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1999 Volunteer Leadership Training Guide
Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children

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Objectives • Major Teaching Points • Suggested Activities • Read the Following Aloud With The Group • Give Participants the Handouts • Closing Remarks

Objectives

1. To encourage relatives raising children (including grandparents) to take good care of themselves and the children in their care.

2. To provide grandparents and other participants with ideas for self-care and effective care of children.

Major Teaching Points

1. Relatives raising children are not alone. This is a national trend that is increasing each year. There is help available.

2. Relatives raising others’ children must plan to meet their own personal emotional, social and financial needs in order to effectively provide care to children.

3. When you take care of yourself and seek out support from others, the job of raising children is made easier.

Suggested Activities

• Ask participants to think about how many people they know who are helping raise relatives’ children. Ask them how many they know. Have them share the numbers.

• Ask participants who are willing to share an example of a situation where someone is raising a relative’s child. (This could be a personal example or someone they know. Do not expect them to divulge names, unless they feel comfortable to do so.)

• Share handouts – "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" and "Resources for Grandparents."

Say: There is a current trend for grandparents and other relatives to raise others’ children. In 1997, 3.9 million of the nation’s children lived in a grandparent’s home. This is a large increase over the last 10 years.

Ask: Do you know of people who are raising a relative’s child? How many families like this do you know? (Give time for answers.)

Say: Let’s think about the reasons that grandparents or other relatives are raising children. Some of the reasons are:

 Ask: What do you think some of the problems are when you are raising relatives’ children?

(Possible answers:)

1. Especially for older grandparents, health may be a problem. They just may not feel well enough to keep up with all the jobs connected to raising a child.

2. The child may come to the relative’s home with lots of emotional problems. This is especially true if the parent has died. Many of the situations that bring children to live away from the parent are apt to be hard for the child to deal with. Any kind of emotional trauma is likely to cause behavioral problems in the child.

3. Taking care of a child takes time that the caregiver might rather spend in other ways.

4. Jealousy may come into the picture if grandma and granddad spend more time and money on one grandchild.

5. It takes money to raise a child, and many relatives are hard pressed to support a child.

Ask: We have talked about some of the problems. If you know from your own experience or from watching others, would you like to share the more positive side of raising a relative’s child? What are some of the benefits?

(Possible answers.)

1. Most grandparents say it is a chance to raise a child differently.

2. A majority of caregiving grandparents say they now have a greater purpose for living.

3. It is a very satisfying job.

4. It is a chance to share your life with someone.

5. It helps keep the family strong.

Read the Following Aloud With the Group:

"Tips for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children"

1. Seek some financial help if you need it. Check with your local Department of Human Services. Extension has information on financial management.

2. Look for others in your situation. You need their ideas and emotional support.

3. If there is not a support group for people in your situation, consider starting one.

4. Get a book on the topic and find out what others are doing.

5. Take care of yourself. Make sure you take care of your health.

6. Read up on how to manage your stress. Extension has some fact sheets.

7. Read some articles and books on parenting.

8. Let the school know that you are deeply involved with this child.

9. Can you insure this child? Find out about health insurance for the child.

10. Ask others to step in and give you some occasional free time.

Give Participants the Handouts: "Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children" and "Resources for Grandparents"

Closing Remarks

Children being raised by grandparents and other relatives generally do very well. This is usually the major reward for the caregiving relatives.

Betty Youngman, Extension Specialist - Family Life

Back to 1999 Volunteer Leader Training Guide