A Simple Daily Kindness Activity for Little Kids (Perfect for Valentine’s Season)
There’s something really powerful about kindness when it’s practiced in small, doable ways — especially for little kids.
Not big lectures.
Not complicated charts.
Just simple moments they can understand.
That’s why I created this Daily Kindness Jar — an easy, low-prep activity you can use at home, at Grandma School, or with preschool-aged kids anytime you want to gently focus on kindness.
💗 What Is the Daily Kindness Jar?
The Daily Kindness Jar is a printable set of simple kindness cards designed especially for young children.
Each card suggests a small, realistic act of kindness — things kids can actually do with a little guidance.
Some examples from the cards:
• Draw a picture for someone
• Share a toy
• Say something nice about someone
• Practice saying “thank you”
• Help clean up a room
• Go for a walk and wave hello to people you see
Download my free PDF for the month of February. Great Valentines Day theme for the whole month!
Label for jar
I will be doing this with my granddaughter and will share what we do. Please post some of your activities! Happy February!
If you’ve ever wondered whether your age is a disadvantage — this is for you.
Grandma School truth: the older you get, the more powerful you become — and you may not even realize it yet.
I was working out this morning with PJ Wren, a 50-something fitness trainer I discovered on the FitOn app. FitOn is a great workout app with hundreds of workouts for different skill levels and intensities. I’ve been using it for about two years now—doing strength training, HIIT, yoga, and walking regularly. I use weights, I work hard, and I feel strong.
PJ is one of the trainers I really like, and I recently found her YouTube channel. I did one of her workouts this morning and noticed a quote displayed behind her that immediately stopped me in my tracks:
“Your age is your strength.”
That line stayed with me.
I’m 57 years old, and I’ve spent most of my life overweight—battling my weight, battling for energy, and feeling tired much of the time. One of the biggest challenges I face is that I have a mental illness that requires antipsychotic medication, which causes weight gain.
When I was at my sickest in my 30s, I started taking Seroquel. For every 100 mg increase, I gained about 10 pounds. Eventually, my dosage reached 1000 mg, and I gained close to 100 pounds. Gaining weight was easy. Losing it has been a lifelong battle. I did not lose 10 pounds when I went down 10 mg of Seroquel.
Even now, I work out at least four mornings a week. I walk, lift weights, and stay active. I feel very fit—even in an overweight body. But losing weight is still incredibly difficult.
In March of 2024, I started Weight Watchers and by October had lost 30 pounds. Then October came, and everything changed. My dad became very ill and passed away that month while on hospice. During that same time, I had a gallbladder attack and had surgery just two days before he died. The surgery itself wasn’t the hard part—it was the fear of going under anesthesia and worrying that I’d wake up and he’d be gone. Thankfully, he held on two more days.
That season was overwhelming. I also care for my mom, who lives nearby, and with no siblings close, much of that responsibility falls on me. My husband is incredibly supportive, but the emotional load was heavy. On top of all that, I care for my grandchildren full time.
It was a lot of stress.
After October, my weight loss completely stalled. I was still exercising and following Weight Watchers, but nothing changed. Add menopause into the mix—I went through menopause that same year—and my body seemed to dig in its heels. I didn’t gain weight, but I didn’t lose any either.
Recently, I’ve finally started losing again—about 10 more pounds so far—but it’s slow. And that’s frustrating. I sometimes find myself thinking, I don’t want to die fat. I want to overcome this. I want to reach a healthy weight.
But I’m also getting older, and it feels harder with every passing year.
Being a woman can be exhausting—being a mother, a wife, a grandma. Your body doesn’t always cooperate with your goals. Losing weight is hard for me. Still.
That’s why that quote mattered so much.
I really like PJ—not just her workouts, but her vibe. She’s challenging without being punishing. I’m out of breath, but I can do her workouts. And seeing that quote reminded me that I’m not too old. I’m not running out of time.
A few days ago was my dad’s birthday. A friend of my mom’s—who plays the harp—came over and played for about 30 minutes. It was beautiful. She had also played at my dad’s funeral, which made it even more meaningful. While talking with her, we learned she didn’t start playing the harp until she was 65 years old.
