The Importance of Grandparents in a Child's Life

Most of us get warm, tingly feelings when we talk about our grandparents because generally speaking they are loving, warm and sweet. Others are every bit of sass and sarcasm yet equally exciting. Some grandparents spoil their grandchildren rotten, while others even raise them. Yet, some don’t truly understand how the presence of a grandparent in a grandchild’s life impacts a child’s life.

Grandparents provide a sense of belonging. They provide a loving, nurturing and stable relationship and set the precedence on what healthy family dynamics should look like. They provide support and wisdom unparalleled to others and they have create memories that last on through generations. Plus, I know I’ve even received some personality traits from my grandparents.

That’s why I’m sharing 5 ways a grandparent is beneficial for your children.

Connection

Grandparents help provide a sense of connection on a deeper level for the entire family. They do this by sharing stories, pictures and life anecdotes that grandchildren can learn and engage in within their family history. Oftentimes family traditions and special occasions are created and passed down because of grandparents. This enables a child to establish that connection with their grandparent as well as their extended family. There is a special connection that is created by having grandparents be involved in their grandchildren’s lives.

Endless Love and Fun

Grandparents have the time and patience to shower their grandchildren with attention and love, whereas a parent might fall short some days due to the exhaustive parent life. Lack of sleep, juggling work and kids schooling can have that affect on them.

Grandparents have time to really focus and take in their grandchildren. They’re more likely to spend hours playing games and acting silly with them.

It’s also known that grandparents tend to spoil and dote on their grandchildren a bit more by giving extra treats and toys or even letting them stay up later watching a favorite movie or reading their favorite bedtime story.

Grandparents can bring a breath of fresh air and a much welcome change from time-pressured, exhausted and oftentimes thinly stretched parents.

Calm in a Storm

Because grandparents are free from the normal discipline the grandchild receives from their parent, grandparents are in a unique position. They’re able to listen to them without criticism or judgment and help guide them to find a solution that works and to help them feel better. They’re an unbiased shoulder to cry on and a listening ear, which sometimes comes in handy when the child needs someone to vent to besides their parents.

Grandchildren Keep Grandparents Active and Visa Versa

There’s nothing more truer than the fact that grandchildren keep grandparents active. Oftentimes, grandparents will take the kids on trips to the zoo or a park, and they tend to play hide-and-seek. Of course there are many activities that keep grandchildren and grandparents physically active, but my children also keeps their mind active by challenging their grandparents to a game of Memory or Uno. All of these activities help grandparents feel more alive and be more active, plus grandparents help “wear down” the child before returning to their parents, hopefully! 😉

They’re the Patient Teacher

There’s no denying that grandparents have a plethora of skills and wisdom that they can share with their grandchildren, but what makes this even better is that the grandparent becomes the patient teacher.

As a child, I fondly remember my grandmother reading to my sisters and I patiently pointing out words and helping us with our sounds. I see that today with my own mother who works closely with my children to help them develop problem solving skills through playing games and helping them express themselves through art. These lessons are unstructured, fun and beautifully organic.

Grandchildren oftentimes love the time they spend with their grandparents so they tend to not realize that they’re learning as well. They’re just having fun spending time with them.

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I was fortunate to grow up with involved grandparents, and it’s my continued hope that my parents play a huge role in the lives of my children. My children just want to spend time with their grandparents. There is a beautiful and oftentimes indescribable bond between a grandparent and a grandchild, and it’s important that grandparents recognize the importance of it just as much as the parents and child.