5 Successful Styles of Grandparenting

What are Successful Grandparenting Styles?

• There are many different successful styles of grandparenting, each offering a unique contribution to the life of a grandchild. Although grandparenting is the act of caring for {or involvement with} one’s grandchildren or the children of one’s children there are a variety of meaningful ways to do it. Not one size fits all.
• Grandparenting is a role that is highly respected and cherished in many cultures. It comes with a great deal of prior experience, knowledge, and love that can shape a child’s entire life.
• The role of a grandparent can differ from one individual family to the next. From ‘that’ sexy grandpa (the one who thinks he is), to the crazy and wild grandma who will ride every roller coaster there is, to the grandparents that may be growing more than broccoli in their garden, all the way down to the warm and fuzzy grandma with never ending hugs and a batch of cookies in the oven, there is a never ending supply of diversity when it comes to those tender hearted folks who raised your grandchildren’s folks.
• In fact, there are so many to grandparenting styles to choose from that in this blog post, we’ll only be exploring 5 of those successful styles and, whatever category you fall into, how exactly they each enrich the relationship with your grandchildren.

How Important are Grandparents?

• Grandparents can be a source of support for both grandchildren and their parents, including emotional support during times of transition in their lives such as moving, starting school or going through a divorce.
• They act as role models by teaching values that help children learn to make good decisions. Through the combination of patience, love and wisdom they can help children develop a sense of self-esteem, compassion for others, and a healthy respect for authority.
• They can offer a different perspective on life gained through the wisdom they’ve acquired from their own life experiences.
• Children often experience less emotional and behavioral problems when they share close loving relationships with their grandparents because the positive influence that grandparents can have on their grandchildren’s social and emotional development can be profound.
• Additionally, grandparents can help preserve family history and traditions that their grandchildren may not otherwise have access to. This helps connect the generations and promote a sense of identity that is rooted in family heritage.
• Ultimately, grandparents have many gifts to offer their grandchildren – unconditional love, wisdom, stability, and a connection to the past. With guidance from their grandparents, children can gain an understanding of what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves – a loving and supportive family. among other things. By nurturing these relationships with their grandkids, grandparents can help shape the future of generations to come.

What are Some of the 5 Different Styles of Successful Grandparenting?

Formal Grandparenting

• Formal grandparents maintain a healthy but uninvolved relationship with their grandchildren. They show an interest in their grandchild’s life but don’t intrude or get too involved.
• They offer advice and wisdom but rarely take on disciplinary roles. When it comes to discipline, they leave that to the parents.
• Formal grandparents can be a great resource for support, especially during difficult times. They keep a safe distance, while also offering love and guidance when the parents need it.
• Their child-rearing experience and perspective can provide a sounding board for parents.
• Grandparents of this type are often highly respected by their grandchildren and can serve as wonderful role models for them to look up to.

Companionate Grandparenting

• Companionate grandparents are more relaxed and informal when it comes to their relationship with their grandchildren.
• They enjoy spending time with their grandchildren,
• Often imparting family history, values, and traditions.
• They act as role models and confidants,
• Offering guidance and affirmation to their grandchildren.

Fun-Seeking Grandparenting

• Fun-seeking grandparents are the playmates of their grandchildren.
• They are adventurous, enthusiastic, and love participating in activities.
• Fun-seeking grandparents often take their grandchildren on outings and vacations,
• Offering a fun and entertaining experience for the whole family.

Surrogate Grandparenting

• Surrogate grandparents take on the social role for nearby children. This can occur by volunteering at the schools in their area or churches. Sometimes grandparents even go to work for places such as CASA where they are child advocates for children in the juvenile dependency system.
• They offer their love and support to children who may not have grandparents nearby.
• It’s a special bond that benefits both the surrogate grandparent and child.
• Surrogate grandparents can have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of the children they support.

Distant Grandparenting

• Distant grandparents are physically or emotionally distant from their grandchildren.
• They have minimal contact with their grandchildren and in some cases when there is contact, it’s cold and unemotional.
• This style of grandparenting is less popular among families,
• Some circumstances, such as in our case, conditions prevent grandparents from being closer to their grandchildren, even though that is not the desired situation.
• It’s essential to maintain communication in these instances to ensure the bond between grandparent and grandchild remains. One creative way to do this is to write letters and cards between grandparent and grandchildren. Grab some fun stationary and give it a try. Your grandkids will love it.

Conclusion

• Grandparenting is one of the great joys of life. These five different styles of successful grandparenting offer a unique perspective on how grandparents can contribute to their grandchildren’s lives. Every grandparent has their own style, and it’s up to the grandparent and child to find a balance that works for them. Whether formal, companionate, fun-seeking, surrogate, or distant, the love and guidance grandparents offer is invaluable. As we age, the importance of family and relationships becomes even more apparent. Grandparenting offers a chance for these relationships to flourish. I share here about other grandparents doing just that.
• Whatever your style of grandparenting is, your grandchildren always need your prayers. Whether you are miles away or up close and personal, they all need an extra covering of blessings prayed over them. I designed a prayer chart just for grandparents. I know with myself I have a few of the little cherubs and I would never come out of my prayer closet if I spent every day praying for each one. So, I have a monthly prayer chart with their names in a specific day and on that day, I devote my prayers over that particular child. It works for me. If you would like one for yourself, shoot me an email and I’ll send you a free copy!!