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!
In This Post
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!
Fun Sticky Notes You Can Buy
- 4 x 6 lines sticky notes perfect for writing interactive stories
We hope you have a ton of fun making memories that ‘stick’ with your grandkids!