bluehair technology & rockin’ readers · the art of grandparenting becoming a grandparent...
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Bluehair Technology & Rockin’ Readers
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For 50+ Moms & Pops!
Kim DeRose
Lesson Objectives
Understand the unique roles of
grandparents in the lives of grandchildren
Identify needs and resources for
grandparents caring for grandchildren in
unique circumstances
Plan practical steps to be involved with
grandchildren and build closer relationships
with them
Nine Things to Remember When
Grandchildren Come to Visit
1. The voice of one 3-year-old crying is
louder than those of 20 adults laughing.
2. A 6-year-old can start a fire with a flint
rock.
3. VCR/DVD players do not eject peanut
butter and jelly sandwiches.
4. Always look in the oven before you turn
it on. Plastic toys and cats do not like
ovens.
Nine Things to Remember When
Grandchildren Come to Visit
5. Play dough is not microwaveable.
6. When you hear the toilet flush and the
words “uh-oh,” it already is too late.
7. Car keys are perfect for dropping down
any vent.
8. Marbles in gas tanks make a lot of noise
when driving.
9. Cats get dizzy when dropped down stairs
while in a bag.
The Art of Grandparenting
Becoming a
grandparent puts adults
in the role of mentors to
a new generation –
guiding, giving and
engaging young people
to see the future and
what they can become.
What Do Folks Say
About Being a Grandparent?
“If I had known grandchildren were going to be
so much fun, I would have had them first.”
“If your baby never fusses, always sleeps
through the night and is an absolutely perfect
baby – you are not the parent, you are the
grandparent.”
Ourselves – the Grandparents
• Were you close to a grandparent?
• Were/are your parents close to your children?
• How did you feel when your first grandchild
was born?
• Can you see yourself as the emotional leader
of your family?
• What are the things you uniquely can teach
your grandchild?
What Grandparents Can Do
• Impart a sense of identity
• Provide unconditional love
• Represent hope for the future
• Be a source of stability and security
• Act as a mentor and teacher
• Exemplify positive values, ideals, beliefs
• Nurture emotional and physical well-being
• Be a role model and play companion
Multiple Roles of Grandparents
What are some of the important roles
grandparents play in family life?
• Storyteller
• Watchdog
• Family historian
• Supporter, nurturer
• Game player
• Someone to discuss problems with
• Joke teller
• Keeper of the faith
Grandparenting in
Unique Circumstances
Grandparents sometimes face unique
situations in family life, such as:
• Maintaining good-quality relationships with
parents of their grandchildren
• Grandparenting after parental divorce
• Grandparenting stepgrandchildren
• Grandparenting at a distance
• Grandparents raising grandchildren
Relationships with
Your Grandchild’s Parents
• Have you talked with the parents about
what kind of grandparent they would like
you to be for their child?
• Have you told them what kind of
grandparent you would like to be?
• Can you communicate with them?
• How can you be supportive of them?
Grandparents
Raising Grandchildren
• Grandparent families are particularly
vulnerable to challenges in keeping their
grandchildren safe and meeting their basic
needs.
• Though their needs are serious and unique,
few programs assist intergenerational
families.
• Grandparent caregivers may fall between the
cracks of foster care, aging, education and
disability service systems.
Reasons for Grandparents
Raising Grandchildren
The U.S. government estimates up to 2.5 million
children are under the care of a grandparent.
Why?
• substance abuse
• child abuse and neglect
• teenage pregnancy
• death of parent
• parental unemployment
• parental divorce or abandonment
• AIDS/HIV
• incarceration
Grandparent Support Groups
• Share coping strategies
• Manage feelings such as anger, guilt
• Find encouragement and strength
• Exchange ideas and resources
• Improve problem solving
• Learn to laugh again
Bluehair Technology & Rockin’
Reader
• Unique opportunities at Little Mill Middle School
• BYOT training classes to help with
• Checking grades
• Staying in touch with teachers
• Viewing assignments and homework
• Volunteer in academic classes
• Even teens and preteens love to be read to by a
caring adult!
• Grands bring a unique perspective and experience
to novels and social studies content
Bluehair Technology & Rockin’
Reader
• Plan for other social activities
• Local library programs for seniors
• Senior center events
• Grand/child educational events at LMMS and in the community
• Others that you would like to see happen to help you be included
here at LMMS
Your Circle of Support –
Group Activity
Consider the people on whom you can rely.
• Draw a “Circle of Support” – a list of people you can
count on to help in certain situations.
• Start with a bull’s-eye – in the middle would be the
child/the family.
• The next circle – contains the list of people we can count
on in an emergency (e.g., other family members, closest
friends, etc.).
• Next circle – list “occasional helpers” (e.g., neighbors,
favorite baby sitters, the child’s friends’ families, others in
the support group).
• Last circle – consists of outside resources,
(e.g., agencies, schools, support services, etc.).
Giving to the Next Generation
Erik Erikson, a famous psychologist, taught
that the most important task of adulthood is
generativity – the task of giving of yourself to
the next generation.
• What are you giving?
• What are you giving to your grandchildren?
Eight Best Gifts
for Grandchildren
1. Spend time one-on-one with grandchildren.
2. Listen for their concerns as well as
their joys.
3. Send special letters and notes just for
them.
4. Offer companionship for activities
they enjoy.
Eight Best Gifts
for Grandchildren
5. Share your history and family traditions.
6. Be a role model to show grandchildren that
older people can be fun.
7. Show grandchildren acceptance just as they
are while encouraging them to reach their
potential.
8. Give the best gift of all — love.
Final Discussion Points
• Share a memory you have of time
spent with your grandparent.
• If you have grandchildren, share an
activity you like to do with them.