Many in retirement are travelling comfortably, with three key factors contributing to their happiness – good physical and mental health and enough money to enjoy life.
Perhaps the assumption that markets are still anchored by predictable economic policies needs to be challenged. For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall, political volatility – once background noise – is potentially reshaping investment risk at a structural level.
Helping educate grandchildren brings its own special rewards
Most of us love being grandparents. It’s a vastly different experience to being a parent, as it often seems better and not just because we can hand them back.
For many, it brings far more pleasure than pain, and nowhere can this be more evident than when we read to our grandchildren, with the educational benefits it bestows a bonus.
But is there more we can contribute towards their education? Think about these seven ways that you can get involved as a grandparent.
Plan: If you want to be involved in their education, the first step should be talking with your grandchildren’s parents. Make sure they are on board with your involvement and set expectations and boundaries. The role of a grandparent in a child’s life is priceless, but your enthusiasm shouldn’t cross any lines or disrupt the family dynamic. Communicate your hopes, goals and intentions, and listen to any hopes or concerns parents might have.
Volunteer: If you live near your grandchildren, you may be able to volunteer at their school. Schools always have volunteer opportunities, and you can be near your grandchildren in their educational environment. From helping in the library to being a teacher’s aide, volunteer opportunities abound in today’s school system.
Most Australian schools, especially in the primary sector, have a grandparents’ day each year. If you have the opportunity, make the most of it – the day will typically involve an assembly, followed by a visit to your grandchild’s class where they will likely show you what they’ve been doing or engage in a joint activity.
Express an interest: Children crave acceptance and validation. Even children who claim not to care do care. Grandparents are wonderful people to offer this unconditional relationship. This doesn’t mean you can’t express disapproval or offer your wisdom, but it does mean that grandparents have the freedom to cultivate a relationship without the pressures that come with parenthood.
Communicating with your grandchildren is essential. Keep the lines of communication open so as not to be too distant. Children are often specific about the types of communication they choose to use regularly, so you might have to make sure you’re up on some of the latest technology.
Jump into action: Get to know their interests, passions and pursuits. Offer to help them with projects. Lighten their parents’ load by running them to and from practice. Attend concerts, plays and games. Another effective approach for participating in your grandchildren’s education is making yourself available to help with homework or to prepare for exams.
And, yes, this even extends to maths, where often grandparents will complain that their grandchildren use different methods for computing (long multiplication, division, etc.). Don’t let that put you off – ask them to explain the method they use with an easy example, and, hopefully, you’ll twig and be able to help with harder examples.
Encourage: Children experience a wide range of frustrations, emotions, successes and failures in their education. Grandparents are well qualified to engage in conversation about these ups and downs. Without the parental strings attached, you can be a friendly ear, a comforting hug and a reassuring smile.
Invest financially: If you’re able, investing in your grandchildren’s education through financial support can be a blessing to your family. From helping with expenses during primary and secondary school to the costs of higher education, investing financially is a tangible way to participate in their education.
If you’re local, the experiences you fund are great opportunities to get involved. Go with them to the zoo. Plan the field trip with them and experience it together. Participation is one of the best ways to be involved; these are wonderful times to enjoy.
Adopt a grandchild: If you’re a grandparent who isn’t local or a senior without grandchildren, don’t forget the “orphans” in your local community. Millions of children don’t have involved grandparents and would benefit from having an “adoptive” grandparent involved in their education.
Worth the effort: Whether you’re near or far, related by blood, marriage or have a relationship based simply on affection, the influence and impact that you can have on education are undeniable.
Children and their families face many challenges, especially since COVID. It’s a different world today, and they will benefit from your wisdom, perspective, love, support and resources. With creativity and determination, you can have a long-term impact on the young people you love the most.
