Grandparent’s Day
‘Grandparents are the footsteps to the future generations..’
Grandparents are the ones who help to create a strong foundation for the forthcoming generations and act as the strong pillars for the entire family. Having grandparents in your life is a blissful feeling that the grandchildren cherish throughout their life. Grandchildren experience a sense of belongingness and feel more comfortable to share their secrets and other things with their grandparents, as compared to their parents. The kind of bond that the two different generations share is unconditional and inexpressible.
With a view to value the presence of grandparents in our lives, an entire day is dedicated, which is popularized as Grandparent’s Day and is celebrated each year on the first Sunday in the month of September. The basic aim of celebrating Grandparents Day is to value their presence in our lives and help the children become more affectionate and loving towards their grandparents. Moreover, children bond well with their grandparents and look up to them because of their unconditional love & warmth and the quality time they enjoy together.
Grandparent’s Day allows the grandparents to know how they are making a difference in the lives of the younger generation.
History
It was in the year 1978 that the President of the United States of America proclaimed that the first Sunday after the Labour Day will be celebrated as the Grandparent’s Day in the entire world. A name that is associated with the celebrations of Grandparents Day is Marian McQuade. She is considered as the founder of the ‘Grandparents Day’ and it was due to her efforts and unconditional love for the elderly people, this day is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm every year, around the world.
Why to celebrate Grandparents Day?
Basically, there are three purposes for celebrating National Grandparents Day, viz.:
- To honour grandparents.
- To give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their grandchildren.
- To help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer.
When is Grandparents Day 2014?
This year, Grandparents Day will fall on Sunday, 7th September.
What to do on Grandparents Day?
In today’s world, a wide generation gap prevails between the two generations and it is the parent’s responsibility to bridge this gap. So, parents should try to look out for ways to connect them and build a bond between them. Listed below are some tips to celebrate Grandparents Day with your child and inculcate the vital importance of having grandparents in their life:
- Together with your children, plan a visit to your parent’s place and let the two generations spend quality time in each other’s company.
- Help your child to make a beautiful card for her grandparents and express her heartfelt feelings by writing a small message inside.
- Encourage your child to make a scrapbook of the pictures with her grandparents and present it as a gift to them.
- Involve your children to plan a surprise Grandparents Day party at your home. Invite both paternal and maternal grandparents.
- Ask for children’s help in the party decorations. You can also ask them to assist you in cooking their grandparents’ favourite dishes.
- Plan an outing to a place where both can have fun at. This place could be your child’s or her grandparent’s favourite destination.
- Motivate your children to write a story, featuring the grandparents as the main character and complete it with illustrations.
- Children can create a set of placemats using old and new photos of their grandparents, along with their children and grandchildren.
- Make your child learn a short poem or a song and tell her to sing in front of the grandparents entirely dedicating that poem to them.
- Encourage your children to take their grandparents and visit the houses where they grew up, or some other memorable spots.
- Organise a competition in your locality such as ‘The Best Grandparent-Grandchild Duo’ and play several games.
Grandparent’s Day Poems
