Many of our readers and clients have grandchildren in their lives, and the back-to-school season is a wonderful opportunity for bonding — and for helping foster a love of learning that lasts. Grandparents often have a special kind of influence with their grandkids, and being involved in their education can be genuinely meaningful for both generations. (As always, this works best when it’s coordinated with your children and their partners, so everyone’s on the same page about how involved you’d like to be.) Here are some easy, low-pressure ways to get started this school year.
Be a Homework Buddy
Sometimes the simplest support is just being present. Sitting with a grandchild while they work through their homework helps keep them focused and accountable — and it turns a task they might avoid into shared, comfortable time together. You don’t need to know the material to be helpful; even quiet company at the kitchen table often makes the difference between a homework session that happens and one that doesn’t. If you can help with the material, wonderful; if not, your steady presence is still a real gift.
Encourage a Love of Reading
Reading is one of the most important skills a child develops, and grandparents can play a lasting role in encouraging it — especially with younger kids. If you love to read yourself, try starting a reading challenge together: who can read more books in a week, with a small reward like ice cream on Friday for whoever wins. For younger children, reading circles or reading aloud together works beautifully. And early reading practice can also help catch subtle delays early, so any child who needs extra support gets it when intervention matters most.
Share Your Skills and Interests
You have a lifetime of skills and knowledge that can turn into meaningful learning opportunities. Cooking together teaches measurement, fractions, and following directions. Gardening becomes a hands-on lesson in biology and patience. Fixing something around the house is an introduction to how the world works. Kids often learn most naturally when they don’t realize they’re learning — and doing something you already enjoy together makes the learning stick.
Tell Family Stories and Personal History
You are a living connection to family history and to a period of time your grandchildren can only otherwise read about. Sharing stories about your childhood, your career, how the world has changed over your lifetime, and the family members who came before them gives grandchildren context and identity that no textbook can offer. These conversations often become some of the most treasured memories on both sides of the relationship.
Attend School Events When You Can
Even occasional presence at school events — a school play, an awards ceremony, a science fair — shows a child that their world matters to you. If you’re not sure what’s coming up, ask your children (or your grandchildren directly) for the calendar. Kids notice who shows up, and grandparents in the audience often mean as much as parents.
Staying involved in your grandchildren’s lives is one of the joys of being a grandparent, and it’s easier when everyday tasks aren’t in the way. Our companion care team in Louisville can help with transportation, daily support, and companionship — freeing up your energy for the moments that matter most with the people you love.
Written by Brigid Coffey
