Our good friend Judd Swihart suggested a simple idea to help our grandchildren grow and mature:
Pay them to work for you.
Judd hired three of his grandsons to paint an old shed on his property. Each one handled what he could reach, and they got it done. And it wasn’t the most professional-looking paint job, although they did surprisingly well.
But more than that, this was about giving three boys a chance to be proud of something they did together … and earn a little money. And Judd knew it was a positive investment he could make in them.
With young grandkids, sometimes all it takes is for us to start a project. Often they’re eager to watch or “help” as best they can, and they may actually think it’s fun to hang out with Grandma or Grandpa. We just have to be patient and lower our expectations for how efficiently things get done. There may also be some tasks they can do on their own, with our supervision.
There are also benefits with older kids. For any of us who wish the current generation of youth would learn a strong work ethic, this is one way to be part of the solution. Enlisting their paid help with something makes us like a benevolent “employer” in the situation. We give them tasks they can handle, communicate expectations and set the standard for what makes a job well done. Then we show them how to correct or improve small things along the way, with lots of patience and grace. It’s one big teachable opportunity. And since we aren’t their parent, it doesn’t have to be a tense battle of wills.
It’s also an opportunity to be generous.
… both in what we pay them and in praise—and neither of those will be difficult for most of us.
And to truly make it a win-win, find something you can do with them. Try to make it fun somehow. And of course, make sure they get a treat afterward in addition to whatever you pay them.
What chores have you given to your grandchildren that worked out well for them and for you? Share an insight with other grandparents on our Facebook page here.
