Three ways you can support your grandchildren
Being a grandparent can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life.
Whether you can offer them advice or lend a helping hand when it comes to their childcare, your support and involvement will not go unnoticed. This article will share some of the ways you can support your grandchildren, no matter their age, and help create strong bonds that will last a lifetime.
Share wisdom
Children can often find it hard to speak to their parents openly and honestly, so having a figure they can look up to and confide in will provide them with a safe space to share any concerns or worries they may have.
You can also use your years of lived experiences to give them advice that they may not be able to get from anyone else. It’s also an opportunity for bonding over memories from your own life that they may not know about.
This doesn’t just apply to your grandchildren themselves; your child may be a new parent longing for advice in the first weeks and months of this new chapter in their lives. And who better to turn to than the people who raised you?
Offer financial support
If you are in a position to be able to do so, being there to provide financial support to your children and grandchildren can be one of the greatest gifts you can bestow.
You could consider contributing towards a family holiday or a birthday celebration, so you can witness your grandchildren making special memories that you can share with them.
Alternatively, you could choose to put money aside for your grandchildren to feel the benefit of in later life. If you are able, you could choose to invest a lump sum into a savings account like a fixed-rate bond where you will receive a fixed interest rate on your investment.
Read more: acting was a legacy from my grandmother
Provide child care
One of the most challenging things for new parents to navigate is making sure they have the right childcare in place for their little ones.
Childcare can often be expensive, and many parents turn to their family and friends for support in looking after their children when they eventually go back to work after maternity and paternity leave.
Providing you are close enough geographically to do so, you could offer to help with caring for your grandchildren on a regular basis. Not only will this alleviate stress for your children, but it will also give you valuable time to spend in your grandchildren’s company.
You could take them for walks around the park, or just enjoy afternoons at home spent getting creative or playing with toys. This time you spend together can have a lasting impact on a young child’s future, making them feel safe, loved and secure.