7 Heritage Language Activities Grandparents Can Share

Grandparents often hold the words, expressions and family stories that make a heritage language feel alive. Yet many families are unsure how to include them in a child’s learning, especially when visits are short, confidence levels differ or grandparents live far away.

The good news is that a shared language moment does not have to look like a formal lesson. A familiar word, a family photograph or a quick guessing game can give a child a meaningful reason to listen and respond. These seven heritage language activities with grandparents are designed to be simple, flexible and easy to repeat in person or during a video call.

Keep the goal small and personal

Before choosing an activity, agree on a very small goal. One word, one letter shape or one short family story is enough for a single session. This makes the activity easier for a young child to follow and removes pressure from a grandparent who may not feel comfortable “teaching”.

Let the grandparent use the language naturally. A parent can help by choosing the prompt, holding up a card or opening the right page. The grandparent’s role can simply be to say the word, use it in a familiar phrase and share why it matters to the family.

1. Make a family-name card

Begin with the names a child already hears: the name they use for a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle or a cousin. Write one name clearly on a card and add a small photo or drawing. Ask the grandparent to say it slowly, then at their normal speaking pace.

The child can point to the right person in a family photograph, repeat the name if they wish, or simply listen. Keep the card and bring it back at the next visit. Familiar names offer a warm starting point because they connect language to a real relationship.

2. Play “show me” with picture cards

Choose three picture cards with familiar objects or animals. The grandparent names one item and asks the child to show the matching card. Swap roles when the child is ready: the child points, and the grandparent says the word.

Little Pumpkins offers visual flashcards for Punjabi, Gujarati and Nepali. Use only a few cards at a time rather than the whole pack. Three cards keep the choice clear, and repeating the same set over several sessions can make the routine feel comfortable.

3. Turn one photograph into three words

Open a family album and choose one photograph with a simple story behind it. The grandparent tells the story in whatever mix of languages feels natural, while a parent listens for three useful heritage-language words: perhaps a place, a food and a family member.

Write or draw those three prompts afterwards. On the next call, show the same photograph and invite the grandparent to say the words again. The aim is not to memorise an entire story. It is to connect a small set of words with a memory the child can see.

4. Try a gentle “trace and tell” activity

Set up a tracing page before the call or visit. As the child follows one letter shape, the grandparent can say the sound or a familiar word that begins with it. If the child would rather watch, the adult can trace first and let the child take a turn later.

The Little Pumpkins tracing-book collection includes English, Gujarati, Hindi, Nepali, Punjabi, Tamil and Urdu options. The books feature large traceable forms, colourful illustrations and a magic-ink pen with two refills and a soft grip; the ink disappears so pages can be revisited. Use the book’s own letter order and direction, especially for scripts that move differently from English.

5. Go on a household treasure hunt

This activity works well in person and on video. Ask the grandparent to name a common item that is easy and safe for the child to find, such as a cup, spoon, shoe or book. The child looks for it, brings it back and hears the word again.

For a video call, a parent should stay nearby and choose safe, reachable objects. Avoid making speed the goal. The useful part is hearing the word linked to a real object and using it in an ordinary family conversation.

6. Ask one question about childhood

Give the grandparent one clear prompt: “What game did you play?”, “What did you eat after school?” or “What was in your garden?” Let them answer briefly, then choose one word from the answer for the child to explore.

A picture card, a drawing or an object from around the home can help make that word visible. This activity gives grandparents space to share something genuine while keeping the language task manageable for a young learner.

7. Create a weekly one-word ritual

Consistency can be as simple as ending every Sunday call with one family word. The grandparent says it, the child finds the matching card or picture, and everyone uses the word once before saying goodbye.

Keep a small ring of cards or a notebook beside the device. Add only one prompt each week. Over time, it becomes a family record rather than a test. If a week is busy, repeat an older word instead of adding a new one.

Make it work from far away

Before a video call, send the grandparent a photo of the card or page you plan to use. Place the device on a stable stand so the child can keep both hands free, and keep the activity to around ten minutes. A simple structure helps: greet each other, explore one word, connect it to a story, then finish with a familiar goodbye.

If the connection is poor, audio is enough. A parent can hold the card while the grandparent says the word. The relationship matters more than a perfect setup.

When confidence levels are different

Some grandparents speak the heritage language fluently but do not read it. Others may read the script yet feel unsure about child-led activities. Parents can divide the roles: one person handles the written resource, while the grandparent provides pronunciation, expressions and family context.

Children also vary. They might answer in English, mix languages or prefer to listen. Keep the invitation gentle. You can model the word without insisting on repetition, then bring it back in another activity later.

Choose a resource that supports the conversation

Use flashcards when the focus is quick recognition and spoken vocabulary. Choose a tracing book when a child is ready to explore how a script looks and moves. If you are buying for another family and are unsure which language or format they want, the Little Pumpkins digital gift card lets them choose from the live store range.

The most useful resource is the one that gives the family an easy reason to gather, talk and return next time. Browse the Little Pumpkins flashcards and tracing books, choose one small prompt, and invite a grandparent to make it part of the family story.