You might not think much about it, but some of the simplest things you do are the very reasons your grandkids light up when they see you.
It’s not the fancy toys or big outings that matter most. It’s the warmth in your laugh, the patience in your voice, and the way you make them feel seen and heard.
Here are seven small but powerful ways you might be making your grandkids love every minute they spend with you, even if you don’t realize it.
1) You listen, really listen
Kids know when we’re only half-listening. They can tell when our eyes drift to the TV or when we nod without really paying attention. But when you stop what you’re doing, look them in the eye, and listen as if their story is the most important thing in the world, it means everything.
I remember my grandson once telling me about a game he invented where dinosaurs fought robots. It didn’t make much sense, but the excitement in his face was priceless. I asked questions, laughed at the right moments, and I could see how proud he felt that someone was taking him seriously.
That’s the magic. Listening says, you matter. And that’s something every child craves.
2) You make them feel capable
When you hand your grandchild a whisk and let them help with the pancake batter or ask them to water the plants, you’re doing more than giving them a task. You’re showing trust.
Kids love to feel useful, and when you treat them like they’re capable, they rise to the occasion.
Sure, it might take longer. The kitchen might end up looking like a flour explosion. But those moments give them a sense of pride that lasts far longer than any spotless countertop.
When we let our grandkids do things for themselves, we’re helping them build inner confidence and curiosity. We’re showing them that they can take part in life, not just watch from the sidelines.
3) You share stories (and not just the perfect ones)
There’s something about stories that bind generations together.
When you share tales from your childhood, whether it’s the mischief, the mistakes, or the lessons, you’re not just entertaining your grandkids. You’re helping them see that life isn’t about perfection.
My grandkids love hearing about the time I accidentally painted my school desk instead of the art project. It’s a silly story, but it always sparks laughter and leads to honest conversations about not being afraid to fail.
If you think back to your own grandparents, I bet you remember their stories too. The funny ones. The heartfelt ones. The ones that made them human.
Sharing stories helps your grandkids see you not as some perfect adult, but as someone who’s lived, learned, and laughed through life’s chaos.
4) You let them be themselves
Every child has their quirks. The quiet dreamer. The chatterbox. The one who insists on wearing superhero capes to breakfast.
The beauty of being a grandparent is that you often have more space to embrace those quirks than their parents might. You don’t have to correct every odd behavior or chase perfection. You just get to love them for who they are.
When a child feels they can be fully themselves around you, whether they’re loud, silly, shy, or moody, they feel safe. And that safety builds a deep emotional bond.
Accepting them as they are is one of the purest forms of love you can give.
5) You show up (and you’re present when you do)
Showing up doesn’t always mean attending every recital or soccer game, though those moments do matter. Sometimes, it’s simply about being there, fully.
When you set down your phone, sit beside them, and give them your attention, you’re teaching them the value of presence.
These days, distraction is everywhere. Kids notice when you choose them over your notifications. That choice, repeated over time, builds trust and affection.
As I covered in a previous post, presence is one of the most underrated gifts we can offer anyone, especially the young people in our lives.
You don’t have to entertain them constantly. Just be there. Listen. Share the moment. Sometimes silence together says more than a dozen words.
6) You laugh with them
Laughter has a way of dissolving barriers.
When you join in their laughter, whether it’s over a silly face, a bad knock-knock joke, or a funny cartoon, you’re creating a space where joy is safe and shared.
One of my favorite moments with my granddaughter happened last summer. We were baking cookies, and she dropped half the flour on the floor. I could have gotten annoyed, but instead, I burst out laughing, and so did she. That small moment turned into a memory we still giggle about today.
Kids don’t remember everything you say, but they remember how you made them feel. And laughter is one of the most powerful emotional anchors there is.
7) You make them feel loved without conditions
This one might sound obvious, but unconditional love has a special flavor when it comes from grandparents.
You’re not there to grade their performance or correct every mistake. You just love them for who they are, right now.
When they know your love isn’t tied to behavior, grades, or achievements, they feel a kind of freedom they don’t always get elsewhere.
You might not even notice how much comfort that gives them, but it’s huge. It tells them, “You’re enough as you are.”
That’s what love is about, isn’t it? Accepting the full, messy, beautiful humanity in someone else and offering them the same space to be real.
A final thought
You don’t have to be the ‘fun’ grandparent or the one who plans elaborate activities.
The truth is, the small things you do—the listening, the patience, the laughter, the unconditional love—are already enough.
You’re building memories, teaching life lessons, and shaping their sense of what love feels like.
And maybe that’s the greatest legacy any of us can leave behind. Being remembered not for what we did, but for how we made others feel.
So, next time your grandkids run to hug you, remember, it’s probably not just because of the cookies or the games. It’s because of who you are when you’re with them.
