When you get your kids back from a visit with grandma and grandpa, do you really have to live with the spoiled little grandchildren they’ve become? Take heart; there’s no need to give up that valuable babysitting resource just yet. Before you swear off future visits between children and grandparents, discover five tips on how to retrain your child after visiting grandparents.
Reiterate the rules
When your kiddo replies, “But grandma lets me!” simply remind them that the rules may be different for children at their grandparents’ house, but at home, the rules and discipline remain as they are. So long as your expectations are age appropriate, your youngster should have no problem abiding by the boundaries you’ve set for him at home.
Set a schedule
Going to bed late or skipping vegetables is fine once in a while, like when children and grandparents are spending quality time together, but when your youngsters return home, following a schedule will eliminate the need for a discussion — or an argument. Setting homework time, bath time and bedtimes will help your child get back into a routine in no time flat.
>> Learn 4 tactics for handling parenting criticism from the in-laws
Stand your ground
No matter how big of softies grandparents can be, don’t allow tantrums to work at home. Amidst the tears and the thrashing about on the ground is the lovable, well behaved youngster that you know and love. Once he gets the message that you’re not backing down despite the time your parents spent spoiling their grandchildren, he’ll soon give up the theatrics and fall back in line.
Let him entertain himself
Chances are that children and grandparents spent their entire visit together playing and interacting, which kids often expect upon return home to mom and dad. So long as you provide toys, art supplies and supervision, expecting your adolescent to entertain himself some of the time will exercise his imagination and ability to play independently.
Deal with grandma homesickness
When your kiddo starts begging to see his grandparents soon after he has come home, letting him dial up your parents may satisfy his need to feel close to his grandma and grandpa. A bonus will be that it’ll make your parents feel good as well, knowing that their grandchildren miss spending time with them.
>> Discover 120 top nicknames for grandparents
Before getting frustrated with the time grandparents spend spoiling children, keep in mind that many grandparents feel that spoiling their grandchildren is their natural right.
“Grandparents like spoiling their grandchildren in a way that they never would have imagined doing with their own children,” explains Patricia Babuka, Relationship Expert and CEO/Founder of GrandCamp Adventures. “We believe it goes back to the grandparents not having to be as involved in the day-to-day parenting, so their time with grandchildren is all about fun. Spoiling isn’t necessarily about material things.”
The bond between children and grandparents is unique and should be celebrated — so as long as you nip their behavior in the bud as soon as they return home!
More on spoiled kids
Spoiling children: The 8 myths
What makes a child spoiled?
Is it okay to spoil your kids?
Leave a Comment