if you were together, and send a few things to create a mini-experience. If they are old enough, ask your grandkids for letters, videos or photos to save the memories of their virtual summer vacation. Because even a virtual vacation should be remembered!