One-on-One Time with Grandchildren

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of spending quality time with each of my grandchildren individually, and how best to do it. As they are growing up (way too quickly!) they are learning and changing and beginning to have very distinct and different interests.  They still play together and have some shared interests, but lately I’ve noticed they are each developing stronger individual interests. 

I have thought about different ways to show that I am interested in connecting with each of them about what interests them.  My husband and I try to attend as many of their activities as possible, showing support individually or to their teams.  I know my adult children still remember the support they received from their grandparents, who attended their activities throughout their early years and into high school and even college.  Their grandparents got to know their friends and teammates, and that meant a lot to my children and still does.  They have very fond and vivid memories of that support, and I would like to do the same with my own grandchildren.

Beyond attending their games and events, I’d like to have one-on-one time with each of them and do things together that are meaningful and connected to their individual interests.  Either I can choose or if they have a good idea, they can choose! These individual interactions can be as simple as having them take you on a tour of their school, going on a nature walk, going to the library, or picking them up from an activity and having them talk about the activity and their day.  Some more in-depth activities could be spending the day at a museum or zoo or playground, attending a play or performance or sporting event together, taking an adventure to a city or town, playing at a beach or other favorite spot.

Another approach is to involve them in something you know and love to do. I’m a “crafter/maker” and typically have multiple projects going on at the same time such as cooking, rug hooking, or knitting. Recently, my oldest granddaughter took great interest in my finished rug hooking projects.  She had lots of questions so I packaged up a little kit for her so I could teach her how to make something for herself. This connects us on a different level—it is quite a feeling when your grandchildren take an interest in something you love so much!  And it means a lot to them that you will share the things that you enjoy. I learned to rug hook from my mother, so passing it on to another generation would be a nice family legacy.  Another granddaughter shows interest in my knitting—I am just waiting until she is a little older so I can teach her! 

Through these one-on-one connections I expect to develop a deeper connection with each of them. Showing interest in them and what they do and think and feel is a great gift! As they grow up, all kids need to have lots of support in their lives, and I hope that by making these genuine connections they will feel supported and understood by me—and if they ever need a trusted adult to turn to, they will always know that I am available to them.