Kids and Their Grandparents: A Connection that will last a Lifetime
The connection between a grandparent and their grandchild is such a special one. As wonderful as it is to hold your child when they are young or first born, that feeling is completely trumped by the joy of being a grandparent. There is simply nothing better than being a grandparent!
Grandparents have the extra special joy in knowing that the little one that they love is there not only because they had a child when they were younger, but also because they raised their own child right. Grandparents also get the special satisfaction of being able to spoil their grandchildren with treats or let them get away with things they would never have let their own children do.
Simply put, the connection between grandparent and grandchild is so unique and important. Of course, there are several ways that this relationship can be strengthened as well.
Family Connection
There is nothing that young children love to hear more than stories of when their parents were little. A grandparent is, in this instance, a wealth of knowledge that can easily spread all of the most important, and embarrassing, tales of a grandchild’s parents youthful exploits. This helps to keep family stories going and helps connect the past with the present.
Traditions
Along the same line as the above idea, grandparents are key in passing down family traditions. Whether those are special customs around holidays, certain phrases, or, in the case of a bilingual family, an entire language itself, grandparents play an important role in teaching these traditions to the next generation.
How to Make that Connection Stronger
Even if you have the best relationship in the world with your grandchild, there is always a way to make it even better. Listed below are some simple, yet wonderful ideas that you should try and implement to bring you even closer.
Sleepovers
What better way for a grandparent to spoil a youngster than to have them sleep over at their house. In that way, they can keep them out of their parent’s watchful eyes, and open them up to a whole new world of fun that can only happen at grandma and grandpa’s house!
Playing
Whether this is with board games, card games, or games that you make up together, there is a lot of fun to be had when playing with your grandchild. It gives them a chance to experience play without technology, which young children always need some more of.
Reading
Whether you are trying to teach a child to read, pass on traditions, or practice another language, there is no better way to do it than with books. They offer a chance for children to snuggle up with their grandparents and get lost in a fantasy world. Bilingual books offer grandparents who speak two languages a chance to connect with their grandchild in their native language, which will make the connection that much more meaningful.
Family: There is Nothing More Important Than Family
The best way to keep traditions alive and a family going strong is to make sure that children have as much time with them as possible. In that way, they will be able to have a connection to their past, all while learning and using important teachings for their future.