Discover fun and simple Grandma Camp ideas for toddlers! This guide includes planning tips, activity ideas, suggested supplies, and snack ideas from our first-ever Grandma & Grandpa Camp.
I first heard the term “Grandma Camp” from a friend and then started seeing it everywhere. It’s a lovely concept: setting aside dedicated, flexible time to spend with your grandchildren. How you plan it depends on the season, how long the visit will be, and the grandchildren’s ages and needs.
We are just three years into the joyful adventure of grandparenting, with a three-year-old granddaughter and a four-month-old grandson. A few weeks ago we hosted our very first Grandma Camp for our granddaughter. She lives far away, so those two days felt especially precious. We invited Grandpa to join in, so ours was truly Grandma & Grandpa Camp.
How to Plan for Grandma Camp
(Note: some of the products mentioned below are available through retailers; this post includes casual shopping references for convenience.)
We kept our planning simple. For a three-year-old, the most important preparation was creating a comfortable, safe sleeping area. We placed the guest mattress on the floor against a wall and propped pillows along the far edge to prevent rolling. For frequent overnight guests, a bed side rail works well, but this low-mattress method is inexpensive and effective.
When her parents dropped her off, one of our first stops was the grocery store. She loves shopping with grown-ups, and choosing her own snacks and a few small toys made her feel included and excited. I also keep a tote of toys and books from when our own children were young, though grandchildren often have their own current favorites. Fortunately, friends who are further along in grandparenting offered to lend a few items, which was a real blessing given our limited storage in a small townhouse.
Fun Grandma Camp Ideas and Simple Supplies for Toddlers
Grandma Camp isn’t about having the newest toys; it’s about making grandchildren feel loved and treasured. Our schedule was relaxed, with a few planned activities and lots of flexibility. Below are simple, affordable ideas that worked well for our three-year-old granddaughter.
- Blow bubbles: Watching bubbles float and pop creates wonder for children of all ages. It’s an easy, inexpensive activity that leads to giggles and simple delight.
- Play with water: Water play is almost always a hit. We chose a calm lake with a sandy beach for a day out. She loved filling a bucket and pouring from a watering can, and she enjoyed using a spray nozzle to help water backyard flowers. Even a small water table, sprinkler, or a bucket and cup provide big fun.
- Build with Duplo: Larger building blocks like Duplo are perfect for toddlers. Our granddaughter enjoyed stacking towers and playing with a small farm set. These sets are durable, easy for little hands, and they encourage imaginative play.
- Hug a dolly: Dolls can offer comfort, especially when a child misses their own toys at home. Letting her pick a cuddly doll to keep at Grandma & Grandpa’s made her feel secure and loved during the visit.
- Go for a walk: Short walks and outings are soothing and stimulating. Our granddaughter uses a wheelchair for mobility and adores being pushed along ocean paths, smelling flowers, and pointing out things to her doll.
- Bake together: Simple baking projects are a favorite. We made an easy peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe that she could help stir and shape. A learning tower or child-safe step stool is useful here; it lets little ones stand at counter height and participate safely in baking and other kitchen tasks.
- Color and stickers: Sticker books and crayons provide quiet entertainment. They travel well and are great for restaurants or quiet afternoons.
- Read aloud: Reading and singing are timeless activities. Bringing out familiar books from our children’s shelf and reading them together created cozy moments and new memories.
- Play hide-and-seek with small toys: Simple games, like hiding little yellow ducks for her to find, led to delighted squeals and repeated play. Small, inexpensive toys can keep a toddler engaged for a long time.
Watch Grandma Camp in Action!
We captured a few short video clips from our time together that show the small, joyful moments—bubbles, baking, water play, and lots of laughter.
Snacks for Grandma Camp
At Grandma Camp we let our granddaughter pick her own snacks for the short visit. She has some particular preferences, much like her father did at that age, so we focused on items she enjoys and that are easy to serve on the go.
Snack hits included:
- Fruit pouches: Convenient and easy to eat, they provided a little fruit between meals.
- Goldfish crackers: She adored them — sometimes paired with small cheese cubes and cubed ham for a quick plate.
- Macaroni and cheese: A familiar comfort-food favorite that was easy for her to eat.
- Peanut butter and honey sandwiches: Simple, filling, and something she requested at the time.
- Muffins: Blueberry muffins were a breakfast winner; warmer, soft options often succeed better than hot cereal with picky toddlers.
- Cookies: The cookies she helped make — peanut butter chocolate chip — were a special treat with a glass of milk.
- Snack breaks at the lake: Portable treats like dunkable cookies and crackers were perfect for an outdoor day.
- Water: A small water bottle with a straw kept her hydrated and was offered frequently throughout the day.
Do You Have Grandma Camp Stories?
I love hearing ideas from other grandparents. If you’ve created your own Grandma Camp traditions or found simple activities that bring smiles, please share your stories and tips in the comments. These small moments of time, attention, and play become treasured memories for everyone involved.
