Grandparents Raising Grandkids

Grandparents As Parents: A Workshop Model

Introduction | Teaching Points 1–3 | Teaching Points 4–6 | Teaching Points 7–9

Goal:

Custodial Grandparents will increase knowledge and skills regarding their role as “parents.” 

Objectives:

Participants will

  1. Gain knowledge about the multiple issues involved in grandparents assuming a parent role.
    • Structures:
      • types of grandparent structures
      • grandparent/mother/child
      • shuttle child (child moved back and forth from parent to grandparent)
    • Understand circumstances that lead to the grandparenting again situation (economics, substance abuse, divorce, teen parents, incarceration, death)
    • Statistics – discuss overall numbers (figures are low) – many not being reported
  2. Identify the critical parenting issues.
    • caring for yourself
    • adult child relationships
    • effective parenting practices
    • support for school, etc. 
  3. Identify legal rights and responsibilities.
  4. Identify effective community responses that support grandparents parenting again.
    • conducting a survey
    • doing community programming on this
    • setting up support groups
    • making resources available

Target Audience:

Family and Community Educators

Roll Call:

If something happened to your adult children tomorrow, and you were suddenly thrust into parenting again, what would your biggest concern be? Discuss various answers.

Introduction | Teaching Points 1–3 | Teaching Points 4–6 | Teaching Points 7–9

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Written by (August 1997): Dr. Carris Booker, Assistant Professor and Extension 4-H & Youth Development Specialist; Dr. Dorothy E. James, Assistant Professor and Extension Family Life Specialist; Dr. Judith L. Warren, Professor and Extension Gerontology Specialist. Updated by Andrew B. Crocker, Gerontology Health Specialist, November 2003.

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Last updated: 26 July, 2010

Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.