The playgrounds are getting quiet. The streets will soon be a sea of large orange vehicles with flashing lights – that only stop when you are behind them and in a hurry. Yep. The grandkids are heading back to school. And yes, their education is the primary concern. But, clearly, the most important question is, how are you going to make this school thing work for you? It’s not like you can drop over in the afternoon for an ice cream outing. They are going to be busy with their stuff. So, you must find more creative ways to stay in the picture.

Here is the secret: Whether you are local or set up to zoom, you can make yourself useful. The more you can find ways to chip in, the more time you have with those adorable faces. It’s the ultimate stealth grandparenting move.

A Shopping Trip

Offer to take the kids shopping for school supplies and watch how quickly your adult children ask what time you will be picking them up! Whether it is your treat, or they are covering the costs, this is a job your kids will happily turn over to you in a heartbeat and you will have a wonderful outing with the grandkids. Help them pick out a special backpack or lunchbox that reminds them of you whenever they use it. Of course there will be ice cream afterwards.If you can’t be physically there, an online shopping spree while on Facetime is a worthy alternative. If you’re lucky enough to live in one of Overture’s premier senior living apartment communities, you can share that apres shopping ice cream with your homies. 

Be a Study Buddy

Whether your little ones are still learning to read or are coming home from school with actual homework, you can be a part of the learning process. If your kids are around the corner, hop over after dinner for an hour of reading – and cuddling – before bed. If your kids live somewhere around the globe that makes it impossible to pop in, set up a zoom reading session. The littlest ones will love the Caribou app that allows you both to see the book at the same time. As the kids get older, you can lend a special perspective to subjects like history and political science. Math homework these days is not for the faint of heart. Good luck!

Volunteer

Schools are constantly bombarding busy working parents with requests to volunteer. Take the burden off your harried kids and step up to take their place. Volunteering can mean anything from helping out in the lunchroom or library, or relieving teachers in the classroom by reading and storytelling. You can also help organize fundraisers. You’ll be loaded with brownie points from the school and your kids. And best of all, there will be plenty of opportunities for grandkid sightings – and hugs.

Be Available

The nemesis of working parents is the hours between after school and dinner. A grandparent who can pick up the kids a couple afternoons a week and hang out with them before their parents get home is a hot commodity indeed. This golden time will be yours and yours alone. It’s truly a win/win for all.

It’s Overture Time

If you settle into an Overture’s premier senior apartment living community that is near your kids, you can grab the little ones after school and bring them back home. Take advantage of Overture’s resort worthy facilities to spend some active quality time together or just mellow out in your state-of-the-art apartment. Book a tour at the Overture property of your choice today.

And, charge up that iPad! School is about to begin…again.