530 926-1784
1030 W.A. Barr Road Mount Shasta, CA 96067
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Siskiyou
Christian School 530 926-1784 1030 W.A. Barr Road Mount Shasta, CA 96067 |
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| The Role of
Grandparents in Christian Education by Dr. Paul A. Kienel, Founder and President Emeritus Association of Christian Schools International My wife, Annie, and I are the proud grandparents of four of the most remarkable grandchildren you have ever seen! We brag about our grandchildren just like most grandparents. I once asked a friend, "Have I told you about my grandchildren?" He replied, "No, and I appreciate it!" I deserved that! The Bible says "Grandchildren are the crown if the aged..." (Proverbs 17:6). I feel that way about my grandchildren. I think J. Allan Peterson said it best, "Becoming a grandparent is probably the most welcomed sign of aging there is." It is true that grandchildren are a blessed gift to their grandparents. It is also true that grandparents are important to their grandchildren and their parents, and the schools the children attend. In addition to being "back-up parents" who "babysit" or otherwise take care of the children when their parents are busy, grandparents can have a major spiritual influence in the lives of those children. I recall that it was an "adopted" grandmother, Rose Steudler, who led me to Christ during family devotions when I was seven years old. I remember every detail of that life-changing experience. In his book, Conquering Family Stress, J. Allan Peterson wrote: "The value of grandparents should
not be underestimated. Grandparents frequently have more influence per
time invested than do parents because of their unique relationship to
their grandchildren. Grandparents are usually more relaxed than
parents. This makes them approachable. They concentrate on giving love
without the necessity of meting out discipline. Their time with
their grandchildren is usually better planned and more
intentional than parents' time. All of this adds up to what some social
scientists have called 'grandparent phenomenon.' Children catch more of
their grandparents' perspective on life than that of their parents.
This can be a comfort if you are wondering about the effects of how
your children are raising your grandchildren, and you may consider it a
call to action to make the most of your time when you are with them." 1
Permit me to list the ways I am attempting to influence my grandchildren: 1. Spiritually My two oldest grandchildren
received Christ as their Savior at their Christian school in Chino,
California. I hope I had a part in preparing them for that most
important milestone in their lives during our conversations about Jesus.
2. Joyful Living Children and grandchildren learn
to live by the way we live. If we are joyful, happy people who enjoy
living, if we get excited about family adventures, if we get excited at
the very sight of our grandchildren and our children when they visit
us, our grandchildren will assimilate an attitude about life that is
absolutely essential to their emotional stability. Far more than most
of us realize, grandchildren are making up their minds about life by
watching their grandparents.
3. Grandparental Love Two summers ago, I was building
an oak bookcase in my garage. My three-year-old grandson, Jason, was
"helping" me. Quite frankly, he was irritating me more than he was
helping me with his nonstop chatter and unanswerable questions. Finally
I said, "Jason, I need you to be absolutely quiet for a few minutes
while I figure the distance between the shelves of this bookcase."
Jason stood there in silence. About half-way through my calculations,
Jason broke the silence with these words, "Papa, I love you!" He knew
he could get away with that.
I believe in family affection. Children and grandchildren need to be hugged and kissed and told often "I love you." Many emotional problems suffered by adults stem from a childhood where parents and grandparents failed to be generous with those all important words, "I love you." 4. Academic Help Research from the U.S. Department
of Education indicates that children to whom stories are read become
better readers.
"The best way for parents (and
grandparents) to help their children
become better readers is to read to them -- even when they are very
young.
Children benefit most from reading aloud when they discuss stories,
learn to identify letters and words, and talk about the meaning of
words."2
Grandparents help their grandchildren academically by speaking positively about the value of learning, by building up the importance of their teachers and principals and speaking favorably about Christian education. 5. Financial Help Christian schools are grateful
for the many grandparents who assist their children in paying a portion
or all of the tuition for their grandchildren. Many grandparents could
do more.
Every Christian school needs a stronger financial base. Those of us who are grandparents need to find some ways to lighten the financial load of the Christian schools where our grandchildren attend. Christian school educators are also grateful for grandparents who give their time in the school helping in a wide variety of ways. Most important of all, they are thankful for their faithful prayer support without which the Christian school could not survive. Grandparents are people of extraordinary importance. I think we underestimate how truly valuable they are to the present generation and to the generations to come. 1 J.Allan Peterson, Conquering Family Stress, Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1978. Quoted in the Encyclopedia of Christian Parenting, Fleming H. Revell Co., Old Tappan, New Jersey, 1982, p.218. 2 U.S. Department of Education. What Works --Research About Teaching and Learning, 1986, p.9. ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL PO Box 35097 . Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3509 © 1997, Association of Christian Schools International reproduced here by permission of the Association of Christian Schools International. |
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Train
up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
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