Becoming a grandmother is an exciting, life-changing experience – and it’s also a time of celebration!
While we are all used to the idea of baby showers to pamper and celebrate the mothers-to-be, there is another way to celebrate the joy of a new life entering the world: welcome to the concept of a grandmother shower!
Whether this is the first time you have experienced such an event, or you are well versed in the world of grandmother showers, we have put together some super fun ideas for hosting a grandmother shower and celebrating the excitement and changes that are on the horizon.
What Is A Grandmother Shower?
A grandchild shower is a special occasion where friends and family gather to celebrate the arrival of your first grandchild. The purpose of the party is to celebrate the new addition to your family, as well as to honor the mother who has been through so much already.
How To Throw The Perfect Grandmother Shower
As with bridal and baby showers, a grandmother shower is typically thrown by a friend of the grandmother – and you may have found yourself in this position. Fortunately, we have the top tips to help you throw the perfect grandmother shower for someone close to you.
Invite Your Friends And Family
The best thing about throwing a grandmother shower is that you can invite anyone you want – you don’t need to limit it to just immediate family members.
If you know that there are people that the grandmother-to-be would particularly like to see, make sure you extend them an invitation.
Choose An Appropriate Theme
If you’re looking for inspiration, think about what kind of theme will suit the person you are inviting. You could go for something traditional, like a tea party, or perhaps a more modern approach, like a spa day.
Whatever you choose, make sure it reflects the personality of the grandmother-to-become.
Some Of The Coolest Themes For A Grandmother Shower Might Include:
- Traditional Tea Party – A traditional tea party is a popular theme for a grandmother shower, and this is because it allows guests to enjoy a relaxing afternoon while they get to know each other better. This type of theme is great if you are planning on having a large number of guests at the shower, and offers a chance to dress up, hang out, and relax.
- Spa Day – Another popular theme for a grandmother’s party is a spa day. Guests can relax and unwind after a long week, and enjoy some quality time with their loved ones. Spa days are ideal for those who love to indulge themselves, and are often held in luxury hotels or spas – many locations will provide packages specifically for this purpose, so make sure you enquire about these.
- Family Reunion – This is a really fun theme for a grandmother shower – it gives everyone a chance to catch up with old friends and relatives, and spend some quality time together. Why not really make the occasion special by asking everyone to bring a baby photograph, and trying to match images to people?
Create The Menu
As with any party, the food at your shower is an important consideration that needs plenty of thought. Here are some examples of tasty treats that you can serve to ensure that everyone is fed, happy and content:
Finger Sandwiches
Finger sandwiches are a classic choice for a grandmother’s shower, but they also work well for any kind of gathering. They are easy to prepare and allow guests to mingle without getting too involved in the conversation.
Cake
Of course, cakes are always a good idea for a shower, especially when you are serving finger sandwiches. Cakes are also a nice way to show off your cooking skills and give everyone a chance to try different flavors.
Fruit Salad
A fruit salad is another classic option for a grandmother shower, as it’s both delicious and healthy. It’s also a great way to showcase the fruits available locally, and so celebrate your local area, and is a great way to encourage guests to eat healthily.
Pasta
Pasta is one of the most versatile foods around and is perfect for parties. Pasta salads are very popular, are simple to put together, and can be served cold or hot.
Pizza
Pizza is another classic dish for a baby shower and is a great option for a buffet-style meal – ideal if you are inviting a wide range of guests to your shower.
There are lots of different toppings available, and you can even create your own personal pizza as one of your activities!
Chocolate
Finally, chocolate is a classic dessert for a shower and is something that all guests will enjoy. You could offer a selection of chocolates, or go for a more decadent option like a chocolate fountain – this is sure to put all your guests in a great mood!
Plan Activities
It’s important to plan activities for your guests during the shower itself, as well as afterward. This will keep things interesting, and ensure that everyone has a chance to meet new people. Some ideas for activities include:
Photo Booth
Have a photo booth set up at the shower, where guests can take photos with props and characters. These Can then be printed out later on and used as keepsakes for a wonderful memory of your shower.
Who Am I?