That surprised me. And it challenged me.
I often tell myself I’m too old to learn something new—to paint, to make art, to try another creative pursuit. I’ve tried so many things over the years: crochet, cake decorating, baking macarons, cheese making, reselling, book selling. I’ve enjoyed them all, but I’ve never quite “succeeded” at any one thing.
But maybe that’s not the point.
That quote—“Your age is your strength”—reminded me that I still have time. I have experience. I have wisdom. I have resilience. My age isn’t something working against me—it’s something supporting me.
It felt like exactly the message I needed at the beginning of 2026.
So that’s my quote for the year:
Your age is your strength.
Thank you, PJ, for the workout—and for the reminder.
We live in a very different world than when I was raising my kids in the ’90s. Back then, you could buckle a baby into a car seat with one hand, toss them a bag of Cheerios, and call it a day. These days? Oh no. There are entire college courses devoted to the proper angle of a chest clip.
So much has changed when it comes to taking care of little ones — from car seats that look like they were designed by NASA to toddlers who can swipe before they can talk. Most of these updates are for the better (safety and sanity are good things!), but it can feel like we need a certification just to babysit. So here’s your quick Grandma School crash course on how to keep up.
🚗 Car Seats: They even have an expiration date!
Sure, we had car seats in the ’90s — but let’s be honest, some of them looked suspiciously like folding chairs with straps. The rule now? Rear-facing as long as humanly possible. Basically until the kid can drive themselves to college.
If you’re spending more than an hour or two a week with your grandkids, it’s time to invest in your own car seat. And listen carefully — go to the store and actually try the buckles. I’m not kidding. Buckling one of these things is like trying to fasten a seatbelt on a wiggly octopus. You’ll thank yourself later for finding one you can manage without throwing out your shoulder.
And here’s my number one, back-saving, sanity-protecting piece of advice: get a rotating car seat. It spins toward you when you’re buckling them in, so you’re not doing a half-yoga, half-wrestling move every time you go somewhere. Yes, they’re pricey — but so was your last chiropractor visit.
Bonus Hack: If your grandbaby is still in an infant carrier, get one of those car seat strollers — the kind where the car seat clicks right into a stroller base. That way, you can go from car to store to park without ever unstrapping the baby. It’s like a luggage trolley for humans. Honestly, whoever invented it deserves a medal and a nap.
There have been studies coming out the past few years about the dangers of screen time in infants. Their brain development can be altered. However, let’s be honest — screen time isn’t part of my parenting philosophy, it’s part of my emergency plan.
When I’m outnumbered and out of patience, sometimes the only thing standing between me and total meltdown (mine or theirs) is a screen. Sometimes if I am in a store, a restaurant, or other places that kids commonly have meltdowns, I will pull out a screen.
I stick with the calm, classic stuff: Super Simple Songs, Daniel Tiger, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Bluey. They’re gentle, predictable, and don’t make me want to throw the iPad out the window.
So no, I don’t promote screen time. But I do believe in survival. And sometimes, survival looks like a talking tiger teaching emotional regulation while I finally sit down for five quiet minutes.
🥕 Snacks: The Organic Overhaul
Remember when “snack time” meant a sleeve of saltines and a can of 7-Up? Yeah, those days are over. Now every snack is an event. You’ll hear phrases like “nut-free,” “gluten-sensitive,” and “refined sugar alternatives” — all while your grandchild begs for Goldfish and fruities. The rules on food among moms changes daily.
Don’t panic. You don’t need to own a dehydrator or make homemade oat balls shaped like bunnies. Just check with the parents about any allergies, then find something simple and safe. Applesauce pouches are your new best friend. If the parents want more nutritious snacks, don’t be a brat about it. Have respect for their wishes and put the red dye away. Annie’s brand has some pretty healthy snacks.
Back in the ’90s, we put babies to sleep however they’d actually sleep. Stomach, side, swing, car seat — didn’t matter. These days, the phrase “safe sleep” has its own legal department.
