Song: John Denver – ‘Grandma’s Feather Bed’.
GRANDPARENTING
“WE MEASURE THE JOY OF GRANDCHILDREN IN THE HEART” – Unknown
February is a good month to talk about the joys of being a grandparent.
Like myself, many people have been looking after grandchildren at various times during the summer school holidays. Whilst my parents didn’t need to look after my children, as I didn’t work when they were small, they still would have them for a few nights just to give us a break.
My girls fondly recall going to the beach with Grandma, watching episodes of ‘Keeping Up Appearances’, feeding the chooks, ice cream magic and the highlight, a trip to ‘Sizzlers’ where they had free range at the dessert bar making their own delicious, sugar-filled creations!
Fast forward a few decades, most parents are both working and need and want help from grandparents. Grandparents today spend a lot of time with their grandchildren with many positive results for both grandchildren and grandparents. A variety of studies reveal that children with involved grandparents are happier, more emotionally mature, less risk of having behavioural issues and develop a greater sense of self awareness. This can lead to better social and academic outcomes.
I actually love having time with my grandchildren. I want to make the most out of this time as many people tell me as grandchildren get older they don’t have the same close connection as when they were small. I understand this, but I would really like to stay closely connected with my grandchildren.
Ways of keeping a close connection and strong relationship to grandchildren is by listening to them and sharing some of their interests. Regularly seeing your grandchildren, reading books with them, watching a favourite movie, asking about school, giving praise, attending school or sports activity days and being supportive and attentive also helps.
Ways to enjoy spending time with grandchildren:
- Put away breakable or precious items.
- Treat each child as an individual.
- Have fun and play games.
- Limit house work and chores while the grandkids are there.
- Ask where or what they might like to do.
I asked my 9 year old granddaughter to write in her own words what she enjoys about staying with her grandparents:
“When I stay with Mim and Pop, my sister and I have the best time. We do fun things like bike riding and scooter riding (which Mim is still learning to do but we’ll keep working on it!) Having the walking path outside makes it great to ride, walk, run and draw with chalk. Another thing I like doing is making breakfasts, showing Mim new combinations of Acai bowls (pronounced as si-ee) which is purple fruit. I made it for Mim, it’s just acai and yoghurt covered with any fruits and nuts but you can add your own things to it. And one more thing I enjoy about going to Mim and Pop’s house is mainly just spending time with them and enjoying keeping them lots and lots of company because they know that I’m a chatterbox!” – MATILDA
When I know I am having the grandchildren I try and make it fun and plan with them each day what they might like to do. There are so many things to do that are also age appropriate for individual grandchildren such as:
- Bike riding or scooter riding.
- Going swimming.
- Ball games- cricket, football, golf, tennis.
- Cooking meals together – my grandchildren love to create special desserts.
- Going to the movies.
- Listening to music – dancing, playing musical instruments.
- Taking a train or bus ride.
- Gardening.
- Going to the beach or playground.
- Craft, drawing, painting and playdough activities.
- Going out for lunch.
- A picnic in the park.
- Chalk drawing.
- Bubble blowing.
- Playing games, cards or puzzles.
- Theme parks – I have taken them to iconic Luna Park, they love the fact that I went there as a child too.
- Play dates – we love meeting up with other grandparents and their grandchildren for a play and picnic in a park or at the beach.
- Play dates with cousins (always lots of fun).
- Zoos, animal parks or farms.
- Indoor activity centres.
- Watching a Netflix movie or TV show together. (I do encourage quiet time after a busy day because I need it!)
YouTube is a great way to engage with grandchildren. There are so many educational topics for all ages, you can search for topics that interest them such as space, volcanoes, or animals.
Grandparents have different budgets but there are so many things to do that don’t cost. For example, some community centres run holiday activities for free and are great fun. Last holidays we went to kite-making and Lego building sessions.
Another cost effective strategy is to go to the local supermarket and pick healthy foods and fruit to take on picnics including a few treats and ice creams.
I have been blessed to have had a role with all my four grandchildren and love the close relationship we have. I am also blessed to share this role with my husband who also enjoys spending time with the grandchildren.
Having grandchildren makes me aware of the importance of looking after myself by keeping physically active and maintaining a healthy diet so I have the energy and agility to enjoy the time spent with them.
And who knows, maybe in the future many great grandparents will be healthy and fit enough to look after their great grandchildren! I hope I am one of them!
A joke I once read on face book: ‘If I had of known how much fun having Grandchildren would be, I would of had them first’ !
Till next time – ‘Keep on Rocking and Rolling’
Kim