Looking for that special gift for Grandparents who have it all? As part of his book The Grandest Love – Inspiring the Grandparent-Grandchildren Connection local Grandparenting expert Jerry Witkovsky, collected 30 letters from grandchildren of all ages and backgrounds, asking them to share what they had learned from a grandparent. Witkovsky suggests a personal letter is a great opportunity for grandchildren of any to express their emotions in a tangible way that will truly be the gift that keeps on giving.
“It’s a way to add to a living legacy and tell grandparents how much they mean to you,” says Witkovsky. And, it’s not just the benefits of love or even free babysitting; studies show that close ties across generations can boost mental health for all.
“Grandparenting can be one of the most fulfilling experiences of YOUR life. And you can provide your grandkids with one of the most important experiences of THEIR lives,” said Jerry Witkovsky, a nationally renowned speaker, author and grandparenting advocate. Witkovsky encourages grandparents to enter their grandchildren’s world, and has set up formal Grandparent Connection Programs at middle and high schools throughout his hometown of Deerfield, IL. He is now creating a kit to help grandparents set up similar programs in their grandchildren’s schools.
Witkovsky is available for speaking engagements on topics including:
- How to Enter Your Grandchild’s World
- How to set up a “Grandparents Connection” program at your local school
- Inspiring Philanthropy and Creating a Living Legacy
National Grandparents Day 2015 will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2015. The secular holiday was officiated by congress in 1978 and then-President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation that cites the day’s purpose “…to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer”. Find programs in your area at grandparentscay.org.
About Jerry Witkovsky:
Jerry Witkovsky (MSW, University of Illinois) is a beloved mentor of thousands of individuals and generations of families, thanks to 47 years of professional leadership-18 of them as general director of the Jewish Community Centers of Chicago. In 1995, he was named one of the city’s “Most Effective Nonprofit CEOs” by Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine. Since his 1997 retirement, Jerry has focused his considerable energies on grandparenting facilitation, helping multigenerational families work (and play) together to create a rich family life. He currently spearheads a growing number of school-based programs designed to strengthen connections between grandparents and their teenagers.
Learn more at thegrandestlove.com
Blogs regularly at grandestlove.wordpress.com
- Buy the book: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Xlibris Publishing