Remember when bumper pads were a thing? Like, you HAD to have them. The rule now is flat surface, firm mattress, on their back, nothing in the crib. Not even a blanket. Now the babies are put in sleep sacks. That’s their blanket. Think baby minimalism.
With that being said, tummy time is also important. I have six grandchildren, and not one of them has ever been on board with it. Every single one acted like I had personally betrayed them the moment I set them face-down on a blanket.
But as much as they protest, it’s a big deal for brain and body development — it helps strengthen their neck, shoulders, and little baby muscles.
I just find it ironic that they’re not allowed to sleep on their tummies, but we’re told it’s crucial for them to play on their tummies. Basically, it’s: “Never let them sleep that way! But please, make them suffer through it during waking hours.” Parenting (and grandparenting) rules are wild.
This invention is literally a lifesaver. These tiny smart socks and monitors track a baby’s heartbeat and oxygen levels, and alert parents if something seems wrong. One of life’s cruelest turns is the risk a baby faces while sleeping — and that fear is real.
I personally knew five babies who died from sudden infant death. It’s something that never leaves you.
Devices like the Owlet don’t erase that risk, but they do help ease some of the worry. It’s amazing how far we’ve come — from tiptoeing in to check if the baby’s breathing, to now being able to glance at an app and see they’re safe. Technology has its frustrations, but this one? This one feels like grace.
📸 Managing Photos: The Digital Avalanche (and My Photo Curse)
When my kids were little, we had to buy film, take 24 pictures, and hope one turned out. Now? Parents take 24 pictures of the same moment — just to decide which one has the best lighting. Every blink, burp, and toe wiggle is documented in portrait mode, uploaded to a cloud, and shared with a 47-person family chat.
I’ll be honest — I have what I can only describe as a photo curse.
The first time it struck was at Disneyland. I had a brand-new camera, fully charged, ready to capture every moment. The second we walked through those magical gates — click — it died. Just shut off. Never turned back on. So we bought disposable cameras at Disneyland prices (which, if you’ve never done it, feels like financing a small car).
Then it happened again at the Louvre in Paris. Same story. Walked in, camera stopped working. So instead of photos, we came home with a gift shop book — which, honestly, had much better lighting than anything I would’ve taken.
At this point, I’ve accepted that managing photos just isn’t my thing. I love seeing my grandkids’ pictures, but I can’t keep up with the nonstop albums and “memories” notifications. Photos stress me out. I’d rather just live the moment — curse and all.
📱 Posting Photos: The One Rule You Can’t Bend
You’ve probably heard of social media rules — the ones that say what grandparents can and can’t post online. And here’s the truth: this isn’t a suggestion, a debate, or a “well, I only have a few followers” situation.
This is a rule.
You do exactly what the parents ask — every time. No exceptions.
If they say no photos online, it’s no photos.
If they say only in private albums, then that’s the rule.
You might roll your eyes a little, but you follow it.
So keep learning, and remember: you don’t have to know every rule to be the world’s best grandma — you just have to show up and love them like crazy.
It’s not about control — it’s about respect. These are their kids, and they’re raising them in a world where digital footprints start before kids can even walk. The parents get to decide what’s shared, not Grandma School.
And honestly? One less thing for us to manage online sounds great to me.
🔄 When the Rules Change Again (and They Will)
Here’s another modern parenting reality: the rules will change — often. What’s “allowed” on Monday might be “absolutely not” by Friday.
Don’t take it personally. Parents today are constantly bombarded with new information — safety updates, parenting trends, the latest “expert” advice on everything from pacifiers to pajamas. They’re trying to make the best choices they can with what they know today.
Our job is simple: respect their wishes, every time. Even when it feels inconsistent or confusing. Even when you quietly think, we survived just fine without all this.
Because what they really need from us — more than advice or opinions — is support. A grandma who rolls with it. Who says, “Got it,” and means it.
And if tomorrow they reverse course again? Smile, adjust, and remind yourself: we raised them. They can handle this.
Please comment some of the changes you have seen in child rearing. I would love to hear from you.
