I have always wanted the grand parents of my children to be very close with them. Bonding and loving and teaching and leaving little learning and memorable legacies that would be constant with them as they grew up.
I wanted grandparents who would spoil them and let them have that special thing that grandparents and children have and are supposed to have, but sadly it's not as I desire it to be. I wish that there was a heap more bonding and loving for my children.
However I think grandparents are very important and should be apart of a child's life and the family.
Why are grandparents such an important role in a child’s life?
Grandparents are often a grandchild’s strongest connection to family heritage. Grandparents are free from the day-to-day parenting, so they are able to provide a special time of uninterrupted play. Grandchildren especially enjoy hearing about the “good ‘ol days” and what their parents were like when they were little. By telling fun family stories and singing silly songs, grandparents are treasure troves of happy memories, actively passing down their family heritage to this curious generation.
What are some key tools readers can use to help nurture an intergenerational relationship?
At GrandCamp Adventures, we believe strongly that it is the simple things, spending playtime with grandchildren rather than entertaining them, which nurture this special relationship. From our research and focus groups, our GrandCampers tell us the key is discovering things both ages enjoy doing. They want experiences vs. ‘things’. These experiences should be meaningful, alive with happy memories, continuous and frequent, full of joy, fun and laughter.
How faraway grandparents can bond with their grandchildren
No. 1: Make time for the relationship and make that time sacred.
No 2: Fun, Familiarity and Frequency. At GrandCamp Adventures, we call it the 3 “Fs” of Family:
- Fun: Enjoying one another is an essential ingredient
- Familiarity: Sharing deepens the relationship. Share about yourself, about parents and about the child.
- Frequency: Carving out time often makes family interactions more rewarding and enjoyable for everyone.
No 3: Plan ahead. Take a few minutes ahead of time to plan the interaction.
How to nurture the Grandparent and Grandchild Bond:
1) How does GrandCamp Adventures help grandparents and their grandkids strengthen their bonds & relationships?
GrandCamp Adventures gives grandparents and their grandchildren avenues to share time with each other, learn, and have fun. Every one of our offerings is creatively designed for interaction and sharing. All create great memories.
2) What will kids go gaga for in relation to these adventures, activities products- specifically- how will they engage kids and how specifically will they help kids and their grandparents strengthen their relationship?
When we did focus groups with eight-year-olds, they all were excited about the magic compass in the storybook and had their own ideas as to where they would want the compass to take them and their grandparents. They loved the vibrant illustrations in the book and the idea of an around-the-world adventure. Similarly, when we introduced the “Here We Go!” music CD at an outdoor event on Grandparents Day, all the kids loved dancing and wiggling to its lively tunes, and many began singing along on the choruses.
Grandparents and grandchildren play their way to getting to know each other through their shared experience with GrandCamp Adventures. The bonds get stronger every time they greet each other with their own unique family handshake created with our Shake It Up secret handshake game. In a like way, grandchildren and grandkids share memories, feelings and ideas as they uncover family treasures through our “Search for Longbeard’s Treasure” treasure hunt.”
3) Grandparent perks: how will engaging in these activities, using these products, etc (please specify specific activities and products) help in their relationship with their grandkids?
GrandCamp Adventures’ focus is to create beautiful, high-quality products that deliberately celebrate and build the grandparent / grandchild relationship. Each product within the “Here We Go!” adventure line gives our GrandCampers all the ingredients to encourage simple and easy sharing of family stories and creating of new memories through play. This deepens bonds and has kids begging to go to grandma’s house. Because these experiences are rooted in play, they become what we call “sticky” memories.
- “Here We Go!” Around-the-World Family Adventure storybook sets the stage for grandparents and grandchildren to use their imaginations and plan adventures together.
- “Here We Go!” CD gives grandparents and their grandkids shared music. Many families play the CD in the car on the way to grandma and grandpa’s house. Some grandparents and grandchildren have selected one of the songs from the CD and made it their own special song.
- Shake It Up, besides being a fun game for all generations, helps bond grandparents and grandchildren with a handshake they have created together and can use every time they greet one another.
- The Search for Longbeard’s Treasure gives grandparents a way to play with their grandchildren while also teaching them about their family treasures. When played at the grandparent’s house, the treasure hunt changes the house and yard into a fun playground rich with treasures and experiences.
- The Meerkats — Grammie Gigi, Aidan and Papa — reinforce the grandparent/grandchild relationship by reminding each of the other. Grandchildren quickly equate Grammie Gigi and Papa with their own grandparents, giving the dolls hugs when they are not with their grandparents.
Patricia Babuka, Family Expert & Founder/CEO of Grand Camp Adventures
About the author: Owner of JamericanSpice. Sharing my journey in the present, from the past or thoughts for my future. Mom of two who loves to travel and read and decipher people.
I have SOOOO many grands, three new ones since July!! I also have three great grands. They are all so precious. Thanks for blogging about our babies and grands! lol
ReplyDeleteColette, you blessed many lives when you were coming up. God knew you were too special for one household. Love and blessings!