Ways to Help Kids Bond with Their Grandparents
“Allow them time and space to be together. Grandparents won’t do things exactly how we do them, but allowing them the flexibility and leniency to bond with our son in their own way has enabled them to develop strong bonds. Our son knows that ice cream will likely never be served for breakfast at our house (okay, maybe someday…), but it’s one of his fondest memories so far with his grandparents.” – Marisa
“I don’t think we consciously did anything to get our son to bond with his grandparents, but we make sure that he spends as much time as our schedules allow with them. They are our fill-in babysitters when needed and do drop-offs at daycare whenever we need them to. We try not to have the same toys that each grandparent has – that way, when we go to their houses, the toys are something new and special only grandma and grandpa have to play with.” – Aili
“It’s all about FaceTime on the phone. I encourage my girls to call their grandparents whenever they want and take the phone into their own room and talk without me – it helps to have consistent one-on-one time together.” – Emily
“Their grandparents (on both sides) all live within about 45 minutes of us. Unfortunately, we probably don’t get together as often as we’d like, but my children know that they’re an extension of our family of four. We make every effort to go to breakfast or dinner once a month and they attend many of the kids’ special events, like school concerts, art shows, and sports.” – Melissa
Your child might see grandma and grandpa once a week…or once a year. How do you help them bond with each other?
What to Read Next:
- E-News: Grandparenting from Near or Far: How to Establish a Relationship with Grandchildren At Any Distance
- Family Room blog: Check out Activity Ideas for a Day at Grandma & Grandpa's House
- Read more posts about grandparents from The Family Room bloggers
