Starting a grandparent class in your community is easy. First, use the “Grandparent Guide,” (Amazon.com) for the course. Next, all you have to do is to spread the word that you want to start a grandparent class. You can do this using the suggestions above, or by word of mouth in your neighborhood, a newspaper ad, putting posters in stores, telling your friends to spread the word, or by announcing it in your place of worship.
Class Guidelines
- Convene the class twice monthly.
- Have a two-hour session.
- Use each chapter in the book as the text for the class.
- Open the class with a “sharing” period where people might want to share personal experience or grandparent-related events in the news.
- Have one class member assigned to present each topic.
- After the presentation, discuss the topic.
- Have class members share personal stories and experience related to the topic.
- Close the class by appointing a class member to present the next topic. If there are other available sources for the topic, have another class member research them.
- Alert the class to look for supplementary material (see www.grandparenting.org) or other sources (for example newspaper stories, etc.).
CONCLUSION
Starting a Grandparent Class in your community will raise grandparent consciousness. Once your class has become informed about the varied aspects of grandparenting it can bring “Grandparent Power” to bear on identifying and solving local conflicts and problems as well as enhancing your community.