For every grandma who’s ever lost her phone under a pile of toys or wondered how a whole morning could last forever — this one’s for you.
Being a stay-at-home grandma is a deeply rewarding role, but it’s also isolating, physically exhausting, and often difficult.
The experience is defined by a strange elasticity of time. The mornings warp and stretch — it feels like a whole day has passed between 9 and 10 a.m. as we build towers, read the same book, and serve the same snack. Somehow, only minutes have gone by.
Then, when I’m alone, time slips through my fingers. I’ll scroll my phone for a few minutes, and suddenly it’s noon. I can lose an entire hour at Costco, standing in one aisle comparing storage containers I’ll buy but never get around to using.
The Physical Toll and the Toy Ecosystem
The older I get, the more tired I feel. It’s harder to keep up, to pick up, and to tidy up. My knees ache when I crawl on the floor, and my back hurts from lifting little bodies that grow heavier every month.
I used to power through days like this, but now I pace myself. My energy comes in shorter bursts, but my patience runs deeper. I move slower, but I notice more — their sense of humor, their tiny hands, the way time folds itself around these small, ordinary moments.
“Sitting down to play the game they just invented matters far more than having a clean house.”
Finding fun things to do is a daily challenge. I gather supplies for a promising activity, convinced they’ll play for hours. Ten minutes later, they’re done, and I’m left with a sticky, glittery mess of shaving cream or kinetic sand.
Conversely, they’ll find something random — a piece of cardboard with tape stuck to it — and play with it for hours, even days, insisting it comes everywhere with us and rides safely in its own car seat.
The house feels like it’s closing in on me. There are so many toys. So much gear. Paint, markers, water toys, and stuffies pile up and spread out into countless containers (those Costco bins I mentioned earlier become toy boxes I plan to organize later — and never do).
Ground-up fish crackers and fruit snacks embedded in the carpet become normal. “Washable” markers that really aren’t leave permanent scribbles on the walls and furniture.
And then there’s the constant losing of everything I just had — my phone, the remote, shoes, wipes, my water bottle. It’s all here somewhere. It always is.
Navigating Social Life and New Rules
Trying to socialize with other parents of young children is a special kind of awkward. Grandmas are a bit invisible at parks and playgrounds, and when you’re trying to help your grandchild make friends, invisibility is an obstacle.
I push myself. I look for playgroups, go to the park, and show up for storytime, all while trying to quiet the social anxiety that tells me to stay home. I remind myself I’m doing it for their sake. And every once in a while, I meet someone — usually much younger, or another grandma — who becomes a real friend. It’s rare, but it happens.
Socializing with existing friends is tricky. I always have my little sidekick (or sidekicks) with me. Going to lunch means bringing them along or waiting for a “day off.” And on those days, I usually end up trying to catch up on everything else. There isn’t a lot of room for socializing.
The rules are also different now. When my kids were little, we thought nothing of leaving a sleeping child in a locked car while we ran in to pay for gas. We didn’t have drive-through coffee shops on every corner. Now there are entire aisles of monitors, specialized sippy cups, and car seat laws that feel like rocket science.
No bumper pads. No blankets. Tummy time is important — but don’t let them sleep on their tummy. Everything has changed.
Simple Joys and Self-Preservation
In the middle of all this chaos, I try to find small ways to keep myself sane.
My hobbies come and go like Taylor Swift eras — crocheting, audiobooks, and lately, macarons. I taught myself how to make them, and now it’s a full-blown obsession. It’s a finicky craft, and maybe that’s why I love it.
I’m also learning Spanish to keep my brain from turning to applesauce. Most evenings, my husband and I unwind with reality TV, sinking into our pillows with that quiet, shared relief that comes after a long day.
The Benefit of Time in a Less Hurried World
One thing I do have now is time.
I can sit and hold a child while they listen to music for as long as they want. I can let them dig for treasure in the dirt, get dirty, and live unhurried.
Time still crawls for me some days, but I know they’re blessed by this slower rhythm — one my own children didn’t always get to have with me.
