Being a grandparent is one of life’s most rewarding chapters. You get to enjoy the little ones in all their delightful chaos, without the full-time pressures of parenthood.

Still, the bond you share with your grandkids doesn’t happen by mere coincidence—it takes intentional effort.

Over the years, I’ve found there are certain habits that truly help create a loving, respectful, and joyful connection with grandchildren.

I’d like to share seven of those habits with you.

Now, let’s dive in.

1) Show genuine interest in their world

Kids, whether they’re four or fourteen, can sense when you’re just nodding along versus when you’re really curious about what they have to say.

Showing a genuine interest in their world—whether it’s the latest music they love, their favorite book series, or even that video game you don’t quite understand—sends a powerful message: I value your experiences and opinions.

I recall a moment with my oldest granddaughter not too long ago.

She was demonstrating a new dance routine (TikTok-inspired, she gleefully informed me), and though my knees certainly wouldn’t allow me to replicate every move, I listened to her commentary, asked questions, and cheered her on.

Her face absolutely lit up. That moment of connection didn’t take money, elaborate plans, or fancy gifts—just genuine curiosity.

Don’t worry if you’re out of your depth. Let your grandchild guide you. As Winston Churchill once said, “Continuous effort—not strength or intelligence—is the key to unlocking our potential.”

By putting in the effort to learn about their interests, you show them that their passions matter.

2) Be an empathetic listener

Want to know a simple way to become a beloved grandparent? Listen—truly listen—without judgment.

Sometimes grandchildren come to us with problems they might not want to share with Mom or Dad.

Maybe they feel safer confiding in a grandparent. If that’s the case, cherish it.

Offer a listening ear and gentle empathy rather than immediate solutions. Let them finish their sentences, maintain eye contact, and respond with phrases like “That sounds tough” or “I can see why you’d feel that way.”

This approach validates their emotions and encourages openness.

There’s research from the University of Georgia indicating that empathy in familial relationships boosts trust and emotional bonding.

Think of your grandchild’s vulnerability as a delicate gift. By meeting it with compassion, you fortify the trust they have in you.

3) Offer guidance—but respect their independence

Our grandchildren can benefit greatly from our life experience, but there’s a fine line between offering helpful guidance and stepping on their autonomy.

It can be tempting to dole out a laundry list of instructions—especially if we see them heading down a path we’re sure leads to mistakes.

However, growth happens in the space between well-meaning advice and a young person’s self-driven decisions.

When your grandchild asks for your thoughts, give them sincerely—then step back and allow them to follow or reject that advice.

One of my grandsons once wanted to spend his savings on a pricey gadget that I thought was a bit of a fad. I laid out the pros and cons, but I let him decide.

He made the purchase, only to realize it wasn’t as thrilling as he had hoped.

While he lost some money, he gained something far more valuable: the confidence that comes from making (and learning from) a choice independently.

Albert Einstein famously said, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” Mistakes can be excellent teachers.

By respecting your grandchild’s independence, you grant them space to develop critical thinking and self-reliance.

4) Share your own stories and experiences

On the flip side of respecting their independence is the wonderful gift of sharing your own stories—especially the missteps.

If you’re a regular reader here at Global English Editing, you might remember I once wrote about the value of passing down life lessons through storytelling.

From personal experience, a well-told story can captivate a child or teenager in a way that simple admonitions never will.

Tell them about the time you tried to bake bread from scratch and ended up with something closer to a doorstop.

Share your triumphs, your heartbreaks, and what you learned from them.

Not only does this build your grandchild’s sense of family heritage, it also shows that messing up is normal and survivable.

Plus, grandchildren often light up when they hear about “the old days.”

There’s magic in bridging past and present, and you can anchor their sense of identity by showing them where they come from.

5) Keep learning and stay active

If we want to inspire our grandchildren to remain curious and lively, we need to model that ourselves. “Grand” doesn’t have to mean “over the hill.”

Keep up with your own hobbies—or better yet, pick up a new one. I have a good friend who took up painting in his late 60s after retiring from a corporate job.

His grandchildren see him trying new techniques and celebrating small improvements. It lights a spark in them, too.

The Stoic philosopher Seneca once noted, “As long as you live, keep learning how to live.”

When you demonstrate that learning never stops, you show your grandchildren that growth is a lifelong journey.

Take walks, travel if you can, read a novel that’s outside your usual genre. Here at GE Editing, we’re big fans of diving into new topics, refining our understanding, and staying curious.

Passing that mindset on to the next generation is priceless.

6) Cultivate a sense of fun and adventure

One of the best parts about being a grandparent is having the freedom to be a little silly.

Parents are often bogged down by rules, schedules, and deadlines. As grandparents, we can lighten the mood.

That doesn’t mean you abandon all structure or boundaries, but you do have room to bring an extra dash of spontaneity into your grandchildren’s lives.

When my grandkids visit, we often go exploring in our local park. Even if it’s just a short walk with my dog, Lottie, we’ll turn it into a mini nature expedition—looking for unique rocks or spotting interesting birds.

Sometimes we’ll surprise each other with a new dessert recipe or make up silly songs in the kitchen.

Bill Gates once remarked, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”

In a similar vein, many grandparents underestimate how much joy and wisdom they can pack into one playful afternoon.

A bit of fun can build an entire library of cherished memories.

7) Finally but perhaps most importantly, prioritize your own well-being

You can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’re constantly stressed, rundown, or grappling with unaddressed health issues, it becomes much harder to show up fully for your grandkids.

They sense when we’re “off,” even if we try to hide it.

I won’t pretend to have it all figured out, but I’ve learned the value of self-care—be it a peaceful morning walk, a heart-to-heart chat with a good friend, or even a simple daily meditation practice.

Whatever helps you stay physically healthy and mentally balanced is going to shine through in your interactions with your grandkids.

As Brené Brown has said, “We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to.”

Seeking support—whether from family, a healthcare professional, or a local community group—helps you remain the stable, nurturing figure your grandchildren admire.

When they see you taking care of yourself, they also absorb the lesson that self-care is neither selfish nor optional. It’s essential.

Wrapping up

At the end of the day, being a grandparent isn’t about buying the fanciest gifts or hosting lavish parties—it’s about being present, engaged, and authentic.

Your grandkids will remember how you made them feel more than any material thing you gave them.

Which habit will you start practicing more intentionally this week? Perhaps it’s setting aside a time for real, focused conversation.

Maybe it’s joining them in an activity you’ve never tried before, or sitting down to share a life lesson wrapped in a story from your younger days.

Whatever it is, these small, consistent efforts can shape the kind of bond that makes your grandchildren want to visit, call, and share their lives with you—well beyond childhood and into adulthood.

And that, to me, is the ultimate goal.

Here’s to creating those precious, lasting connections. May you enjoy every moment along the way.