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Celebrate the Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship

Sep 19, 2016 10:14AM ● By News Desk

Celebrate the Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship

This year, National Grandparents Day is Sept. 11th. Most Acadiana schools recognize Grandparent’s Day by inviting grandparents to have lunch with their grandkids on a designated school day. This year, take the extra initiative to celebrate the unique and important bond between grandparents and grandchildren, throughout the year. Both parties benefit greatly from this relationship in a positive way. Celebrate that union with the following suggestions.

Tips for celebrating grandparents and grandchildren: 

  • Take a first step. If the grandparent–grandchild relationships in your family hasn’t been ideal. You can begin with small steps, such as a phone call, or sharing a meal.

  • Make them feel special. Think about what makes the grandparents and grandchildren in your family really feel special. What do they enjoy the most? It may be as simple as a phone call, watching a movie, or sharing a meal together. Or it may require a bit more planning—taking a trip to a favorite destination together. Whatever you do, make it significant to them. 

  • Write a letter to your grandparents. Tell them how much you appreciate them. Telling them in person or on the phone is good, too, but a letter is something they can keep and go back to again and again.

  • Help grandchildren make a series of cards for grandparents. Take an afternoon to make cards to prepare into envelopes to mail weekly or monthly to facilitate ongoing interaction.

  • Create a memory book, memoir, scrapbook or a family history tale. This is a great way to capture grandparent's lives for grandchildren to keep. Taking time to do this ensures that your grandchildren will always have a record of your family history or stories.

  • Plan a weekly or monthly dinner. Gather the whole family and play games that all generations can enjoy together.  Have the children cook for the family or do it together. They can learn family recipes this way. The best memories are made when laughing and having fun.


Tip for Grandparents: 

Phone calls on big days. Kids have a lot of responsibilities and stress in today’s world. A phone call from Grandma and Grandpa on the day of a big game, a test or another important event in a grandchild's life can let them know they are important, loved and may ease some of their anxiety knowing they have outside support besides Mom and Dad, who also may be stressed.


Sources: AARP and National Institute on Aging.