The Two-Fold Love
I also have grandchildren who live far away — the ones I don’t get to see nearly as often as I’d like. I watch them grow through photos and FaceTime calls and carry a quiet guilt, knowing I give more of myself to the ones who live close simply because I can.
Traveling alone is difficult for me, so I pour into the ones I’m with every day. When I do see the others, every moment feels like a gift.
It’s hard to reconcile these two kinds of relationships — one lived daily, the other from a distance — but all of them are loved fiercely.
“Two kinds of love: the daily kind, and the distant kind. Both deep, both real.”
A Slow, Messy Miracle
I have the sacred privilege of a front-row seat to watch these children grow up — to see their imaginations and personalities take shape in real time. I can’t think of anything else that would bring me this much joy or contentment.
It’s a sacrifice of my time. The days can be difficult. I dream of doing things I enjoy without kids attached to me. The mornings crawl. The tired sets in. The boredom screams. The muscles ache.
Bluey plays on a loop long after the toys are put away — the soundtrack of a life both exhausting and beautiful.
And yet, when I look back, I see it for what it is — a slow, messy miracle. Worth every long, daunting, beautiful second.
To spend my days in the thick of childhood one more time with the children I love; to be this tired, this needed, and this deeply loved — it’s a gift few people get.
When my grandson was born, I was working as a substitute teacher. I had spent years in classrooms and lunchrooms all over the district, getting to know teachers, principals, and especially special ed programs. One school stood out—it had the best staff, a wonderful principal, and an incredible special ed team.
My daughter wanted to work in special education too, and when a full-time position opened at that school, she stepped right in. That’s when I made a big decision: instead of continuing to work, I would become the baby’s daycare. I wanted to be the one to care for him.
It was an adjustment—giving up my job, changing my daily routines—but it was one of the best choices I’ve ever made.
Adjusting to Grandma Caregiving
Taking care of a child full time again was different this time around. Parents today have new tools—bottle warmers, formula makers, pouches of food, better diapers, easier baby clothes. Some things were simpler, but other things were harder.
The biggest adjustment? Realizing that as the grandma, there isn’t really a backup plan. If I need time off, it affects everyone—my daughter, her students, and my son-in-law’s job. It took time, patience, and flexibility, but we found a rhythm.
From “Playing Talk” to Crew
When my grandson was a toddler, he wanted constant interaction. He wasn’t a “sit and watch a show” kind of kid—he wanted my attention, my input, my voice.
One day we started using stuffed animals to make up little conversations. He called it playing talk. He loved it. We made up stories, gave the animals names and personalities, and built little worlds together.
During COVID, he even insisted all the stuffed animals needed masks. So we carefully taped tissue-paper masks on every one of them. It was our way of coping with a strange world.
Covid may have kept the world apart, but in our living room, every stuffed friend stayed safe with their masks—even if social distancing wasn’t their strong suit.
Then one day, after earning a toy from the store, he brought home a pack of Fisher-Price Little People superheroes. He called them the crew. That name stuck.
From then on, crew was our special game.
The World of Crew
Our crew grew to include superheroes, babies named Goo Goo and Gaga, Disney characters, and more. Each one had a role and a personality. The stories were endless.
Silent but mighty—Goo Goo and Ga Ga always packed a punch
There were villains, too—like Sunny, a squishy sun toy whose eye popped out when squeezed. Sunny was usually good, but sometimes he turned bad, freezing or hiding the crew. My grandson would always explain why the bad guys acted out—because they never had friends, or didn’t have enough food, or felt left out. In the end, the crew always made peace and welcomed them in.
These weren’t just games. They were creative, imaginative stories. It felt like we were making art together.
The Bond We Built
Looking back, I realize that those moments were some of the most creative and joyful times of my life. The bond I formed with my grandson during those long afternoons of crew is unlike anything I could have imagined.
Just a few months ago, my grandson, who is school age now, was talking to his parents.
“Mom, dad…I have something to tell you that’s very important.”
“Okay. What is it?” They asked.
“When grandma and I started Crew, it was life changing. It was really important. It changed our lives.” He was right. It changed OUR lives.
