Family routines
Easy Things Grandkids and Grandparents Can Do Together
Simple, mostly free activities for grandparents and grandchildren, sorted by time and energy: ten minutes, an hour, or a whole afternoon.
Free printable · no signup
The first-week checklist
Six practical steps for the first week of caring for a parent — what to ask, who to tell and what to write down. Free to print, no signup.
Free to open, fill in and print. No account, no email address, nothing to pay — and anything you type stays in your own browser.
Send this to someone you’re sharing care with
What’s on it
- Start with a conversationAsk your parent what would make their week easier, before offering solutions.
- Write down one questionOne practical concern to raise with their clinician, with your parent's consent.
- Find your peopleA short list of family, friends and local services who might share the load.
- Share one small taskOne named person, one specific task, one realistic date.
- Make room for yourselfA ten-minute pause that fits into your day, told to someone.
- Set a gentle check-inAgree when to revisit the plan. Useful plans change as you learn.
How to use it
- Print the checklist or open it on your phone, and tick off the steps in any order.
- Do one step today. The list is not a deadline, and you do not have to finish it alone.
- Write in pencil where you can: names, dates and needs will change as you learn more.
- Come back to the checklist at the end of the week and keep the two steps that helped most.
Guides that go with it
All guides
Family routines
Hosting Thanksgiving with an Older Parent: A Four-Week Plan
Mom is coming for Thanksgiving. Here is a four-week timeline to plan the stay, share the jobs and make room for quiet, with fewer last-minute scrambles.