When I was growing up as a child of single parents, my relationship with my grandparents was so important. They helped me feel loved and supported, especially when things were difficult at home. My grandmother and I did crafts together and my grandpa had a calmness to him that made him so easy to talk to.
Even if your kids aren’t close with their grandparents now, it’s not too late to pour into the grandparent-grandchild relationship. You might be surprised by what your kids appreciate about them and if you’re a single parent, support from grandparents may be one of your greatest assets! Now, you’ll have to take some initiative, but a little effort goes a long way, so use love to bring the three generations together. Here are five ways you can encourage a stronger grandparent-grandchild relationship in your family.
1. Send photos.
It doesn’t matter what your kids are doing—their grandparents want to see it, especially if they are long-distance grandparents. Send photos of your kids playing in the back yard, swimming, sitting in the corner reading, or wearing a shirt you passed down. Printing a fridge-worthy photo is going the extra mile, but even texting or emailing is a great way to keep their hearts close and the grandparent-grandchild relationship growing.
2. Plan dates.
Everyone is busy and if you’re not intentional, months can go by with no face-to-face contact between your kids and your parents. So plan dates or special outings together. They can go out for lunch, get a manicure, or go fishing. If they live out of town, arrange phone or Facetime dates. Without interaction, there is no chance for a relationship to develop. Putting in the effort is worth it.
3. Get crafty.
Grandparents will tell you the best gifts are homemade. Set up the table with craft supplies and have your kids get creative. If your parents live nearby, plan a craft day at your house and let your parents teach the kids something. My mom loves to sew and taught my niece how, while my dad is great at woodworking and showed my son how to use a hammer and nails.
4. Become pen pals.
For a special way of communicating just between your children and their grandparents, have them become pen pals. Email is fine, but there are so many benefits (like patience) to sending actual handwritten letters in the mail. If your child became pen pals with his or her grandparent, who do you think would be more excited to open the mailbox each day?
If your child became pen pals with his or her grandparent, who do you think would be more excited to open the mailbox each day? Click To Tweet5. Extend an invitation.
If you find you’re too busy to add another thing to your calendar, you can still help build the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Just make an effort to invite your parents to things you already have going on. If your kids play sports, make a copy of the game or practice schedule. If you have a movie night planned, offer to buy an extra ticket. Most grandparents don’t care what the activity is. They just want to be with the kids they love!
How can you help your kids strengthen their relationships with their grandparents?
