As an Amazon Services LLC Associate, some of these items contain affiliate links, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are made to be genuinely helpful and useful.
There are many things to do with grandkids and while a themed play date is not necessary, it would certainly be remembered!
You find yourself with a free evening and wonder what the grandkids are up to. You give your daughter a quick call and discover they are playing at home and she’s trying to finish up a bit of work before bed. Enter your pirate play date!
In This Post
getting started – Names & lingo
- Establish your pirate names – make your own, or use this easy What Be Your Pirate Name guide.
- Speaking like a pirate may not be on your list of things to do with grandkids but we guarantee this comes with giggles included. Facetime with the grandkids and have a conversation that includes speaking ‘pirate’ with your grandkids. Here’s a list of Common Words Pirates Use. And here’s an additional list of 51 Words Any Good Pirate Should Know from The Red Tricycle.
Not feeling very matey-like? Don’t lose the play date opportunity. Rather, here’s a list of Five Minute Connection Ideas just for grandparents!
Taking it One Step Further With a Pirate package
If you like to plan things to do with grandkids in advance then you could share these lists with them ahead of time and have fun finding something about your day to describe in pirate language.
- For extra fun, pick up a pack of pirate eye patches and send them to the grandkids before your phone call.
You could use one of the eye patches yourself and film a fun pirate themed greeting and text it to them.
- Write a text message using pirate lingo.
- If you know the lay of the land, and have support from the grownups, send a small prize, such as a gold coin or favorite piece of candy along with a treasure map. Have the grownups do the hiding, and the kids can hunt while you facetime them.
- For the crafty kids X Marks the Spot! Get out a piece of paper (a brown grocery bag would be great!) rip the edges so that they are uneven, and create treasure maps.
- Use some of the words a pirate should know (from the idea above) to create a pirate word search, and complete it together over facetime. Simply google “create your own word search” and you will have lots of options. You can make it easier or more difficult based on your grandkids ages.
- For the younger set, read the story of Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map or Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC book. (If you have an unlimited kindle account, these books are free!)
- Fill yer bellies with the spoils of your latest grocery store pillage. (Have snack together!) Some ideas might be ‘Grog’ – root beer, ‘Hard tack’ – oyster crackers, or there’s always Pirate Booty! (find it at your local grocery store).
May Ye Find Joy in yer Tresure!
And finally, me hearties, we hope these things to do with grandkids list doesn’t leave you feeling lily-livered and keelhauled but instead produces memories that are better than a treasure chest full of doubloons! Have fun celebrating!