22 Clever Sticky Note Ideas for Grandparents Wanting to Connect on a Budget -

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Have you ever sat down and made a list of fun sticky note ideas to use with your grandkids? It’s a task I certainly didn’t have on my radar. That is, until I learned that my middle granddaughter is absolutely head over heels for them. In fact for Christmas last year the top two items on her list were highlighters and post-it notes. What an easy kid to buy for!

Using sticky note ideas with your grandkids is a creative and budget friendly way to connect!

Add post-it notes to your shopping list this week. Send a bunch to your grandkids and keep some for yourself. Then give one of theses 22 sticky note ideas a try! They are simple, fun and interactive!

Ideas Great for Preschoolers:

1. Color Sorting

Purchase and then make new ‘stacks’ of post it notes by stacking notes of different colors together. Then send those new stacks to your grandkids. They’ll have a great time sorting them by color.
You could also ask your grandchild to sort objects around the house by color, sticking the post-it note on each item. For example, place a yellow post-it note on a banana or a blue one on a toy.

2. Alphabet Hunt

Write a letter on each post-it note using a sharpie and stick them around the room. Over a virtual call, ask your grandchild to find objects that start with that letter and stick the post-it note to it.
This helps with letter recognition and vocabulary building.

3. Follow the Trail

If your grandkids are visiting, take turns making trails with post it notes. The trails could lead to a fun surprise, or a game you enjoy playing together.
Encourage kids to follow the trail in different ways, such as walking, crawling, hopping, or dancing.

4. Matching Pairs

Fun to do in person, or in coordination with your grown kids.
Create matching pairs of shapes, colors, or pictures on different post-it notes. (Draw or use stickers on them).
Scatter them around and have your grandchild match the pairs—it’s like a toddler-friendly version of a memory game.

5. Sticky Note Art Collage

Encourage your grandchild to use post-it notes to create a collage on a wall or table.
They can stick them together to make pictures, patterns, or designs—an easy way to engage their creativity!
For extra fun, make your own collage and then share them with each other on a virtual call.

Sticky Note Ideas Great for Elementary Age

6. Gratitude Wall

Perfect for Thanksgiving season.
Each day, both you and your grandchild can write or draw one thing you are grateful for on a post-it note and stick it on a designated “Gratitude Wall” in your homes.
At the end of the month, get together for a video chat and share your notes!

7. Treasure Hunt

This is a fun way to use post-it notes when you are with your grandkids. Hide post-it notes around the house with fun clues that lead to a small “treasure” (could be a treat or a handwritten note).
You can set this up during a visit or even direct a virtual treasure hunt (after coordinating with your grown kids) over a video call by giving hints!
A fun idea for a holiday.

8. Name Collage

Have the kids use post-it notes to spell out their names on a wall or table.
They can decorate each letter with drawings or patterns, making their name into a colorful piece of art.

9. Story Building

Start a story by writing a sentence or two on a post-it note. Then invite your grandchild to add the next part of the story on another note. Continue back and forth.
This activity can be done in person or shared through pictures.
If you love stories and reading with grandchildren don’t miss The Top 10 Apps for Reading to Grandchildren from Afar

10. Daily Encouragement

Write short, encouraging messages like “You’ve got this!” or “I’m proud of you!” on post-it notes.
Send them all at once to your grown kid, and ask them to leave them where the grandkids can find them—inside lunch boxes, on a bedroom mirror, or in a book they’re reading.

11. Drawing Challenge

You and your grandkids can pick a theme, and challenge each other to draw something on a post-it.
You could do this over a video call, each showing off your mini masterpieces as you go!

12. Guess the Animal

Stick a post-it note on each grandchild’s forehead with the name of an animal (or a picture). They have to guess which animal they are by asking yes/no questions, keeping them entertained and engaged.
It’s the post-it note version of Headbandz!

13. Virtual tic tac toe

Draw a tic-tac-toe board on a piece of regular size paper. You each need a board.
Hold up your board to the screen, and as you play, each of you can place sticky notes with an “X” or “O” on your own board.
It’s a classic game with a sticky twist!

14. Post-It Calendar Countdown

Create a countdown to a special visit or event.
Each post-it note can contain a fun fact, activity suggestion, or kind word.
Peel one away each day until the big day arrives.
You can mail the stack of notes to your grandkids, or send a fun picture text each morning or evening.

15. Simple Drawing Prompts

Send your grandchild post-its with the beginning of a drawing. You could use a squiggly line, a square, a curvy line….and invite them to finish ‘the picture’.
Then they can invite you to a virtual art show to display their gallery of mini creations.

16. Secret Messages

Write invisible messages using white crayons on post-its. The grandkids can then reveal the secret message by coloring over it with markers or colored pencils.

17. Affirmation Chain

Start a chain of positive affirmations where you each write or draw something nice about another person on a post-it.
You can keep adding to it, creating a long “affirmation chain” that can be shared in person or displayed on a wall.

Sticky Note Ideas Great for Travel

18. Window Art

Purchase post it notes of different sizes, especially small sizes.
Let your grandkids use post-it notes to create pictures or patterns on the car windows. They can stick and rearrange the notes to make fun designs or “scenes” as you drive.
Bonus: It’s easy to clean up afterward!

19. Road Sign Bingo

Write or draw common road signs (like stop signs, speed limit signs, etc.) on post-it notes.
Your grandkids can stick them on a prepared piece of paper when they spot it during the trip.

20. I Spy Board

Write different categories on post-it notes like “something blue,” “something round,” or “a tree.”
As your grandkids spot the items, they can stick the corresponding post-it note on the window or back of the seat.

21. Counting Game

Write numbers on post-it notes and challenge the kids to count specific things they see (like 10 trucks or 5 red cars). As they spot each one, they can take down the post-it note that matches the count.

22. Favorite Things List

Give your grandkids post-its to write or draw their favorite things they see during the trip.
You can encourage them to stick the notes up as they go, and at the end of the ride, review all their favorite moments.
They could even use their notes to recap their journey in a small journal.

These activities will keep things light, fun, and interactive, making the trip more enjoyable for everyone!