“One Piece“. Art Imitating Life Imitating Art.
About a year ago, my two sons convinced my husband and me to start watching the anime show One Piece. With nearly 1,200 episodes, it felt like an impossible challenge — but to our surprise, it quickly became one of our favorite parts of the day. What would normally have been an easy “no” turned into a cherished family ritual.
I’ll be honest — One Piece isn’t an easy watch. The episodes stretch on with seemingly endless battle scenes. The women are drawn with exaggerated proportions and scant clothing, a stark contrast to the wide variety of male characters. The animation is quirky, and at times the volume feels turned up to extreme. And yet… this show is pure gold.
What makes it shine is the storytelling. It reminded me of the way my grandson and I invented stories with our “Crew” of toys — full of boyish charm, wild imagination, and heart. Watching One Piece opened my eyes to a kind of art I would never have appreciated otherwise. Now, I don’t hesitate to say it: One Piece is one of the greatest stories ever told.
My Calling as a Grandma
Over the years, I’ve watched my grandson grow, then his little sister after him, and now another grandson part time. I also have three more granddaughters that live in another state. That requires an extra level of navigation so I can spend time with them. I’ve had to sacrifice hobbies, free time, and even parts of my independence. But I wouldn’t trade it. I see this role as my calling—something the Lord has asked me to do in this season of life. And the blessings have been incredible.
Red, White and Blue Crew! We had to photoshop some family into this. That’s why they look like they are disappearing.
Not every family has this option, and not every grandparent is able to do it. But for me, it worked. And it gave my grandchildren a gift I believe is better than daycare: a bond of love and security that will last their whole lives.
An Invitation to Other Grandmas
So that’s the story of Crew. What started with stuffed animals and Little People turned into one of the most magical, creative, and meaningful times of my life.
Do you have your own version of crew? A special game, story, or world you’ve built with your grandchildren? I would love to hear about it. Let’s share these stories and remind the world that grandmas matter—and that what we do is truly important.
Contains affiliate links where I can earn commission at no extra cost to you When you’re a full-time grandma like me, you quickly learn what works and what doesn’t. Grandma School runs on creativity, messes, and lots of Grandma Gear. Over the years with my grandkids, these ten things have proven to be absolute essentials:
1. A Play Table Instead of a Coffee Table
It took a few years for me to discover how useful this would be. We had a coffee table that I really liked, and I was a bit stubborn about it. Unfortunately, it had sharp edges and I was worried someone would cut their head open if they fell on it. We had to put foam guards around the edges.
A few years ago, my nephew came through town as he and his family were moving to another state. He asked me if I would like a play table that he had built with his grandpa, my dad. His kids had outgrown it. I agreed to take it and am so glad I did!
The table is the height of a coffee table. It is just painted white, nothing fancy. It is built so well, very sturdy, nice smooth rounded edges.
One of my favorite things about this table is the raised edges. Those little borders around the top keep crayons, blocks, puzzle pieces, and all the tiny treasures from sliding right off onto the floor. At Grandma School, that’s a lifesaver. It turns the table into a contained play space—almost like a giant tray—so the kids can spread out their projects without me chasing runaway pieces across the rug. I cannot overstress how helpful this is.
The table opens up and has four sliding tops to choose from all contained inside. There is a chalkboard, and the rest are just painted white. They were meant to have scenes painted on them. You could also make a Lego base, a whiteboard, train tracks, etc. We just keep ours on white. Sometimes my grandson likes to pull out the chalkboard and play with it on its own.
This table was designed by my dad and nephew, but there are a few options available online.
Take it from me—washable is the only way to go. Kids want color. Bright, bold, every-color-in-the-rainbow kind of color. After enough disasters (the kind that still haunt a few of my walls), I made a firm rule: only washable paints, markers, and crayons come through the door. Thankfully, there’s a huge selection on Amazon, so we’re never short on creative supplies.
These are the ones I have used for years. They don’t completely come out of clothing without a little scrubbing. I was told that mixing it with a bit of Dawn dish soap is helpful. I tried it and it really did work?
