If you are absolutely GaGa about those little people you know as grandchildren, we have a group of other women you ought to meet! Donne Davis heads this national membership organization of women who explore together what it means to be a modern grandmother. Because grandmothers have time, technology access, and unique talents, they are uniquely suited to connect with their grandchildren in ways that benefit both generations.
Grandma RaRa and I met with the GaGa Sisterhood in July to share some of our ideas about connecting with grandchildren. Donne has generously provided access to part of that meeting so we can share it with you:
Grandma RaRa (Marilee Woodfield) shared an important aspect of our mission at Playdatebox:
“There is a lot of research on grandparenting that shows a strong correlation between the mental and physical health of grandparents who are engaged with their grandkids, and better mental and physical health for grandchildren who are involved with their grandparents. It goes beyond just having a connection.”
Those outcomes are worth fighting for, so we showed the GaGas how to begin with a picture book and then expand on the themes from the book by adding hands-on activities you can enjoy together. The goal is that both the grandparent and the grandchild are playing. Our brains are wired to enjoy activities are challenging but also fun. This means PLAY. A Playdatebox is simply a way to create the opportunity for connection.
“You do have to go to where your grandkids are,” cautioned Marilee. “I’ve got a grandson who is completely obsessed with anything football. So if I can talk to him about football, he and I can have a conversation that he cares about.” She pointed out that once grandchildren are older and you compete with social media to get their attention, you need to be willing to “learn their game.” The GaGas discussed ideas for fun ways to engage the minds and hearts of older grandchildren as part of our session.
One grandma was especially looking forward to an upcoming opportunity to take her oldest grandson on a “college tour” to several of the universities he was considering. One of them happened to be Grandma’s Alma Mater. What a great opportunity to have him as a “captive audience” on a road trip! This got the GaGas going as we shared our ideas for podcast episodes they might both enjoy, roadside stops she could plan, and a list of life story questions for him to ask her—all with the intent of making his experience unforgettable.
Learn more about the GaGa Sisterhood at GaGaSisterhood.com. The online GaGas meet bi-monthly.