The Grandparent's Guide to a Day Out with the Grandkids: Things to Do for Every Age

There is a special kind of bond between kids and their grandparents. You're their special confidant. Their home away from home. The one who says yes to the ice cream.

Taking the grandkids out for the day can be a lot of hard work, but with a little planning, knowing where to go and what to expect, it can also be a lot of fun for everyone. Whether you're looking for things to do with grandkids or just a good place to stop for a coffee, you're a seasoned grandparent who's done this a hundred times or you're preparing for your very first solo outing with a new grandchild, here's everything you need to know.

You are more prepared than you think

Let's start here, because most grandparents we've spoken to feel a quiet anxiety about taking the grandchildren out alone. What if something goes wrong? What if the baby needs something I'm not sure how to handle? What if I can't manage the pram? What if I do things differently?

Here's what we know: grandparents who provide regular care for their grandchildren are some of the most capable, experienced family carers in Australia. You raised children. You know how this works. Sure, some of the gear has changed (the prams are more complicated, there are more gadgets, the nappy bags contain more things) but the fundamentals are exactly the same as they've always been.

The practical information like where to go, what to look for, how to find family-friendly venues is the part you might need. The capability to handle the day? You already have that.

Looking After Grandkids: Tips For the Conversation With The Parents

The single most useful thing you can do before any day out with grandchildren is have a clear conversation with their parents beforehand. Because having the right information makes everything easier.

Ask about:

Feeding. How is the baby fed? Are they bringing everything? Should you have anything else on hand or as a backup?

Sleep. How and when does the baby or toddler usually nap? Is there a song or white noise that helps?

Food for the toddler. Do they have any allergies or food restrictions? What does the toddler reliably eat when they're not at home? (The answer might be "almost nothing"; this is normal and useful to know.)

The pram. Get a demonstration of how to open and close the pram and film it. We really mean it. Grab your phone, film it and favourite it. Be sure to capture where any levers, clips, and squeeze handles are, as well as the brakes and how to recline the chair.

The nappy bag. Ask the parents to pack it, then explain it!

First aid. Brush up on what to do in emergencies. Have phone numbers accessible, like the emergency services, their doctor, the poisons hotline, and maternal and child health services, just in case. If time permits, attending a baby first aid course can be a great thing to do before looking after little ones.

Any current health or behaviour notes. Is the baby going through a tricky sleep regression? Has the toddler just started a new phase of saying no to everything? Knowing what you're walking into helps you meet the children where they are rather than being surprised.

Choosing where to go

This is where Pram About Town becomes really useful for grandparents, because choosing a venue that works for young children involves criteria that are hard to find.

A cafe with a five-star review might have a step at the door, nowhere to park a pram, and no bathroom or change table. A playground that looks great on the map might have no shade, be unfenced, and no toilets within walking distance. A pub that's been your regular for years might not have a high chair.

Pram About Town filters for the things that matter when you're out with young children:

Change table

High chairs

Pram accessibility

Kids menu

Pram-accessible toilets

Junior toilets

Playground nearby

Close to home (theirs or yours)

Open Pram About Town, search near you, apply the filters that matter for your specific outing, and you'll have a list of venues to choose from before you leave the house.

Things To Do With Grandkids: The Best Outings For Every Age

Different ages call for different outings. Here's our guide by age:

Things to do with a newborn (0–3 months): keep it simple and close

A very young baby's needs are simple: fed, warm, comfortable, and close to you. At this age, the outing is less about the destination and more about the “rhythm”, the movement of the pram, the sounds of the world, the fresh air. The best outings are those where you can take them in the pram or carrier, sit comfortably, and get back home within an hour or two. You may want to search for venues with change tables for those little ones!

Things to do with a baby (3–12 months): the world is getting interesting

At this age, babies are awake for longer stretches and genuinely interested in the world. Colours, sounds, movement, faces - everything is new and fascinating. The best outings are zoos (to look at animals & nature), soft play venues, music and sensory classes, and libraries with storytime sessions. Search for pram accessible venues with change tables for these bubs.

Things to do with a toddler (12 months–2 years): on the move

This is the age of walking, exploring, wanting to touch everything and saying no with great enthusiasm. Safe energy management is the priority. The best outings are usually somewhere with soft play, a playground (even better if it’s fenced), a beach or park, farm experiences and zoos. Search for venues with change tables, kids' menus, and high chairs for these toddlers.

Things to do with grandkids aged 2–4 years: the adventurers

Children this age are chatty, curious, engaged, and genuinely wonderful company. They can tell you what they're excited about, what they want to see, what they'd like to eat. Or what they don’t. They find magic in ordinary things. The best outings are places they can explore and have different experiences - zoo, interactive exhibits, farm experiences, train rides, and libraries. If you’re toilet training, searching for venues with junior toilets can be a lifesaver. Search for venues with kids' menus and playgrounds for these kiddos.

Things to do with grandkids aged 4 years and over: world of opportunities

At this age you can plan a genuinely ambitious day out. A theme park, a full day trip to a new neighbourhood, a train trip into the city, a visit to a museum followed by lunch. Kids this age can walk further, need little to no downtime and can engage with more complex experiences. Search for venues with kids’ menus, toilets and a playground nearby so you can plan breaks along the way.

A note on how much this matters

Over half (52%) of Australian grandparents over 50 provide regular childcare¹.

For the kids: Research published in Frontiers in Psychology in October 2025 found that grandparent support during childhood is associated with better emotional wellbeing in emerging adulthood² . The intergenerational relationship, the specific warmth and unconditional love that a grandparent gives, provides something truly unique.

For the grandparents: The Australian Institute of Family Studies' Grandparents and Child Care in Australia report found that 97% of grandparents who provide childcare report enjoying it, including 72% who strongly agreed³. Regular engagement with grandchildren is also associated with better cognitive outcomes. A National Seniors Australia study suggests that “grandparents who provided childcare performed better on measures of memory and verbal fluency than those who did not”⁴ .

So go. Take them somewhere new. Buy the ice cream. Make the memory.

Things to do with grandkids: your questions answered

What can you do with a grandchild on a day out?

It depends on their age. Babies enjoy zoos, soft play and library storytime, toddlers need space to run, such as a fenced playground, park or farm, and older kids can handle bigger days like a museum, a train trip or a theme park. See our guide by age above.

How do I look after my baby grandchild for the first time?

Talk to the parents first. Ask about feeding, sleep and allergies, get a filmed demonstration of the pram, and ask them to pack and explain the nappy bag. Keep emergency numbers handy, and consider a baby first aid course.

Tips for looking after the grandkids?

One of the most beautiful things about the grandparent-grandchild relationship is that it’s your own, unique thing just between the two of you. Ask the parents about the big stuff; what they’re eating, what helps get them to calm down, if / when they should sleep etc. then enjoy your time together making memories and having fun.

We built Pram About Town to help you find exactly the right place to do it.

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Australian Seniors. (2026). The Australian Seniors Grandparents Report 2026. Surveying over 4,200 Australian grandparents over 50. seniors.com.au
Stephenson, J. M., & Carstensen, L. L. (2025). Grandparent support during childhood is associated with emotional wellbeing in emerging adulthood. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1680383. frontiersin.org
Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2022). Grandparents and child care in Australia. AIFS Research Report. aifs.gov.au
National Seniors Australia. (2024). Caring for grandkids linked to brain health. nationalseniors.com.au