Amy Kelly - Getting the Most Out of the Time You Spend With Your Grandchildren

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Most parents of teens will agree that they barely get to spend any quality time with their children. This is to be expected, as teens go through a phase where, while their bodies are changing, they find it difficult to talk to authority figures. However, the relationship between children and their grandparents can break through this barrier, which is why it is important for grandparents to ensure that they use the time they have to not only forge a stronger bond, but help their grandchild navigate through this difficult time in their life.

Listen

The great thing about the grandchild-grandparent relationship is that they are completely different from the parent-child relationship. Where parents are focused on managing their children through consistency, grandparents find the balance between letting the child try new things and ensuring their safety. But the most important thing in this relationship is that a grandchild should feel free to talk about anything – be it personal issues or current affairs. Allowing them to talk about their problems without them feeling like they are being judged will allow you to understand the child better and ensure that you forge a stronger bond.

Teach them about Family History

Grandparents play a very important role in ensuring children learn about their roots. Take the time out to go through old pictures, mementos or even a family tree to help explain to your adolescent grandchild where they come from and who their family is. Many children will find their family history fascinating (especially if you can show them pictures of their ancestors), and will want to learn as much as they can about it.

Involve them in your Life

Most grandparents might think that their grandchildren want nothing to do with their normal routine but that’s not always the case. If you have an interesting hobby, involve your grandchild in it. It could be golf, scrapbooking or even a sport you enjoy watching. Teens are eager to learn about new things, and this could be a great way to get them to open up to you about the problems they are facing in school or at home.

Explore Your Surroundings

Every city has plenty to offer in terms of sightseeing, from museums to local parks. However, at times parents end up taking charge of any such outing with their teen and leave the child feeling like they’re being told what to do. A great way to allow your grandchild to become more independent while enjoying themselves is to ask them to plan a half-day or full-day adventure for the two of you. You can go spend the day in a local park or museum, even taking a picnic with you if you wish. However, the planning must be done by your grandchild. This will allow them to come out of their shell and become more creative, while being able to spend more time with you one-on-one.

Spending time with your teenage grandchild can be a great way to ensure you play a part in making them to best person they can be. Take the time to talk to them and involve them in your life so that you can pass on your wisdom to them without them feeling like it’s unwanted advice.

Published 20th Jul 2011

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