Silpat mats and rimmed cookie sheets are Grandma School essentials. They turn any table into a mess-friendly workspace—perfect for kinetic sand, paints, slime, glue, etc. Everything stays on the tray, and when we’re done, I just lift, rinse, and we’re back to clean in a minute.
I use these in baking too. I don’t use the same ones. For baking my favorites are these. For grandma school a basic cheap set works.
My baking sheets. I like them for grandma school because they are sturdy. I use them new for baking, then the old ones go to the grandma gear cabinet.
4. A Water Table and Pump
There’s something about water that keeps kids endlessly entertained. Cups, spoons, and a little pump turn into whole afternoons of fun. The water table was from Costco. It did not come with a pump. Someone suggested that I buy one for it. You can get them on Amazon. Originally they were made for water coolers but they work for playtime too. The one I have now is made for water tables. It’s nice because the hose is attached to the side and not the bottom of the pump. This makes it easier to set up. They are inexpensive and rechargeable. Keeping the water circulating brings an extra layer of fun.
Sometimes I will use the pump inside. My grandson likes like to play in the sink with the running water. This is a good alternative so I don’t waste water and minimize the mess.
Imagination blooms here. I’ve watched my grandkids create whole worlds, stories, and even arguments between dolls—it’s pure magic. Boys and girls enjoy it equally. I also love a nice set of dolls for the dollhouse. Well made dolls are worth the extra money.
Ah, Little People. The official mascot of Grandma School. My grandson and I go way back with these, and I’ll share more of that story in a future post. I remember the ones I had when I was little, which makes playing with them now feel extra special. There’s just something about these cheerful little figures—they’re sturdy, timeless, and they spark the kind of pretend play kids never tire of. Honestly, I’d buy every set they make. They’re a true Grandma School favorite, and I absolutely love them.
Soft, squishy, calming—and it never dries out. Hours of fun, guaranteed. I have many different kinds of sand and rotate through the sets. My biggest recommendation is to not mix the sets together. The sand is made differently and mixing colors or brands just kind of ruins it. It globs together and doesn’t work right.
Do not be afraid of the mess. It is not like real sand. It’s soft and not gritty. It is easy to clean. Trust me on this.
This is where the magic happens: white vinegar, glue, Elmer’s Magical Liquid, dish soap, shaving cream, and washable paint. Add a little curiosity, and suddenly you’ve got foam volcanoes, bubbling potions, or the perfect slime. These are the building blocks of science experiments. You can use borax and contact solution in place of the magical liquid.
I like to buy glitter glue for the slime. Sometimes you can find it at the dollar store way cheaper than at craft stores. So much better than adding glitter. Much less mess.
For the shaving cream you want to get unscented foam. Not gel. You can also find this at the dollar store. I don’t have kids play with this until they are at least 3. It is irritating to the skin.
I color the slime with washable paint and not food coloring. Works just as well with less mess.
9. Your Own Gear
I keep my own car seats installed in my car, and it has been a game-changer. I highly recommend the rotating car seats—they make getting infants in and out so much easier, and your back will thank you later. I also keep a booster on hand for when I need it. Right now, I’ve got two car seats permanently set up, ready to go at a moment’s notice. It saves time, stress, and makes every pickup or outing so much easier.
I also have my own strollers, trikes, bikes, etc.
10. Deseret Industries (or Your Local Thrift Store)
Don’t underestimate the thrift store. I’ve found books, toys, costumes, and furniture that have become staples here. Half the fun is the treasure hunt. I have found our local Deseret industries to be the best overall. We have found quite a few treasures there.
The grands love to visit the thrift store. We visit the DI about twice a month.
Grandma School isn’t about perfection—it’s about building a place where the kids feel completely at home, and where I can enjoy the moments too. This list was created with full-time grandmas in mind—the ones caring for grandchildren day in and day out. These aren’t just “nice-to-haves”; they’re the essentials that have kept us busy, creative, and happy through the years.
Do you have anything to add to this list? Let me know in the comments!
grandmaschool.com 