As a grandparent, you hold a uniquely cherished role in a child’s life, offering a blend of love, wisdom, and an important connection to your family’s history.
Indeed, research reported in GoodtoKnow highlights the profound effect that grandparents can have on a child’s development, shaping everything from their emotional wellbeing to their cognitive abilities.
More than that, having grandchildren and seeing them often could even improve your life expectancy.
So, how can you build on this connection and be a positive influence on your grandchildren? Here are eight practical tips.
1. Support the parents and work together to create a harmonious family dynamic
Respect your adult children’s parenting decisions and established boundaries, even if you don’t always agree with their approach.
This helps promote a unified front and teaches your grandchildren about consistency, discipline, and mutual respect within the family structure.
2. Spend quality time with your grandchildren
Quality time doesn’t always have to mean elaborate outings or expensive gifts.
Indeed, sometimes children’s formative experiences are the simplest. Activities such as reading a book together, sharing a conversation on a long car ride, or gardening side by side can make your grandchild feel valued and loved.
3. Create a safe space for your grandchildren to express themselves freely
When you listen openly and patiently, without immediately offering advice, judgement, or interruptions, children feel heard and respected. Active listening and reflecting on what they’ve said can show them that their thoughts and feelings are important and valid.
Creating a safe place for expression may encourage your grandchildren to continue communicating with you as they grow up and encounter life’s inevitable challenges.
4. Encourage curiosity and learning
Grandparents can be a great conduit for new experiences and knowledge. You may have more leisure time to spend with the children and offer different perspectives than their parents.
Whether it’s through hands-on activities and crafts, exploring nature in a local park, or simply sharing stories from your own life experiences, you could spark a lifelong love for learning.
This could also introduce them to subjects, hobbies, or skills they might not have encountered elsewhere and can broaden their horizons and future interest in new opportunities.
5. Be a calm and steady presence
In a world that often feels chaotic, grandparents who remain unflappable can be a sturdy anchor for a child.
Children often remember the sense of comfort and safety they gain from being with calm adults during stressful times, whether it’s moving house or starting a new school. And, if their parents are juggling full-time work as well as parenting, they may be more susceptible to stress – which is where your tranquil presence comes in handy.
Your steady attitude can help provide a stable emotional base from which they can explore the world.
6. Model kindness and compassion
Verywell Mind highlights that children tend to learn from observation, particularly based on how parents and caregivers interact with others. To ensure you’re instilling positive values in your grandchildren, demonstrate kindness, empathy, and respect in your daily interactions and when talking about other people.
Other simple acts, such as helping someone in need, speaking respectfully to service staff, or showing patience in challenging situations, can be powerful lessons for children. It’s often these everyday moments that shape a child’s understanding of how to navigate the world and have the potential to influence their moral compass.
7. Teach the importance of managing money
Integrating practical financial lessons into your time together can be fun and educational at the same time.
These learning moments could involve showing them how to save for a new toy, where you can explain the concept of budgeting. For example, you could tell them you have a specific number of snacks available at the park, then ask them how they would distribute them throughout the day.
Simple conversations about earning, saving, and responsible spending can lay the groundwork for future financial literacy. Depending on their age, you could show your grandchildren how interest works or challenge them to save a portion of their pocket money for larger expenses.
These early lessons can help make money easier to understand and support the development of crucial life skills.
8. Help them understand personal values and how to set priorities
Beyond teaching your grandchildren how to manage money, you can open up a broader conversation about what truly holds value for them as individuals.
After all, value isn’t all about money; it’s about how our priorities shape our choices. Depending on their age, you can explore what these might be.
For example, you could discuss the value of further one’s education compared to indulging in immediate gratification. You can illustrate this with some everyday examples:
Is it more valuable to spend money on a new video game today or save it for a special family trip?
Is an evening spent at a party more valuable than dedicating time to finishing a school project or improving their marks?
These kinds of discussions can help children understand that everyone has different values, and these values influence how they spend their time, energy, and money.
Being a positive influence on your grandchildren can have lasting effects on their lives
The bond between a grandparent and grandchild can be a powerful and unique force, offering benefits beyond simple enjoyment.
From providing a stable emotional anchor to imparting crucial financial skills, your influence could be invaluable.
After all, the time and effort you invest today could help shape confident, compassionate, and well-rounded individuals.