What is the most important thing a grandparent can do for their grandchildren?
Answers
Grandparents and grandchildren often tell stories in bed together. Stories may be told around a campfire or at the dinner table. Sharing family stories with grandchildren can be an invaluable function of grandparents. Hearing about family members who have overcome hardships can help children feel less discouraged when they face hardships. Grandparents can also share their own stories. A grandmother’s stories can make her grandchildren feel closer to their grandparents, whether humorous, tragic, or informative. Often grandparents think they have no exciting stories to tell, but the following subjects can be used to do so.
1. Family History
The telling of family stories is just one way grandparents can preserve their heritage. It is not necessary to preserve family history unless you are an avid family historian. Creating a keepsake journal for grandchildren is an excellent way to share family history. Several fill-in-the-blank grandparents’ journals make the process easy. A personal historian can offer grandparents a more polished finished product.
2. Traditions
Grandchildren are also connected to the past through traditions. Children enjoy such activities because they give them a sense of family identity and belonging to something broader than themselves. While it is possible to hold on to family traditions beyond the point of practicality, some traditions are worth preserving. It is acceptable to create brand-new traditions alongside old ones.
3. Skills to Share
Sewing, gardening, minor repairs, cooking, and baking are classic examples of skills grandparents can teach their grandchildren. Children can be taught the following at a very young age:
• Set the table
• Sew on a button
• Air up bicycle tires
• Fold towels
• Tighten screws
If the grandchildren’s interests align with the tasks, grandparents can teach their older grandchildren more complex skills. However, specific practical skills are always appropriate no matter the child’s interests.
