The teenage years can be difficult, but they can be even more complicated for a parent who has a child with a health condition. For a child with cystic fibrosis, for instance, the teenage years come with their own set of challenges, such as growing out of the pediatric age range and facing new legal and financial milestones.
Sitting around playing video games seems like a good idea after a hard day at work, but the problem is this: if kids spend too much time staring at a screen-or spending too much time with an older adult-they’re missing out on important life lessons.
Here Are the Tips To Spend With Your Grandchildren
Read with Them
As adults, are there things we can do to make our grandchildren feel special? It’s hard for us to think about the things we used to do with our grandparents, but looking back, we realize how important those times were. We wonder how we could possibly forget to share our favorite books with our grandchildren, but we did! The good news is that it’s never too late to build your grandchild’s love for reading.
Get Moving
Grandparents are an important and special part of a child’s life. They foster a love of learning, instill important values and lessons, and serve as mentors and role models. They also play a significant role in helping children cope with the loss of a parent or loved one and can provide a sense of stability, safety, and unconditional love that is invaluable to children.
Bring Your Grandkids to Visit
If you are living in a senior living community, such as the village at east farms, it doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on quality time with your grandkids. Encourage your children to bring them for visits regularly. These communities often feature comfortable common areas, ideal for reading books together or engaging in craft projects. Additionally, if the weather permits, take advantage of outdoor courtyards and gardens for various activities with your grandkids. This way, you can continue to create cherished moments and enjoy precious time with your family.
Start Hobbies Together
When it comes to raising kids, parents often struggle with how best to spend their time outside of basic parental duties. While it may be tempting to use this time to unwind or catch up on work or chores, single and childless adults should schedule some quality grandparent time with grandchildren. If you’re a parent, you can help your children with hobbies and activities that they enjoy, like crafting or cooking, while spending time having fun with your grandchildren. Have fun, get creative with activities to help start new hobbies, and invest time in activities your children enjoy.
Share Stories
When you spend time with your grandchildren, you are given the opportunity to connect with them in a way that you may not be able to otherwise. You may live near them or may not have had a relationship with them growing up. No matter what, you have the chance to create memories that last a lifetime, and memories are the strongest tie you may ever have to your grandchildren.
Use Positive Affirmations
Nothing beats time spent with your grandkids. While you’re with them, you can set your mind at ease knowing that you’re doing it right. Show them how to be patient, and creative, or find solutions to problems. Use positive affirmations to bring out the best in your kids and grandkids.
Keep in Touch
Raising grandchildren brings great joy, but it does mean less time that you can spend with your children. One way to make sure that you don’t lose touch with your children is to stay in touch with them. Here are seven steps to help you keep in touch.
Spending time with your grandchildren can be a wonderful and rewarding experience, but it’s important to understand that there may be times when your grandchild may bother you. It’s perfectly fine for you to say no when your grandchild is overly demanding and asks you to do something that you’d rather not do. Your grandchildren’s behavior is normal, even if their requests may seem unusual.
