We Create Relationships Between Children and Grandparents - One Playdate at a Time!
The MyPlaydateBox Shop was created by two sisters (Grandma Nae and Grandma RaRa) with "irrational emotional attachments" to their grandchildren. Because some of our grandkids lived far away, we couldn't play with them as often as we liked. And we know that close family connections develop through play. So we created Playdateboxes.
These themed boxes typically include a fun read-aloud picture book and then 4-5 additional hands-on learning activities grandparents and grandchildren can enjoy together in-person or via a video chat over FaceTime or Zoom. Or, they help you connect directly with a parent or grandparent as you interview them about their own lives and discover and preserve family stories.
WHAT INSPIRED THE FIRST PLAYDATEBOX?
The day my (Grandma Nae's) 3-year-old grandson broke his leg for the second time, his Mom also went into labor and had to leave for the hospital. That meant Grandma Nae had to figure out to entertain an unhappy and immobile 3-year-old for two days using only what was on hand. One thing that seemed to help was watching YouTube videos of other children playing with colorful toys. It dawned on me that a child doesn't have to be in the same room with a person to play with them.
I started thinking of ways I could play with my grandchildren more effectively, and Playdateboxe are the result!
Grandma Nae is an author who specializes in the research-based value of play and family stories. Grandma RaRa has 30+ years of preschool curriculum-writing and music education experience. She holds a Master's Degree and teaches university courses in Family Sciences. Together, we started creating themed educational boxes we could send to our long-distance grandchildren. Now our play with our own grandchildren is much more intentional. We can even PLAY remotely!
GRANDPARENT SELF-CARE
But we quickly learned that a gift we thought was for our grandchildren was actually a gift to ourselves. These simple boxes have reinvented the way we grandparent. They have become a very real version of self-care. The joy we get out of engaging with our grandchildren in this way has made US more curious, inventive, and creative. These boxes are literally helping keep us active, healthy, and happy as we learn and play along with our grands.
For this reason, we now tell our friends that a Playdatebox is an even better gift for a grandparent than it is a gift for a child!
We each keep a box or two on the shelf in the pantry all ready to pull out any time the grandkids show up at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
WHO ARE PLAYDATEBOXES FOR?
We have a box in our collection that will be a great gift for almost anyone in your family who wants to create a connection with a member of another generation. Many are designed for preschoolers and grandparents, but we also have boxes designed as gifts for the parent or grandparent.
For example, You can send mom or dad a cookie baking box so they can have a cookie-baking date with a child. Or, purchase one for grandma and grandpa so grandchild and grandparent can bake sugar cookies (in-person or remotely) in matching aprons. https://www.etsy.com/listing/947775335/grandmas-cookie-baking-box-gift-for?ref=shop_home_active_12&frs=1
You can interview a father or grandfather about his life story and record it for posterity: https://www.etsy.com/listing/891435846/grandpa-care-package-grandpa-gift-ideas?ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1
You can learn the basics of birdwatching, gardening, bug science, and more as you and a child observe and learn together.
THE JOY OF PLAY AND PLAYFUL CONNECTION BOND FAMILY MEMBERS
Our hope is that other grandmothers and grandfathers (and favorite aunts, and military parents, and so many more) can have the joy of playing and connecting with a child, even when they are hundreds of miles apart. Luckily, the box works equally as well when the adult and child are able to play side-by-side.
Remember, these boxes make great gifts from a grandchild to a grandparent as well!
Re-imagine all of the fun ways you can connect online and in-person. Build straw rockets, manufacture slime that looks like snow. Go on a neighborhood spiderweb safari or make spider pizzas. Play Popcorn Bingo and eat your pieces when the game is finished. Hunt for aliens. Make birdseed cookies for your feathered friends. The fun just goes on and on!
We hope you'll join us soon by purchasing a box or two for a grandparent (or grandchild) that yo love. Next, hop on over to our website at playdatebox.com or follow us in Instagram @playdate_box for lots of additional ideas for creating connections that will span the generations.
We're so excited to have you join us!
Grandma RaRa and Grandma Nae
(Lynnae and Marilee)
