Home > Strengthening Families and Communities: 2009 Resource Guide > Chapter 6: Tip Sheets for Parents and Caregivers - Raising Your Grandchildren

Strengthening Families and Communities: 2009 Resource Guide

Author(s):  Child Welfare Information Gateway, Children's Bureau, FRIENDS National Resource Center For Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention

Year Published:  2009

Email Order (Free)  Share  Tip Sheet (PDF 157 KB)

 English Tip Sheets (PDF 764 KB)  Guide (PDF 2674 KB)

We value your opinion!
Please comment on this publication by taking our brief survey. Your answers are anonymous and will help us better meet your future information needs. Give Us Feedback on This Publication

previous

You are in section: Table of Contents Letter From the Children’s Bureau About the Resource Guide Protective Factors for Strengthening… Levers for Change: Deepening and Sustaining… Using Evidence to Support Efforts… Promoting the Five Protective… Nurturing and Attachment Knowledge of Parenting and… Parental Resilience Social Connections Concrete Supports for Parents Tools for Engaging Your Community Engaging Community Partners Tips for Working With Specific Groups Talking Points Temas de conversación Sample Press Release for National… Ejemplo de boletín de prensa Sample Public Service Announcements Ejemplo de anuncio de servicio público… Sample Letter to Legislators Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Child Maltreatment National Child Abuse Prevention Partners Federal Interagency Work Group on Child… Using the Tip Sheets for Parents and Caregivers Bonding With Your Baby Usted y su bebé: El lazo que los une Dealing With Temper Tantrums Los berrinches Connecting With Your Teen Cómo relacionarse con su hijo adolescente Teen Parents...You’re Not Alone! Hay muchos padres adolescentes como usted Ten Ways to Be a Better Dad Diez maneras de ser un mejor padre Raising Your Grandchildren Cómo criar al hijo de un pariente

next

Chapter 6: Tip Sheets for Parents and Caregivers
Raising Your Grandchildren

What's Happening

No matter why or how they came to live with you, your grandchildren will benefit from being in your home. When children cannot be with their parents, living with a grandparent may provide:

• Fewer moves from place to place
• The comfort of a familiar language and culture
• A chance to stay with siblings
• More contact with their parents, depending on the situation

(Back to Top)

What You Might Be Seeing

Despite these benefits, the children will face some unique challenges.

• They may feel insecure and unsure that you will take care of them.
• They may act out or challenge you.
• They will miss their parents.
• They may be anxious or depressed.
• They may seem young or act too old for their ages.

(Back to Top)

What You Can Do

It will take time for your grandchildren to feel safe and secure in their new home with you. You can encourage these good feelings in a number of ways:

• Set up a daily routine of mealtimes, bedtime, and other activities.
• Help your grandchildren feel "at home" by creating a space just for them.
• Talk to your grandchildren, and listen when they talk to you.
• Set up a few rules and explain your expectations. Then, enforce the rules consistently.
• Reward positive behavior. When children make mistakes, focus on teaching rather than punishing.
• Be as involved with their school as you can, and encourage your children to participate in school activities.

This is a big job, and you may need help from your community. Here are some suggestions:

• Help with housing or other bills, clothing, or school supplies may be available specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren in your community.
• Join a support group. Often there are local groups for grandparents raising grandchildren.
• Ask for help and referrals from a church leader, the counselor at your child's school, or a social services agency.
• If necessary, get professional help to address your grandchild's special needs, such as medical care, mental health care, or special education.

Parenting the second time around brings special challenges and special joys. Do not hesitate to ask for help or seek services in your community for yourself and your grandchildren.

This tip sheet was created with input from experts in national organizations that work to protect children and strengthen families. To download this tip sheet or for more parenting tips, go to www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/promoting/parenting or call 800.394.3366.

(Back to Top)

previous

You are in section: Table of Contents Letter From the Children’s Bureau About the Resource Guide Protective Factors for Strengthening… Levers for Change: Deepening and Sustaining… Using Evidence to Support Efforts… Promoting the Five Protective… Nurturing and Attachment Knowledge of Parenting and… Parental Resilience Social Connections Concrete Supports for Parents Tools for Engaging Your Community Engaging Community Partners Tips for Working With Specific Groups Talking Points Temas de conversación Sample Press Release for National… Ejemplo de boletín de prensa Sample Public Service Announcements Ejemplo de anuncio de servicio público… Sample Letter to Legislators Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Child Maltreatment National Child Abuse Prevention Partners Federal Interagency Work Group on Child… Using the Tip Sheets for Parents and Caregivers Bonding With Your Baby Usted y su bebé: El lazo que los une Dealing With Temper Tantrums Los berrinches Connecting With Your Teen Cómo relacionarse con su hijo adolescente Teen Parents...You’re Not Alone! Hay muchos padres adolescentes como usted Ten Ways to Be a Better Dad Diez maneras de ser un mejor padre Raising Your Grandchildren Cómo criar al hijo de un pariente

next

To view or order materials available from the 2009 Resource Guide, please visit our website at: http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/res_guide_2009/

We value your opinion!
Please comment on this publication by taking our brief survey. Your answers are anonymous and will help us better meet your future information needs. Give Us Feedback on This Publication

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Email Order (Free)  Share  Tip Sheet (PDF 157 KB)  English Tip Sheets (PDF 764 KB)  Guide (PDF 2674 KB)

Updated on October 9, 2009