7 Fun Hobbies for Grandparents to Try with Their Grandkids

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Spending time with your grandchildren doesn’t have to be limited to weekend visits or watching cartoons. Today’s grandparents are redefining their roles—active, curious, and eager to explore new skills alongside the younger generation. If you're looking for hands-on, joy-filled ways to connect, consider diving into a few creative hobbies that not only bridge generations but also open up lifelong memories. Whether you're retired and ready to try something new or just want better ways to bond, here are seven meaningful hobbies that you and your grandkids can enjoy—together.

Learn an Instrument Together

You don't need a background in music to start playing together. In fact, learning a new instrument at the same time as your grandchild can create a beautiful dynamic: you're both beginners, discovering rhythms, fumbling over chords, laughing through missteps. From keyboards to ukuleles, entry-level instruments are more accessible than ever. Plus, digital tools like tuner apps and rhythm games make practicing less intimidating. If your grandchild already plays, let them take the lead and teach you. This kind of intergenerational musical connection strengthens emotional bonds and builds mutual respect in surprising ways.

Dive Into Painting (Without the Pressure)

Painting isn't about becoming the next Van Gogh—it’s about creating something together that feels fun. From watercolor experiments to finger painting on the back porch, the magic happens in the mess. There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching a grandchild mix colors with wild abandon while you carefully fill in your sketch. Online resources offer endless inspiration, and many museums and art platforms provide free online art learning resources for all ages. Keep supplies simple and sessions short. Add cookies. You'll both come back for more.

Explore a New Language as a Team

There’s a certain charm in two people—decades apart in age—trying to order ice cream in Italian. Learning a language can be a deeply connective experience when it’s playful and low-stakes. Use Duolingo, YouTube, or even animated movies in another language to create lighthearted immersion. Keep it vocabulary-based: name the foods at breakfast, label furniture, make silly flashcards. This kind of activity boosts memory for you and pattern recognition for them. What’s more, learning a new language as a family introduces cultural awareness that stays with kids long after the words fade.

Learn Photography Through a Child’s Eyes

You might be surprised how quickly a child picks up framing, lighting, and angles when given a camera or phone. But what makes photography magical isn’t perfection—it’s perspective. Let your grandchild photograph your shoes, your wrinkles, your garden. Then trade roles. This shared viewfinder brings stories to life. Explore basic photo editing tools together, or print your pictures and build a scrapbook. 

Start a Garden, No Matter the Size

Gardening isn’t just about digging in the dirt (though that part’s great too). It’s about nurturing something together—checking in on it, noticing changes, feeling responsible. Whether it’s a full backyard or a small windowsill, growing herbs or flowers creates routine, curiosity, and pride. Assign roles: the waterer, the weeder, the worm spotter. Make up plant names if you forget the real ones. The benefits of gardening with kids include everything from enhanced motor skills to emotional resilience. Plus, nothing beats eating a tomato you both grew.

Try Yoga That Meets You Where You Are

Yoga doesn’t have to mean advanced poses or perfect form. It can lie on a mat and breathe. It can be stretching your arms toward the sky and falling over in giggles. There are wonderful family-friendly yoga sessions available online, many of which are built specifically for grandparents and grandchildren to do together. These sessions balance movement and stillness, play and presence. More than a physical practice, yoga becomes a gentle reset button for busy minds and growing bodies.

Try Vlogging as a Memory-Making Adventure

Vlogging may seem like a Gen Z trend, but it’s actually a rich, modern way to document shared stories. You don’t need fancy equipment or viral dreams. Just film yourselves cooking, walking, telling jokes, or sharing memories. Uploading to a private YouTube channel or simply editing together your favorite clips can become a ritual. It gives kids a sense of voice and gives grandparents a way to reflect and share life lessons in a format their grandkids understand. To make the process easier, you can explore AI video editor capabilities that automatically improve audio, color, and even captions—so the final product feels polished without the stress.

Trying something new with your grandchild doesn’t require planning a big trip or spending a lot of money. Sometimes the best moments come from simply sitting side by side, learning something neither of you has mastered. These hobbies aren’t just “activities”—they’re doors into curiosity, collaboration, and closeness. Pick one, try it with an open mind, and remember: your grandchild isn’t just learning from you—they’re helping you grow, too.

**Disclaimer: This blog post features insights and perspectives from a special guest writer. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect Grandparenting A to Z's official policy or position. We are thrilled to provide a platform for diverse voices and experiences, believing they enrich our understanding and approach to "grandparenting." Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or feedback regarding this article.