How to teach our grandchildren what we expect

www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com Karen Best Wright

As I continue to read the book Common Sense Parenting, I realize much of parenting really is just common sense. Even so, many times the simplest things can go over our heads, especially if we are tired and frustrated. Grandparents who are raising grandchildren are often tired and frustrated.

After deciding what are reasonable expectations for your grandchild, follow 3 steps. First, demonstrate or model the expectation. Second, make sure the child understands what you expect. And third, have the child demonstrate what you expect.

Here is a simple example, if you are trying to teach your grandchild how to answer the telephone politely. You could role-play using a disconnected phone. Show them how you want them to answer the phone by demonstrating. When the phone is for someone else, show them how to gently lay the phone down and go and get the person, rather than yelling into the phone "Mom, it's for you." After they have practiced with a disconnected phone, let them show you they know how to answer the phone politely by actually doing it with you observing.

Follow these 3 steps with whatever you are teaching - demonstrate or model, make sure child understands, and then have child demonstrate what you expect. Sometimes this can be very simple and sometimes more effort will be required depending, of course, on what is being taught and expected.