Purdue University
Agricultural Extension Service
Mimeo, HE-57 November, 1951 (9C)

HOW GRANDPARENTS CAN ENRICH CHILDREN'S LIVES
By Dorothy V. Mummery
Family Life Specialist
Being a Good Grandmother
-Being a good grandmother depends first of all on being a well rounded and well adjusted person. The lesson to this point, has dealt with the subject. It requires interests, understanding of others, unselfishness, adaptability.
-Children Need Grandmothers. Grandmothers who have these characteristics have much to contribute to children. Children who have missed associations with a grandmother who has learned to grow old gracefully have missed one of life's enriching experiences, Bobby said: "Grandmother, you're the most important person I know."
-What Grandmothers can Give Children.
1,	Grandparents can give a special kind of love, —unconditional love, and little punishment. Children cannot get too much love. Few children get enough. They need many kinds of love — of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends of all ages — different kinds of love expressed in different ways.
Being loved by many kinds of people, being held, played with, having your needs met by others in addition to your parents, gives babies confidence in people and confidence in their own ability because he has many resources for meeting his needs.
Parents who do not keep these sources of love for their children, but let them drift away, are cheating their children.
2.	Grandparents give children a tie with the past which gives them a feeling of stability and belongingness. Families move a great deal, but more often grandparents stay put and can give stability when moving brings a sense of isolation and insecurity. Children like stories about parents and grandparents many years ago. These often give them a sympathy for older people.
3. Grandparents can give children a find sense of values and a philosophy which is the result of years of living. Often years later in moments of stress something grandmother has said will help one through a difficult time.
4. Grandparents can give children many happy hours, much joy and add much to their education and zest for living,
-	Rocking, singing to, loving babies.
-	Taking walks around the block with the two-year-old. This may take more
time than Mother has for there are side excursions up every driveway.
-	Playing tea party, telling stories, playing house with preschool children.
-	Playing checkers and games with older children.
-	Letting children cook and "mess around" the kitchen.
-	Writing letters to children and giving presents.