Painting with Grandchildren: An Afternoon with Nan or Pop

“What shall we do while the grandchildren are here?”

It is a familiar question. You want something everyone can enjoy, without organising a big outing or filling the whole day. A guided painting activity can give grandparents and grandchildren an easy way to sit down, create and spend time together.

With an Artful Connections box, there is no need to draw a picture or work out a project from scratch. The templates and materials are ready, and Deb’s step-by-step video guidance gives you a clear place to begin.

Choose one of the included templates, put a few colours on the table and pull up a chair. There is room for stories, laughter and different painting styles. Nobody needs to be good at art to enjoy the time together.

Something Both Generations Can Enjoy

Grandparents and grandchildren do not always share the same interests or move at the same pace. Painting gives them something they can each approach in their own way.

Nan might enjoy carefully painting one section. Her grandchild might prefer bright colours and broader brushstrokes. Pop might want to follow Deb’s guidance closely, while someone else enjoys experimenting.

Everyone can work from a guided template while making their own choices. There is no need for the paintings to match.

Having something to focus on can also make conversation feel easier. You can talk while you paint, compare colours or enjoy a quiet moment together. The whole visit does not have to depend on finding something to say.

Choose a Theme Nan or Pop Will Enjoy

Start by choosing an Artful Connections box that reflects something Nan or Pop enjoys:

• Garden Memories for someone who loves gardens and flowers.
• Coastal Calm for someone who enjoys the sea and beach holidays.
• Native Flora for someone who loves Australian nature.
• Seasons & Memories for someone who enjoys reminiscing.

Each guided painting gift box includes three templates, acrylic paints, a Mont Marte brush set, conversation cards, a laminated mess mat and access to Deb’s video guidance.

Choose one of the included templates for your afternoon together. The outline is already there, leaving everyone free to choose colours and paint in their own way.

The theme can also offer a natural opening for conversation. A coastal picture might bring back a family holiday, while a garden theme might remind Nan of flowers she used to grow.

Plan How You Will Paint Together

There are a few ways to share the activity, depending on who is joining in.

Nan or Pop and a grandchild could work on one template together, taking turns or choosing different sections to paint. One might choose the colours while the other begins painting, then swap roles.

If everyone would prefer their own picture, the box includes three templates. Check that you have enough brushes, materials and table space for the number of people taking part.

Some grandparents may prefer to watch the first few steps before joining in. Some grandchildren may enjoy helping choose colours more than painting. Leave room for everyone to take part in a way that feels comfortable.

The aim is to enjoy time together. There is no need to give everyone the same role.

Make the Table Comfortable

A little preparation helps the afternoon begin smoothly.

Choose a table with good lighting and comfortable seating. Lay down the laminated mess mat included in the box and protect any additional workspace being used. Place the template, brushes and a few paint colours within easy reach.

Have water for rinsing brushes and a cloth or paper towel for wiping them nearby. Keep devices clear of paint and water.

Check that Nan or Pop can reach the materials without stretching. Younger grandchildren will need adult supervision and may need help opening containers, handling materials and cleaning up.

Start with a simple arrangement. You can bring out more colours as you need them.

Let Deb’s Guidance Help You Begin

If someone says, “I wouldn’t know where to start,” you can begin with Deb’s step-by-step video.

The QR code in the box links to the guidance. Watch a short section together, pause it and try the next step at your own pace.

There is no need to keep up with the video or finish everything in one session. Pause, replay or return to it whenever you want.

The guided template means nobody has to face a blank page. You already have an outline to work from, and the video can help everyone feel more comfortable making those first brushstrokes.

Once you are underway, let each person decide how closely they want to follow the guidance.

Give Everyone Room to Choose

The same template can look quite different in different hands.

Nan might choose soft pinks and greens. Her grandchild might prefer orange and purple. Pop might spend time on one small detail while someone else paints a larger area.

Those choices are part of making the picture their own.

Offer help when it is wanted, whether that means opening a paint container, steadying the paper or replaying part of the video. Ask before taking over someone’s painting.

A simple “Would you like a hand?” leaves the decision with them and keeps the activity relaxed.

Use the Conversation Cards When It Feels Natural

The conversation cards included in the box give you another place to begin when you would like a gentle prompt.

Choose a card and leave time for the conversation to unfold. You do not need to work through all the cards or keep asking questions.

A story might lead to another memory. A grandchild might have something to share from school or a recent holiday. Everyone can contribute.

Sharing your own memory can help too: “This reminds me of being in your garden,” or “I remember our trips to the beach.”

If someone does not feel like talking, let that be comfortable. Painting together can still be an enjoyable way to share the visit.

Keep the Session Easy to Enjoy

An afternoon with Nan or Pop does not have to mean hours of painting.

Begin with one section of the template and see how everyone feels. You might pause for a snack, have a cup of tea or leave the painting to dry while you do something else.

Children’s attention and everyone’s energy can vary from day to day. Stop while the activity still feels enjoyable, and leave the rest for another visit if you wish.

An unfinished painting can give you something to come back to together. There is no deadline.

Keep a Reminder of Your Time Together

When you finish, or pause for the day, take a moment to look at what you have created.

Once the paint is dry, you could display the artwork, write names and the date on the back, or photograph the paintings to share with family.

Ask everyone what they would like to do with their picture. A grandchild might want to give theirs to Nan, while Pop might enjoy displaying his as a reminder of the visit.

The box includes three guided projects, so there is more to return to another day. You can also top up individual painting supplies when needed.

Make Your Next Visit a Creative One

An Artful Connections box gives you a simple starting point: guided templates, materials, conversation cards and friendly video guidance.

What happens around the table is yours—a story, a laugh, a comfortable silence or a request to paint together again.

Next time the grandchildren visit, choose a painting gift box, sit down with Nan or Pop and enjoy creating together.

Related Reading

For more ideas about making family visits feel relaxed, read Make Visits Feel Natural With a Shared Painting Kit.