Different Factors In How Grandparents Are Raising Grandchildren

It’s of no news anymore about Grandparents seen raising their Grandchildren nowadays. This often occurs in a situation whereby the child/children’s parents are not available due to external or internal factors.

These factors may likely be when the parents are dead, seriously ill, have some mental disorders, in jail or living below the normal required standard by the Government.

Other factors could be due to parent’s character such as being an addict, keeping a bad company which could greatly affect the kid’s future. Any of these factors can initiate the action of a grandparent into carrying the responsibility and making sure the kids are brought up well in every aspect. They are the right people highly required to raise those kids.

Nationwide, more than 2.7 million Grandparents were recorded, raising their Grandchildren. However this is not an actual number because there is a continuous increase in the number of Grandparents assuming responsibility of nurturing their Grandchildren each day. In 2009, the number of Grandparents raising their Grandchildren dramatically rose by 7%.

Benefits of Grandparents raising Grandchildren

A grandparent raising their Grandchildren; of course both have advantages.

· Sense of responsibility

Most grandparents lost their will to live because there’s obviously no responsibility to carry. With the presence of their Grandchildren, they become energetic and feel responsible for the general wellbeing of the kid(s) being raised.

This is of a significant effect on the kid(s) as they will be thoroughly guided on whatever they need to do, due to the fact that the Grandparents already regained their sense of responsibility.

· Knowledge Impartation

There is a popular adage that talked about the wisdom of an old man compared to his son. You should know better by now that, Grandparents are definitely expected to be knowledgeable in various aspects of life. Why? Because they have lived far longer than the kid’s parent or the kid(s) themselves!

They have experienced a lot of up and downs in life, gained more wisdom and understanding. With all these, they could teach the kid(s) in their care with perfect consideration.

During a personal conversation with each other, they could enlighten the kid(s), thoroughly advise and impart some of their knowledge into them. These would restructure, build and give a distinguished personality to the kid(s) among peers.

Not only would their mode of thinking be perfectly different from peers, it would be outstanding. You would of course notice that such kid(s) behave more matured than their mates.

· A better Alternative

Surely, it is better to allow Grandparents take care of Grandchildren than allowing stranger. You can’t predict what would happen during the cause of handing over the kids to someone they don’t know and this would affect the kid(s) sociality.

Having a Grandparent to raise Grandchildren would be a better choice because developing a relationship between the two wouldn’t be so difficult. Grandparents tend to care more for their Grandchildren and are more cautious.

Negative effects of Grandparents raising Grandchildren

Everything that has a benefit or an advantage would surely have its Negative counterpart as well. There are a lot of disadvantages of Grand parenting such as poor financial status of the Grandparents, physical disabilities, and loss of memories.

Some kids may find it difficult to even go along with their Grandparents and this would never allow a good connection between them. In the end, it’s more a family of strangers.

· Financial problems

It takes a lot to successfully raise Grandchildren and these Grandparents may not be up for the task due to their poor financial status. An average Grandparent receives about $80 to $100 but this might not be okay to provide a standard life for the kid(s).

And eventually, they might need to reach out to their relations, if any at all. If there is none, then this act of Grand parenting would not be an easy one.

· Physical disabilities

Some Grandparents could be physically disabled and this would optimally reduce the effectiveness of their parenting especially if the kid(s) is/are below 12 years of age.

· Memory loss

This is a very common outcome of old age and a large percentage of Grandparents have this.

Imagine a situation whereby the kid placed on drugs and it needs to be used at the appropriate time, there is a likely possibility the hour scheduled to take the drug would be missed once in a time.

Resources for Grandparents

Along the line of raising a Grandchild, situations whereby the kid(s) would disobey you or do things that could infuriate you; all of these will arise. Sometimes, Grandparents may not have the ability to meet up the financial needs.

The good news is that, there are some resources that could be of help for Grandparents with the responsibility of raising their Grandchildren in one way or two.

Most countries have their own aid for Grandparents including Defense lines and Medical help. Others could be financial support.

To see the resources given to Grandparents in your state and country (USA), check www.childrensdefense.org and www.benefitscheckup.org out. For other countries, check your state’s welfare office.

• Medical aid

The federal or state government provides a platform for all Grandchild to be registered for Medical support. This would somehow serve as an Insurance to the Grandchild/Grandchildren being parented.

• Financial support

Like I earlier mentioned, the Government financially aids Grandparents who have issues with finance. The support covers majority of almost every needs necessary for raising the Grandchild.

• Defense

Most important of all is Defense aid. Every kid needs some degree of protection, not to talk of kids under their Grandparent’s care. The government provides all these, extensively.

Tips for Grandparents on raising their children’s Kid(s)

Grand parenting is a very difficult task and many Grandparents could get discouraged over time but there are some tips that could be used to successfully raise the kid(s).

• Seek support

You don’t necessarily have to depend on yourself all through. Seek help from a third party, preferably governmental. Find out about support groups around you and take the initiative to check them up. www.aarp.org is an online resource that could provide you with such information.

• Become a Legal guardian

To make certain decisions regarding education and some important medical treatment like surgery, you need to become your Grandchild’s Legal guardian. Complete the necessary paperwork and obtain this status.

• Apply for child tax credits

If Grandparent’s income is too low to be depended on, they should apply for Child tax credits or Additional child tax credits for more than one Grandchild.

• Your health matters

Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Being alive, hale and healthy is beneficial for your Grandchild. If anything happens, the Grandchild won’t find it easy.

• Child health insurance

Register for a free health insurance for your Grandchild through the government. And if there’s no free one around, apply for a low cost health insurance within your budget if possible.

• Safety precautions

Electrical appliances, sharp or lethal instruments, deadly substances and anything that pose a threat to your Grandchild’s safety should be removed immediately.

There is a pool in your house? Cover it up!

• Commitment

Grandparents must strive towards building a family with their Grandchild. To do these, they need to establish trust with their Grandkids, hear them out and encourage them when necessary. With time, you are going to have a strong, happy family if you are well committed.

Conclusion

No matter how much debate is being held on this issue of Grand parenting, it is never going to be an easy task for both parties –the Grandparent and Grandkid(s). However, the benefits are not bad either. A child nursed by Grandparents could eventually do better than one nurtured by real parents. It all depends on the circumstances placed before them.

Considering the rate at which Grand parenting increases, the government needs some adequate measures to curb or regulate effectively, this issue.

In the future if not regulated now, more than 50% of kid(s) would be likely nurtured by Grandparents. Not only would this increase the aid of Government in this circumstance, this could highly affect the rules of standard parenting and lead to poor development of kids in some cases. Nevertheless, it would be better advised that kid(s) without parents are left with their Grandparents rather than a stranger or foster homes.