Grammy on the Go
By Karen Shadrach
Have fun with your grandkids one evening and host a game and movie night! Choose a game, choose a movie, and then choose a goodie!
Choose a Game
Choose a game that is age-appropriate and one that doesn’t have the possibility of 
taking hours to complete, such as monopoly. If playing a game that doesn’t take up much time, choose two different shorter games. All ages love to play Candyland, Chutes and Ladders or Bingo. Teams can be made up of both an older and younger child so that they both can play it together, such as Battleship. To make it extra fun, have small prizes for the winner or winning team for each game.
Choose a Movie
Let your grandchildren help you decide what movie they wish to watch. Hopefully, you can find one on Amazon Prime, Disney + or Netflix. If you don’t have a subscription, you can try to borrow the movie from the library. A few movies my grandkids love are “The Jungle Book,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “Star Wars.”
Throw on your most comfortable pajamas, spread blankets and pillows throughout the room, and set aside a few more blankets if anyone gets cold during the movie. Maybe you could try putting up some fairy lights around the space here and there to add an extra magical touch.
To add a new level of fun into the mix, why not dress as your favorite character from the movie you are watching? This works best with a superhero or a Disney princess movie.
Be sure to set an intermission time during the movie which will give the kids a chance to get up, stretch their legs and get out some of their stored-up energy. An intermission also gives you the opportunity to grab a snack and drink refill. You can take this time to discuss with the grandkids what they think might happen in the movie, if they have never previously seen it, and share their thoughts and feelings about the characters.
Choose a Goodie
Popcorn and movies go together like peas and carrots, but the same old salt and butter popcorn, although classic, aren’t exactly memorable. Why not make your own flavors? Make different popcorn flavors by sprinkling cinnamon sugar, brewer’s yeast or cocoa powder on top. Another idea is to have the children make up their own popcorn trail mix. Set up a popcorn buffet! Place out small bowls of M&Ms, nuts, goldfish crackers, Reece’s pieces, raisins/craisins, chocolate chips and gummy bears or worms.
Use store-bought pre-packaged microwave popcorn or let the grandkids pop it themselves! Homemade microwave popcorn is super easy (and healthier, as it doesn’t contain chemicals and additives that aren’t great for you). Place 1/2 C popcorn into a brown paper lunch bag. Fold the top over 2-3 times and lie it down flat onto the microwave table. Set microwave for 2-3 minutes (or popcorn button). When popping slows to every 5 seconds or so-it’s done! After popping, add your butter and any toppings.
Add an extra touch to movie snacks by having the grandkids make their own popcorn boxes before the movie begins. Buy some cheap cardboard popcorn boxes (or make your own) and get creative customizing them.
Decorate and personalize the boxes with different colors, papers and stickers to make them even more special. An easier version is to just roll an 8×11 piece of cardstock into a cone. Tape it closed and then line with waxed paper. The kids can decorate as they wish and fill with their goodies.
Game and movie night… a great way to connect with each other. You all may love this idea so much that it will become a monthly activity to share together!
Photos by Karen Shadrach
