How a few simple activities helped me create special memories with my grandchildren while welcoming a new baby into the family.
Not long ago, my son and daughter-in-law moved their family away.
My grandchildren went from living just 15 minutes away to being six hours away. And while I know this move is the best thing for their family, it’s been an adjustment for me!
So when they recently welcomed a new baby, I was excited to spend some time with them. I wanted to help care for my daughter-in-law, support my son, and soak up those sweet newborn moments.
But I was also thinking about the older grandchildren.
A new baby naturally needs a lot of attention, and I wanted the older kids to have something special to look forward to while I was there, too.
That’s when I decided to pack a YaYa Bag!
The Idea Behind My YaYa Bag
I filled a bright blue bag with little surprises and activities for the older grandchildren.
But I didn’t want to bring a bunch of toys just to add more stuff to their house.
I wanted activities that were:
- Fun and engaging for little hands
- Easy to get out and put away
- Low-mess (especially with a newborn in the house!)
- Something we could enjoy together
- Reusable long after I went home
Nothing complicated or elaborate. Just simple things we could enjoy together.
One Little Surprise Each Morning
Here’s how it worked.
Every morning, after breakfast was cleaned up, I’d bring out one new activity from my YaYa Bag.
Just one little surprise each day.
And do you know what?
The anticipation became part of the fun!
The kids started looking forward to our little morning routine. They were even ready to help clean up breakfast because they knew what came next!
What started as a practical way to keep little hands busy became one of my favorite parts of our visit.
What I Packed in My YaYa Bag
Here are the five activities I chose. They were simple, affordable options that the kids could continue enjoying after I went home.
1. Wooden Pet Magnets
These little cats and dogs were perfect for imaginative play. Easy to handle, fun to arrange, and simple to put away when we were finished.
2. Reusable Jelly Sticker Books
I packed two reusable sticker books, one with a farm theme and another with vehicles. The kids could move the stickers around, create scenes, and enjoy them again and again.
3. Lift-the-Flap and Pop-Up Books
You know I love a good children’s book!
I chose a few that made reading together extra fun:
- Llama Llama Hide & Seek
- Pop-Up Birds by Usborne
- Pop-Up Peekaboo! Under the Sea by DK
There’s something so sweet about watching little ones discover what’s hiding behind a flap or popping up from a page.
4. Paint-With-Water Books
A little creativity without a big mess! These were perfect for giving the kids something colorful and fun to do without needing a table full of art supplies.
5. Under-the-Sea Window Clings
These were another favorite! The kids loved arranging the little ocean creatures on the window and moving them around to create new scenes.
Simple, reusable, and so much fun.
A Little Tradition I Didn’t See Coming
When I first packed that bag, I was simply trying to be thoughtful.
I wanted to make my time with the older grandchildren special while also giving their parents a few easy activities to use during those busy newborn days.
But I didn’t expect how much the kids would look forward to our little morning routine.
The surprise. The anticipation. The fun of discovering something new together.
And now, the YaYa Bag is officially a tradition!
With my grandchildren living six hours away instead of fifteen minutes, I’m learning that being a grandmother looks a little different in this season.
I can’t always be there for the ordinary, everyday moments the way I used to be. But I can still be intentional about the time we do have together.
And sometimes, that looks like a bright blue bag filled with a few carefully chosen activities.
I don’t know if my grandchildren will remember every book, sticker, or little surprise I brought.
But I hope they’ll remember the fun we had discovering what was inside together.
And I hope they’ll always know how much their YaYa loves spending time with them.
That’s what I really wanted to pack in that bag all along.
Want to Make Your Own YaYa Bag?
You don’t have to spend a lot or bring a bag full of brand-new things to make special memories with your grandchildren.
A few simple activities, chosen with love, can create some really sweet moments together.
I’ve gathered everything I packed in one place if you’d like to create your own!
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Do you have a favorite activity or little tradition you share with your grandchildren?
I’d love to hear your ideas for my next YaYa Bag!
