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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren


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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren By Chloe JonPaul

New census data reveals that 4.9 M children under the age of 18 live in grandparent-headed households.  If you are one of those grandparents, you may want to consider these tips as part of your action plan to promote good behavior and cooperation with your grandchild.

Communication Strategies

When a child/teen-ager misbehaves, try saying: ”I’m not angry ` a bit disappointed, maybe because your behavior right now just isn’t matching the good person inside you.  I know that good person is in there and I want to see him/her come out again.”

At the dinner table, try starting a conversation by going around the table to everyone and ask: “What was the best part of your day?”

If you receive a call form a teacher or school administrator about your grandchild’s misbehavior in the classroom, respond with “I’d like to be part of the solution and not the problem.  Tell me what you need and let’s see what we can work out to everyone’s satisfaction”.

Co-operation Strategies

Schedule a periodic family conference to review ground rules.  For example, you can turn clean-up times and homework into a game by playing Beat the Clock.  Set the kitchen timer for an hour and if the child completes the task satisfactorily before the timer goes off, you can offer a small reward.  Believe it or not, my kids earned their TV time this way.

Creative Problem-solving Strategies

             When a child makes a mistake, the best thing you can say is ”That was a perfect mistake for learning something new! Now tell me what you would do differently in the future.”

Check out Creative Problem-solving for Kids by Diane Draze.  She says that “students who learn the principles of CPS develop a sense of control in their lives derived from their ability to deal with situations creatively.”

Another excellent source is the interview done with therapist Sherry Lewis by Jaleh on the Yahoo contributor Network. voices.yahoo.com/teaching-problem-solving-skills-child-7761530.html.

Her A-B-C-D model is a must-read!

Children need to be led gently but firmly in approaching the challenges they will face in life, and you as that child’s grandparent can leave a wonderful legacy using these tools.

 

About Chloe

Her many achievements include:

* Four  published books since 2003: 2 non-fiction, 1 fiction,1 children’s

book

*  Title of Ms. Maryland Senior America 2003

*  Recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship Seminars Abroad award to South

Africa, 1996

* Volunteer internship during the 2005 Maryland legislative session as a Legacy  Leadership Institute graduate

* Lead facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project in prison and

community workshops on conflict resolution for ten years

* Former State representative for the National Family Caregivers

Association’s caregiver community action network 2006-2008

* FormerAdvisory board member:  MD, Healthcare Commission and the Interagency Commission for Aging Services:  Maryland Dept. of Aging

* Hospice volunteer: AIDS patients & veterans

* Volunteer for Warm Nights homeless shelter

* Coordinator for the Good Samaritan Project at her church

* World traveler – all 7 continents.

Chloe’s philosophy of life is:  Find a need and fill it.

Published Titles

What Happens Next? A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits... and More

 

What Happens Next? A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits…and More

Entering the Age of Elegance: A Rite of Passage & Practical Guide for the Modern Maturing Woman

This Business of Children  Fiction

The Girl Who Did Not Like Her Name  children’s book

Chloe is featured in Don McCauley’s book, Fifty Great Writers You Should Be Reading.

www.chloejonpaul.com            www.enteringtheageofelegance.com

 

Christine Crosby

About the author

Christine is the co-founder and editorial director for GRAND Magazine. She is the grandmother of five and great-grandmom (aka Grandmere) to one. She makes her home in St. Petersburg, Florida.

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