Grandparents Rock!

By Kathleen Reynolds

When I was a child, my grandmother lived in Ireland, far, far away. When she came for extended visits, I was thrilled to sit on her lap while she read Cinderella and Snow White. That was long before the internet made staying connected easier.

Today, according to Living Your Senior Life, an estimated 2.5 million children across the U.S. are raised in “grandfamilies,” and more than 80% of grandparents play significant roles in their grandchildren’s lives. Grandparents nurture, guide, and offer the kind of unconditional love and emotional grounding that shapes children for years to come.

Psychology Today reports: “Grandparent involvement during childhood, conceptualized as the amount of contact and emotional closeness, is positively linked to emotional development, cognitive functioning, and social adjustment in early adulthood. The lessons learned from grandparent–grandchild relationships in childhood, especially those related to spirituality and moral development, persist into early adulthood.”

The publication adds: “Grandparents often have the opportunity to share their knowledge, wisdom, and family traditions with their grandchildren. Such early experiences strengthen a grandchild’s self-esteem and reinforce beliefs, norms, and values…”

The benefits go both ways. Spending time with grandchildren increases social interaction for grandparents and often includes physical activity—walking, playing, cleaning up, or simply keeping up with a toddler—which supports mobility and overall well‑being.

Spring activities for young children

If you’re a grandparent caring for little ones a few days a week—or most days—you may be wondering how to fill the hours. The sweet newborn who once slept on your chest is now a toddling chatterbox who wants to be entertained, and you’re determined to avoid hours of cartoons or phone time.

Playground Fantastico

Across Napa County, there are plenty of free or low‑cost options

• Animal‑loving kids may enjoy a stroll through the American Canyon Wetlands, a walk along the Kennedy Park waterfront, or a picnic at a neighborhood pocket park or Fuller Park. Even a visit to Petco to look at reptiles and birds can be surprisingly captivating.

• Colorful outings include the Tuesday and Saturday Napa Farmers Market or the always‑bustling Oxbow Market.

• Train‑obsessed children may enjoy the Wine Train terminus, where they can see the trains and the earthquake mosaic. Playground Fantastico offers slides and climbing structures for more active play.

• Nature walks are plentiful at Oxbow Preserve, Trancas Crossing Park (parking behind the Chevron at Soscol), and Esther Deaver Park (off East Avenue). Older children who enjoy hills will find adventure at Westwood Hills Park and Alston Park.

• Low‑fee outdoor destinations include Bothe‑Napa Valley State Park, and the Bale Grist Mill.

• Sports‑minded kids can explore programs through Napa Parks and Recreation.

• Connolly Ranch offers animals, hands‑on experiences, and seasonal camps.

As children grow, you may find yourself immersed in soccer, flag football, volleyball, or softball practices and games—enthusiasm is the only requirement.

Should April showers arrive

If you’re stuck indoors, simple activities can fill an afternoon: build a cushion and blanket fort,

work on age appropriate jigsaw puzzles, teach a card or board game, create art with buttons and broken jewelry, or set up a home scavenger hunt. Skills like knitting, crocheting, hand‑stitching, or basic woodworking (birdhouses are a classic) can be fun to learn together.

Napa County Library

If you need to get out of the house

• Children’s Resource Center Toy Library — Borrow a variety of toys for a range of ages. Open Mon-Wed, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Napa County Library — Storytimes for different ages, plus “read to a therapy dog” sessions for shy or beginning readers. The Library of Things offers games, instruments, and hobby kits.

• Local Bookstores — Check event schedules at Napa Bookmine for Storytimes; Copperfield’s Books also has a children’s section.

More options in art, play and game membership

• Little House Play Studio — Open play, parties, memberships for ages 0-3.

• Colores de Napa Valley Studio — Bilingual arts and crafts for toddlers and ages 5-11.

• Guild — Arts, basic sewing and cooking for ages 5-12, plus digital arts for teens.

• Mastery of Sports — Gymnastics classes tailored for ages 1-6.

• Rola — Climbing‑focused playdate classes and other play.

• Nimbus Arts

Classes for toddlers to teens; St. Helena and newly opened Napa studio. Pre‑registration required.

• Wiggle Room (City of Napa) — Preschool program for under‑fives and baby classes on Fridays, 1-3 p.m. Drop‑in fees start at $7.

• Marquee Pinball Arcade

For older kids and teens. Open Fri-Sun.

• Napa Bowling Center

A longtime local favorite with

youth bowling, arcade, and snack bar. Open daily at 10 a.m.

Several Napa Valley wineries welcome children

• Cakebread Cellars Rutherford — Picnic grounds

• Hall Wines St. Helena — Picnic area

• Frog’s Leap Winery, Rutherford — Juices and snacks for kids.

• Bouchaine Vineyards, Carneros — Falconry demonstrations by reservation.

• The River ClubNapa — Kids’ play area next to the tasting room.

• Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga — Older children may be captivated by the castle with its towers, moat, torture chamber, and medieval architecture. Reservations are required. Admission is $25 per child, and strollers are not permitted.

The heart of it all

Whatever activities you choose, the most meaningful part is simply being present—talking, listening, reading stories, building forts, and offering steady love and encouragement. Those moments become the memories grandchildren carry into adulthood.

Westwood Hills Park