Let’s find out how to bond with your grandkids!
Most grandparents want to be close to their grandkids, but how does one do this? Being the confidant of your grandkids, their best friend and their safe place can be an amazing thing to achieve, but this is more complex, and the first thing you should do is bond with your grandkids.
Relationships are not something that just happens. You need to build them, and this piece of advice is also valid for your relationship with your grandchildren. If you want your grandkids to be close to you, you will need to spend time with them and take care of them.
Hopefully, once you retire, you will have the time to do that, but you might lack ideas about what you can do to bond with your grandchildren. Read on and find out how to become the best friend of your grandkids!
1. Find a mutual interest
What better way to bond with your grandkids than by finding something that all of you enjoy? This might be the easiest way to get close to your grandkids and also a good chance to get to know them better.
For example, do they like reading? Amazing! Read the same books, and you can create this book club where you discuss the books you have read. Do they like sports? Then see what their favorite sport is and try to play it with them or go to sporting events.
Participating in activities together is one of the first ways people start lifelong friendships, so why not try it when you want to bond with your grandkids? When you do something together that you all enjoy, this bond will form in no time, and from there, you can start building a stronger relationship.
2. Establish some traditions
Were there any “traditions” you loved as a child? Probably you had some, and wouldn’t it be cool if you could give your grandkids the chance to experience the joys of this?
Maybe you used to go on vacation in the same place every year, or your mom used to bake cookies with you every Saturday. These small things can mean a lot and can help you bond with your grandkids like no other activity.
And even more, this is not just about the bond you create; it is also about the family. Your grandkids can pick up these traditions and carry them on with their kids and grandkids. This is an incredible and heartwarming concept, and you will be remembered by so many after years and years. You can be the one who creates a bond not only with your grandkids but also with future members of the family.
Maybe you can eat at the same restaurant for every special occasion or go on the same mountain hike every spring. These common activities create unbreakable bonds, and since they expect this tradition to happen at the same time every year, they will be even more excited about it.
3. Have a little helper
Maybe you are a busy grandparent who has many tasks to complete and a full schedule that never leaves you with free time to spend together with your grandkids. But that doesn’t mean you will never be able to bond with your grandkids. This is still possible, but you need to learn how to juggle all of your responsibilities.
If you need to do work around the house, such as cooking dinner, doing the laundry, doing the dishes, and so on, you can try to ask your grandkids if they would like to help you. Start a conversation with them.
It is not uncommon for a lot of grandparents to create beautiful bonds with their grandchildren while they are painting, gardening, fixing the car, or doing any other household tasks. Also, you will be surprised that many kids are actually eager to help you, and they can’t wait to see how things are done. Take this as a great opportunity to teach them a good work ethic and a brand new skill.
If you need to drive a lot and you usually take your grandkids with you, this is an amazing conversion starter. During the long rides, you can talk about many things, and you will have time to learn more about your grandkids. Also, you can spend some time having conversations right before bedtime. There are many grandparents who say that this is the moment of the day when they have the deepest conversations with the little ones.
4. Stay in touch
As you can see, conversation is the main thing that will help you bond with your grandkids, and this is why we believe that you should always stay in touch. Yes, it might be simple to connect with them while they are at your house and when you are visiting each other often, but what will happen when they are away?
It is time to get creative and find new ways to continue maintaining your relationship with your grandkids! The most accessible thing you can do is use any video chat app that you have: FaceTime, Skype, and so on. This will give you the chance to constantly connect, even when your grandchildren are away.
If you want to do something that will surely be remembered, you can try the good old snail mail. Nowadays, people don’t send letters anymore, and this is how you can impress your grandkids and also make them feel special when they receive something in the mail that is just for them.
5. Love them
This might sound obvious, but we are here to say it again: If you want to bond with your grandkids and have a healthy relationship with them, you should let them know that you will love them no matter what.
But how can you do this in the most effective way? Well, you need to be there for them whenever they need support, listen to their problems, give them advice, and maybe even more importantly, you should respect their decisions and give them the space that they need.
Let’s say that one of your grandchildren makes a mistake. Our role is to show them that you care about them and that you are ready to support them through the challenges they have to face.
Whenever you mess up and do something that affects them, tell your grandkids what happened and apologize. In this way, they will also learn how to say that they are sorry, and in the end, you will develop a stronger bond with your grandkids.
It is so comforting to know that you have someone in your corner, especially on your bad days, and your grandkids will surely appreciate your presence in their lives. Always validate their feelings and listen to what they are trying to say when they talk.
What do you think about these tips? Do you find them useful? Tell us in the comments!
If you want to find out more about the experience of being a grandparent, the following read might help you learn more: Becoming Grandma: The Joys and Science of the New Grandparenting
You should also read: 4 Hidden Emotional Phases of Retirement No One Talks About
