Family & Social Child Developement

8 questions for kids to ask their grandparents

We've launched a campaign to get grandparents and grandkids to bond more. Complete the missions here and stand a chance to win a Staycation + 4 passes to Wild Wild Wet, and some other great prizes!

Grandparents hold a wealth of information, thanks to their wizened years of experience and enthusiasm to share it with others, especially with their grandkids. This is a great thing, because preserving wisdom from the past is a great way for future generations to connect to ones roots. Whether it is done through sharing stories about the good old times, or instilling values, candid conversations create a lasting impression on young minds. This is especially important in today's fast-paced life, where younger generations may be more at ease with connecting to their devices rather than their grandparents. As parents, you can make sure your kids have deeper, more meaningful interactions with grandparents by encouraging them to ask the right questions. Whether it is a casual conversation over meals, or a during a week spent at grandpa's and grandma's during the vacation, here are some suggestions for your kids to start talking to your parents and delve into the past:

Who and what was your family like? This question can dig up some real answers that reveal the family history or traditions. Who grandpa and grandma's brothers and sisters were, how they spent time as a family, and where they stayed (home, neighbourhood) can provide kids a peep into the past, when life was not documented with social media as it is today. Sharing stories from the past will help your kids understand more about their family values as they grow up. The great part is that the elderly will feel important because they get a chance to reminisce and express themselves!
What do you like and not like about growing older: Once your children know about their grandparents' past, it's equally important for them to know about their current life, especially if your kids are old enough. Kids are a great support system for grandparents as they grow older, and creating awareness about their current likes, dislikes, wishes and challenges is important. Prod your kids to ask grandpa and grandma to share what they do like and do not like about growing older, and you will see a strong emotional bond develop over time.
What's the most important lesson you've learnt so far? Giving advice to the younger generation comes naturally to grandparents, and your kids asking the right questions can provide them important life lessons. When grandparents share personal experiences from their lives, these are much better accepted by kids as real-life, genuine advice . Delving deep and discussing life expectations and decoding lessons of the past can help build a strong character foundation for your kids.
How did you meet your spouse? Another topic that is sure to create a deep bond is getting the elders to talk about their spouse. After all, who does not love to talk about their loved ones? Urge them to share how they met each other, what was the marriage like, and how they spent time together. Such soulful sharing is a window into the days of the past, and also a topic with a deep connect.
What did you want to become when you grew up? Pretty much a standard question that every kid encounters, this question will help your kids realize that their grandparents were kids too, just like themselves! And lo! The connect shall deepen! Get your kids to inquire about your grandparents dreams and aspirations, whether they achieved them and how. Grandparents too will get a chance to reminisce their high-spirited days, when they were just like their grandchildren!
How did you spend time without the internet and devices? All seriousness and no play will make grandparent-grandchild conversations boring, so why not ask grandpa and grandma about how they entertained themselves and their friends? Asking about their favorite toys can dig up some very interesting stories about playtime and friends-time. As they recite such fond memories from yesteryears, grandpa and grandma are sure to go down memory lane with wide smiles.
Tell me about when my mom/dad were born: Certain milestone moments stay etched in memory forever, the birth of a child being one such magical memory. Every parent loves talking about their children's childhood, especially the first few days when their babies arrive on this earth. Get your kids to ask about the time when you or your spouse were born and you will get many interesting moments. Prod them to share some silly things that you did as a child, these special memories are sure to bring silly smiles to both your parents/in-laws and children!
What makes you happy? A simple yet profound question, this can help your kids develop different notions of happiness, and explore what happiness means for themselves. A peek into the past can help connect your kids to more organic forms of happiness, a much-needed antidote in today's highly materialistic and connected world. Sharing thoughts on happiness can open up windows to new avenues of happiness, for your little ones.

Initially children may be clueless about how to converse with their grandparents. Parents can intervene and guide their children to ask the right questions and thereby get them to open up with the elderly in the family. The earlier this is done, the better it is. It not only creates open communication channels, but also helps build strong familial bonds which will only strengthen over time, creating an environment of belonging and trust for your children.

We've launched a campaign to get grandparents and grandkids to bond more. Complete the missions and stand a chance to win a Staycation + 4 passes to Wild Wild Wet, and some other great prizes!

About the Author: Rhucha is Mumbai-based writer and poet, travel entrepreneur, baby and maternity photographer and nature lover. She loves to freeze beautiful moments through her words and her lens, whether it is a wildlife expedition or a cute newborn baby.

Sources:

http://redtri.com/interview-with-a-grandparent-10-questions-to-ask/

https://www.familytreemagazine.com/premium/now-what-interviewing-a-grandparent/

http://www.jkhnelson.com/2013/life/37-questions-grandparents-parents/

https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/2013-9-8-20-grandparents-day/