Who Am I is a popular party game that works by having each guest bring a baby photo to the party. These are then numbered, and each guest is given a numbered blank list and a pencil.
The goal is to try and match the pictures to the people, and guests can fill in their ideas and guesses on their sheets. In the end, the truth is revealed and a winner is crowned.
This is perfect for getting everyone in the “baby” mood and can be a great way to get your guests to mingle, especially if they are not familiar with one another.
Baby Name Game
Another fun activity is a name game. Have a big board covered in sticky notes, and ask guests to write down names of babies they know about.
Then have them draw a stick figure, and use the stick figures to help them guess who the person is. At the end, reveal the results, and see how many people got it right!
Guess The Famous Grandmother
A variation on the “guess the famous mother” game that often takes place at baby showers, this is a fun chance for people to relax and enjoy a giggle.
To play, you will need to create name tags with the names of famous grandmothers from history, television, movies, books, art, or any other source you choose.
When guests arrive, pin a nametag to their backs, making sure that they don’t see the name on the paper. Guests then walk around answering Yes or No questions to other guests, and try to work out just who they might be!
This is a great icebreaker, and a great chance to celebrate and explore some of the best and most famous grandmothers in history.
FOR MORE GRANDMA SHOWER GAMES CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE!
Decorate The Babygrow
Another popular baby shower activity that can be incorporated into a grandmother shower is decorating a baby grow or outfit for the new arrival to be. Lay out a set of plain babygrows, and provide guests with non-toxic fabric pens and paints.
They can then really go to town decorating and designing, and this has many benefits: babies get plenty of cute, personal outfits to wear.
Mom doesn’t have to worry about choosing cute babygrows, and grandmas get to create something special for the new arrival!
Create Artwork For The Nursery
As well as creating a cute outfit for the new baby, you can also keep guests entertained by asking them to make artwork for the nursery.
You could even ask guests to make an illustration of what they think the baby will look like when they grow up, or ask them to allow their imaginations to run wild; they could create inspirational quotes or messages, add drawings, or draw portraits of the family.
This has two advantages; guests get to create something really meaningful and unique for the new baby and offers a great opportunity for guests to bond over the idea of being creative and artistic.
It also helps to ensure that the baby has amazing memories and connections, and they can enjoy these each day in their nursery. Grandparents can also keep a few pieces to help commemorate the event.
Make A Baby Book
If you’re looking for a more traditional type of activity, why not make a baby book? There are lots of different ways to do this, but here are a few suggestions:
Ask guests to write down things they would love to share with the baby, such as funny stories, favorite songs, or memories – this can be a great way to pass on advice and wisdom, as well as immortalize important stories or tales.
You can also ask guests to write short stories about the baby, using photos as inspiration, or to draw pictures of the baby, and include these in the book.
Part of the book could also include asking guests to write letters to the baby, and send them along with the book – this could include letters for the little one to open on key dates and milestones, such as their sixteenth, eighteenth, and twenty-first birthdays, their graduation, the first day or high school, wedding – and even at their future baby shower.
You could also ask guests to write down their own ideas for the baby’s first birthday party, or
ask them to write down their wishes for the child.
Finally, if you want to give your guests a little extra incentive, you could offer prizes for the best entries.
Get Creative With Gifts
One of the best parts of hosting a grandma shower is getting to spoil the new arrival, so why not try some fun gifts? Here are a few ideas for grandma showers
- A personalized photo frame with a picture of the baby taken from the ultrasound scan, or a photo of the parents holding the baby -this can be a wonderful keepsake for grandparents (see also ‘Signs For Grandparents That Make Wonderful Gifts: Show Your Love with the Written Word!‘) to be.
- Items for the baby – this could include a blanket, hat, booties, bibs, bottle warmer, mobile phone case, toy, etc.
- Personalized items for the grandparents-to-be – this could include a memory box, personalized journal, or a beautiful handcrafted gift.
Final Thoughts
Hosting a grandparent shower is a special occasion, and it’s a chance to celebrate the life of all involved; the mother and father, the new baby waiting to be born and, of course, the grandparents.
The most important thing to remember is to have fun, and take the time to celebrate with those you love the most.
