Young children thrive in an environment where they are nurtured and loved. They learn about the world around them when those close to them join in their play and exploration.

Grandparents often are just the people to create such an environment. They have more time to spend, and they can enjoy children for who they are at the moment. This warm, non-demanding and ever-loving bond is treasured by children and offers many benefits to grandchildren.

Here are some tips to enhance this bond:

  • Play with your grandchildren. Free from the pressure of raising children, grandparents have the freedom to play without the parental worries. Make the most of this freedom and create a magical world of leisurely play and boundless imagination. 
  • Shower your grandkids with plenty of love and affection. Feeling special is the No. 1 ingredient young children need to develop their full potential. Research shows it's required for later cognitive, emotional and social development. In fact studies indicate that grandmothers can play a pivotal role in a young child’s social development. 
  • Be there! A link has been shown between higher developmental test scores and infants whose grandparents had greater amounts of family contact. 
  • Be a good listener. Children need to be able to come to you and confide. You have the power to positively influence a troubled or confused child. 
  • Share your interests, skills and hobbies. Grandparents can be very patient, effective teachers. The knowledge they pass on will last a lifetime. 
  • Allow the intergenerational bond to bloom early. Letting kids and grandparents work out their own special relationship sets up a strong connection for the future. 
  • Offer unconditional love. Grandparents instill the stability of being accepted as-is. That patient, unconditional love can help children learn to trust others, become more independent and take initiative. This dynamic does wonders for a child’s self-esteem. 
  • Foster the intergenerational connection and reflect a high value for family. Children are forming beliefs about themselves early in life, and when grandparents are available to provide comfort, kids feel safe, secure and lovable. 
  • Offer undivided, no-strings-attached attention. It helps bolster competence. 
  • Have fun together. Childhood is a time when grandparents and children can share the joys of reading a book, building with blocks or exploring a park. Simple activities shared together can enrich a child’s life tremendously. 
  • Grandparents play a vital role in person-making. Children are changing every day from totally dependent babies to can-do kids. Bonding with grandparents can be a key part of that metamorphosis. 
  • Share traditions. Giving children roots in the past and the present gives children a sense of unity and belonging. Traditions also serve as a source of wisdom and stability and provide families with a sense of who they are. Family life can be greatly enriched by sharing a cultural background. Grandparents can provide the necessary link between cultural heritage and present day customs.

Whether grandparents live near or far, we need to value their vital role in child development and respect their ability to sweeten our children’s lives tremendously. Tapping into this wonderful resource will enrich each family member’s life.

 

Dawn Marie Barhyte is a freelance writer and former teacher in Warwick, N.Y.