It’s almost here: Grandparents’ Day is on September 8 this year in both the US and Canada. It’s the ideal day to focus on the special place grandparents hold in families and communities. If you are looking for ways to celebrate Grandparents’ Day, we’ve got some ideas for you!

Let’s get this out of the way first: yes, Grandparents’ Day is a real holiday. It’s officially recognized in several countries. In the US, it’s celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day, and in Canada it falls on the second Sunday of September. That means that in years when Labor Day falls on September 1 in the US, the two countries celebrate on different weeks. In 2008, the UK deemed the first Sunday in October as Grandparents’ Day, though it’s not widely acknowledged. Several other countries have similar days to honor grandparents.

What’s the purpose of Grandparents’ Day?

The US statute creating the holiday states that the purpose of Grandparents’ Day is "...to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer".

Clearly, the way to recognize the day depends on who’s doing the planning. If you are a parent looking for ways to celebrate the grandparents in your child’s life, you can make the celebration as big or small as you want. If your family goes in for big celebrations for Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day, make Grandparents’ Day another chance to share a meal or send flowers. Depending on the age of your child, a handmade card or special outing together will always be appreciated.

For grandparents, the second part of the proclamation is the one that is most important. Grandparents’ Day is the opportunity for grandparents to show your love for your children’s children. Even better, you can do this while sharing your interests, knowledge, and guidance.

Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to do that all year long. So what should you do to make Grandparents’ Day special? Think of it as the perfect day to emphasize the unique relationship you have with your grandchild.

If you have the chance to spend the day with your grandchild, make it a day that centers on spending quality time with one another. It doesn’t need to be anything special as long as you are focused on being together.

Get out the photo albums and share stories about your own grandparents, telling them why they were important to you. Ask your adult children to share stories about their grandparents as well, and invite your grandchildren to talk about their favorite times with all their grandparents.

Plan a craft or project that you can do together: build a bird house, paint pictures, or make a loaf of bread. (Find lots of ideas in Connection Sparks!) Creating something with someone else is an invitation to share your thoughts with one another. Passing on your values and wisdom happens in small moments like these.

Use Grandparents’ Day as a time to introduce your grandchild to something that is important to you. Take them for a ride in the car you just restored or on your favorite hike. Teach them how to crochet, or tie flies. Give them a piano lesson, or introduce them to your favorite kid-friendly video game.

A special outing is another way to mark the day. Try for something that leaves plenty of room for sharing family stories, like a trip to a botanic garden or the tide pools. Take a train ride to a nearby city for ice cream, or visit a historic home. If your own parents are still living, make it a multi-generational day.

If you can’t be together, try to arrange a virtual Grandparents’ Day commemoration. Ask them to help you draw a family tree, and tell them stories about the people on all the branches. Or send them a special Grandparents’ Day letter, talking about what it means to you to be their grandparent. Tell them about your own grandparents, as well.

No matter what you do, share stories.

Why do we keep telling you to share your family stories? It’s about far more than entertaining your grandchildren. According to research, children and adolescents who know more of their family history have higher self-esteem, higher social and academic competence, and fewer behavior problems. Passing on knowledge isn’t the important part. The stories themselves connect generations and provide children with a sense of self and belonging.

Fostering a Lasting Legacy

You have the chance to be a major influence on your grandchildren. You can be both a positive role model and source of inspiration for them. Grandparents’ Day is the perfect time to highlight and celebrate your relationship, so why not make it a special day starting this year?

Then keep nurturing the relationship all year, and see what amazing humans your grandchildren become.